Lux Aeterna: Healing for a Violent World

As the world knows, the people of Haiti are collectively going through rough times. Our Harvard team under the new auxiliary Bishop of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wismick Jean-Charles, PhD, has worked hard to bring hope to the country’s women and children. Collaborating with Sanite International, a non-profit whose core purpose is to create healing environments through community mental health, we have built a health promotion center on this land to serve women, children, families, and even local wildlife. The Center features counseling rooms, daycare, a marketplace area for local produce, a children’s play area, and a sanctuary for prayer and meditation. It is integrated with nature, with indoor and outdoor gardens and a beautiful bird sanctuary of newly planted indigenous trees.

The celebration will take place at 7:00 pm on February 25, 2024 at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church. The celebration will include a spiritual offering and blessing by Bishop Wismick and the premiere of renowned Spanish composer Pedro Halffter’s Lux Aeterna presented by opera company Divaria Productions. Lux Aeterna is a work inspired by Professor Mollica’s Manifesto for Healing a Violent World. It deals with the universal right of dignity and the realization of life living in communion with nature. The piece will be performed by international soprano Ashley Galvani Bell and the composer himself on the piano. The event will also feature the Official Anthem of the United Nations by Maestro Halffter performed by the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra and a choral piece by Haitian-American artists. All are invited and there is no admission charge.

The center has been named in memory of Salvatore J. Stile, a man who overcame immense challenges and adversity, embodying the spirit of resilience and hope that this project seeks to inspire. His legacy lives on through this initiative, made possible by the dedication of many, including the vision and leadership of one of our key founders, Jillian M. Stile, PhD, and the generosity of founding supporter Salvatore Stile II.

If you would like to make a donation to this cause, please scan the attached QR code or visit www.sanite.org and click the donate button.

Host or Publisher Divaria Productions & Mary Queen of Scots Society