Marie Philomène
Marie Philomène
Péan, D.Min.
Péan, D.Min.
With Jesus, it is a Win-Win:
A Haitian Chaplain’s Reflection on All Souls’ Day
I grew up in Haiti, where November 1st and 2nd were days of fear; not total reverence but fear. We were told not to go out, because those were the days when the spirits roamed. If you were not careful, they could take you.
That fear stayed with me for years, until I began walking with the dying. As a nurse, a chaplain, and a pastoral associate, I have sat beside people as they took their final breath. I have held hands, whispered prayers, and witnessed something sacred: death is not the end. It is a passage. And Jesus walks with us through it.
The Book of Wisdom assures us: “The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.” I have seen that truth in hospice rooms and hospital beds. Even in suffering, there can be peace. Even in dying, there can be grace.
Romans 8, 38-39 reminds us that nothing, not even death can separate us from the love of God. We can stay assured as Romans 5; also retells us that hope does not disappoint. And Psalm 23? I translated a new cultural version of it and called it: “Jesus is my driver.” In time of darkness and danger, he takes the wheel. He knows the road. I accept and feel comfortable in his driving. He cares for me. And even when I feel lost, He gets me home.
So today, on All Souls’ Day, I invite you to reflect: How do you keep the balance between love, life, and truth? How do you hold onto gratitude, even when your expectations are not met? Can you trust that your soul is in God’s hands and live like you believe it? Because with Jesus, it is a win-win! Jesus accepts us no matter who we are. In John 6, 37 he said: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me”. Thus, if we live, we live in Christ. If we die, we die in Christ. Either way, we are held. We are loved. We are home.
Amen.
Marie Philomène Péan, D.Min.
Marie Philomène Péan, D.Min.
Marie Philomène Péan is a seasoned pastoral leader, spiritual director, and community builder whose ministry spans continents and cultures. Originally from Haiti, she brings a multilingual and multicultural lens to her work, speaking Haitian Creole, French, English, and conversational Spanish.
Philomène holds a Doctorate in Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School and is a Board-Certified Chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. Her chaplaincy experience includes hospice, trauma, pediatric, behavioral health, and rehabilitation care across the Greater Boston area.
She currently serves as Pastoral Associate at the South Boston Seaport Catholic Collaborative and previously ministered at Immaculate Conception Parish in Everett, MA. In Haiti, she oversaw the full administration of a mission church, leading liturgy, catechesis, and the construction of vital infrastructure including a road, school, and church.
Philomène is also a trained spiritual director, having completed formation at the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge, MA and Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, WI. She has accompanied directees through retreats and days of recollection at Campion Center and Eastern Point.
Her ecumenical and interfaith experience includes volunteering with the Taizé community in France and “Le Nid” in Paris, where she ministered to women on the margins. She is committed to inclusive ministry and is open to accompanying members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Philomène is the founder of two nonprofit organizations—Monika Foundation and Piayiti (Haitian Well of Faith)—which support migrants in the U.S. and families in need in Haiti. She also provides online spiritual resources in Haitian Creole to nourish the faith of the global Haitian diaspora.
Above all, Philomène is a caregiver at heart, currently supporting her elderly mother while continuing to serve with humility, creativity, and deep pastoral wisdom.
October 17 at 7pm ET: Join Catholic Women Preach, FutureChurch, contributors to the Year C book, and co-editors Elizabeth Donnelly and Russ Petrus as we celebrate the release of the third and final volume of this ground-breaking, award winning series.
"Catholic Women Preach is one of the more inspiring collection of homilies available today. Based on the deep spirituality and insights of the various women authors, the homilies are solidly based on the scriptures and offer refreshing and engaging insights for homilists and listeners. The feminine perspective has long been absent in the preached word, and its inclusion in this work offers a long overdue and pastorally necessary resource for the liturgical life of the Church." - Catholic Media Association
Advertise with Catholic Women Preach: email Russ at russ@futurechurch.org
