By Nicholas Gentile
Fifteen local women were recently honored by the diocesan ministry to Haitian immigrants for embodying the qualities of maternal figures from the Bible.
Honorees were hand-selected by priests from 15 different parishes for their service to the Church, the community, their families and the love they demonstrate for their children.
A Mother’s Day Award Dinner Dance was held in their honor at El Caribe Caterers, Mill Basin, May 26. It was an evening of food, performance and dance.
Tributes in Lyric and Song
Mothers and their guests were treated to a stirring rendition of “Ave Maria” by Michael Delouis, a touching poem on the nature of caregiving by Gerard Antoine (who also served as co-emcee with Monalisa Ferrari), and a lively interpretation of “Stand by Me” by Liliana Herrerra.
Afterward, each mother received an award for emulating such biblical women of wisdom as Sarah, Mary of Magdalene and the Blessed Mother.
The mother-honorees were as follows:
Marie Jessy Tabertus (SS. Joachim and Anne, Queens Village)
Oliane Jean-Gilles (St. Francis-St. Blaise, Crown Heights)
Evelyn Barreau (St. Matthew, Crown Heights)
Therese Clorinde Noisil (St. Jerome, East Flatbush)
Marie Edna Louis Desir (Our Lady of Refuge, Flatbush)
Michelle Boucher (St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands)
Bernadette Estime (Sacred Heart, Cambria Heights)
Abby Labatte (St. Clare, Cambria Heights)
Gina Douyon (Holy Family, Canarsie)
Pierrecilia Octil (St. Therese of Lisieux, East Flatbush)
Marie Carmelle Moise-Belma (St. Teresa of Avila, Prospect Heights)
Yanick Aneas Noel (Holy Innocents, Flatbush)
Lise Marie Victor Felix (Holy Cross, Flatbush)
Marie Therese Vincent (St. Augustine, Park Slope)
Marie-Louise St. Fleur (Mary Queen of Heaven, Old Mill Basin).
Father Saint Charles Borno, who serves as coordinator of the diocesan ministry to Haitian immigrants, delivered the keynote speech in which he reflected on how a mother is the first person to teach her child what love is.
“A mother’s love,” he said, “is a reflection of the love God gives to His children, and all mothers need to be a shining example of that magnificent love.
“The mothers who are being honored tonight on this special occasion have exemplified the wisdom that is required for them to be selected. Let us work together and instill the values of displaying and recognizing respect for people, especially women,” he said.