Destination: Dominican Republic 
A vacation at a monastery does not resemble relaxing times of the world but rather it is known as “a change of occupation”! This February school break, four Sisters’ 
shift of occupations brought them to the Dominican Republic to evangelize the families living in the sugar cane plantations. They were accompanying an established mission with the “Jessica Ramey Catholic Relief Foundation” founded by Dr. Allen Ramey, named after and in memory of his oldest child, Jessica, who was killed in a car accident several years ago. Dr. Ramey is a friend of the Center and several of his children have attended IHM.
The lovely Convento di Rosa Lima in El Romana, where the Sisters and twelve lay missionaries stayed, had been built by the foundation that he established. But this beautiful house was only “headquarters” for the mission that led the group out of the city every day into the miles of sugar cane to the seemingly lost “bateys”, which are small villages housing the families of the sugar cane workers.
Dr. Ramey has been leading medical missions for years to these impoverished areas, treating the many illnesses resulting from poor hygiene and lack of necessities. After a while a greater need became apparent to him; the lack of evangelization of these forgotten people. Few were baptized and most knew very little about their Catholic Religion. So what had started as a medical mission became a spiritual mission, teaching catechism and setting up a consistent program to teach the Faith in the four hundred “bateys” hidden amidst the fields of sugar, housing countless souls. Over the years, it was impossible for the parish priest to cover such tremendous territory along with his assignment in the city, resulting in this abandonment. Dr. Ramey’s group began recruiting volunteers that the Foundation would transport to the convent once a week for instruction so that they could return to the villages to instruct the families there, with the promise that baptism would be administered after the formation was complete. So far the program has reached only twenty bateys, with more work to be done!
The Sisters’ mission consisted of accompanying Dr. Ramey to the villages, gathering the many children for instruction, while he spoke to the adults soliciting volunteers for the catechism program. Unable to speak the Creole language yet, the Sisters taught through interpreters, using a set of colored pictures on the life of Christ. The children came in droves and crowded around, completely absorbed with the stories, eager to learn more. The Sisters handed out colored prints of holy subjects and saints, which the children cherished.
The conditions of the villages were astounding , as large families lived in small wooden or cement huts owned by their employers. They labored twelve hour days in the fields, making $3.00 a day. When the Sisters asked the children what they wanted to be when they grew up, there were no answers, because they 
couldn’t understand the concept. They are, and most likely will always be, batey workers. There are no options.
Despite their conditions, they are a naturally happy people, fond of laughter and singing and very anxious to learn about the Faith. It was encouraging to see the seed of Faith planted through this effort, which is just beginning. This summer the Sisters are planning another trip with Dr. Ramey. If you are interested please contact us for more information.
