We ultimately returned to Boston Children’s Hospital this past summer
for some repair work to Jean-Paul’s heart, but it was our shortest stay ever…
one week. Hooray!
What can I say other than our faith has grown so much in the past
six and half years. We have been blessed to have been given a child with a
heart defect; yes, blessed! He has changed our lives, and with his own little
“
broken” heart, he has touched the hearts and souls of countless others. We
tell his story with the hope that those who read it will be inspired and grow
in their faith. We all have crosses to carry. Some are heavier than others.
But, when you ask God for help and accept His will, sometimes the cross is
removed, but always, by His grace, the cross becomes lighter. Without Sister
Dulce and the birth of our miracle baby, we would not be where we are in
our spiritual life. She has taught us so much about how to have a relationship
with Papa.
~Angelle & André Bourgious
scars were healed, and neither of us cherished having to undergo the
hospital gauntlet so soon again. His cardiovascular surgeon had left New
Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, so we now had to find a new surgeon to
care for Jean-Paul; thus plans were made for his surgery at Boston Children’s
Hospital.
The initial surgery went
smoothly and the recovery was
uneventful, so Andre’ flew back to
Baton Rouge to spend time with
Jean-Luc while my mother stayed
in Boston with Jean-Paul and
me. While Andre’ was in flight,
Jean-Paul’s condition suddenly
and drastically took a turn for
the worse. He had developed a
blockage in a major artery and
needed surgery first thing in the
morning. I reached Andre’ by phone and he said, “Call Sister; what’s the
worse thing that can happen?” We both laughed, having been down this
road before. Well, I called Sister, and she had me place my hand over
the problem area, and she prayed for him, then told me, “Don’t worry
about it Sweetie; it’s gone; Papa has removed it and the doctors won’t find
anything.” The next morning, when Jean-Paul was taken into surgery for
his pre-procedure diagnostic tests, the doctors returned with him a very
short time later. The “blockage” was GONE, not even a trace was found!
The doctor had no explanation, but I did, so I told him, “Prayer was the
answer.”
Testimonial
Continued from page 2
A Shepherd’s Journey
On November 30, 2009, the children of the Cypress Springs
Mercedarian Prayer Center learned the true meaning of Christmas. A
shepherd, searching for the Christ child, led the children on a journey of
anticipation as they reenacted the Mexican tradition of a Posada.
A Posada is an enactment of looking for lodging of St. Joseph and
the Virgin Mary, called the Pilgrims going to Bethlehem for the Census
according to the Scriptures. In Spanish it is called “Los Peregrinos, San
Jose y la Virgen Maria” . Each family in a neighborhood, schedules a
night for the Posada to be held at their home, starting on the 16th of
December and finishing on the 24th on Noche Buena. Every home will
have a Nativity scene. The hosts of the home are the innkeepers, and
the neighborhood children and adults are Los Peregrinos, who have to
request lodging through singing of simple chants. All carry small, lit
candles in their hands and four teenagers of about the same height are
chosen to carry Los Peregrinos, which are two small statutes of St. Joseph
leading a donkey, which the Virgin Mary is riding sidesaddle. The head
of the procession has a candle inside of a paper lamp shade that looks
like an accordian but open at the top and it is called a “Farolito” or little
lantern. The Peregrinos ask for lodging in three different houses but only
the third one will allow them in. That will be the house that is supposed
to have the Posada for that evening. Once the innkeeper lets them in, the
group of guests come into the home and kneel around the Nativity scene
to pray the Rosary and sing traditional songs like “O Holy Night”.
For the reenactment, the Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center
was transformed to reflect three different sections. Debi Grymes, our
event coordinator, created three large doors out of berlap and the children
roamed throughout the Center, knocking on these doors and singing
songs. They then asked if there was room for the Holy Family and were
turned away until they reached the third door at which time, they saw
Mary and Joseph comfortably resting in the hay with the Christ Child
nestled in her arms.
As a first time event, the participants of “A Shepherd’s Journey” were
limited to the Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center Prayer Partners
and their children/grandchildren. It was such a wonderful lesson for the
children that for Christmas 2010, this event will be open to the public.
Please watch the Fall, 2010 Newsletter for more details.
Sister Dulce and the Shepherd (Hugo Marrero) teach the children the story of
the birth of Jesus.
Jean-Paul and his older brother Jean-Luc visit with Sister Dulce.
