Celebrating Associate of Wisdom Maryse Haig's 25th Jubilee
Maryse Haig, A "one-woman show."
At the age of 28, Maryse Haig, faced with limited opportunities in her native Haiti, made a courageous decision to immigrate to the United States in 1965. Her journey, marked by resilience and determination, is a testament to her inspiring spirit. Educated by the Daughters of Wisdom in her childhood, her exposure to Montfortian spirituality became her way of life. Her deep-rooted motivator was doing things for others and giving to the less fortunate.
Leaving family behind, including two sisters who became Daughters of Wisdom in Haiti, she entered the workforce, putting her secretarial and administrative skills to the test. She worked at International Telephone and Telegraph in Manhattan, NY, for 15 years, where she helped to start a company choir, and then moved on to Computer Associates on Long Island for five years. Her career path was diverse, reflecting her adaptability and commitment to service. She then shifted her career direction to do what she wanted, but she couldn't because of the obligation of full-time work. That included working with women and children, which necessitated taking on a new career and volunteering opportunities.
Her work at the Mother of Good Counsel Home, where she was described as a "one-woman show," had a profound impact on the community. No longer limited to secretarial and administrative skills, she organized fundraisers and provided babysitting, transportation, counseling, teaching, and reception services. She said, "I never knew how my day would start or finish. But I was never bored. My life was very rich, blessed, and a lot of fun." There, she helped young women get their High School diplomas while learning to care for their babies. In her ten years there, she created many bonds and saw many of the young women go on to higher education, college, and even law school.
Having two sisters in Haiti who were Daughters of Wisdom, one a nurse and the other a teacher in a school for deaf and deaf-blind children, she decided to do something in collaboration with them to help the people of her native Haiti, however remotely. She would become a link.
That is when the effort to support education and health care was born. Thirty years ago, she founded Friends of Montfort, Inc. as an offshoot of projects she was involved with in her local Church. It quickly grew into a non-profit organization with a mission to provide encouragement and financial support to deaf and deaf-blind children in Haiti. As time went on, it included scholarships for college-bound high school seniors and support to Gift of Life to facilitate open-heart surgery–all for the Children in Haiti who are enrolled in one of the three schools that comprise Institute Montfort School, where one of her sisters, a Daughter of Wisdom, and the link to the schools, worked as a teacher. Over the years, Maryse has served as treasurer, communications person, and fundraiser and was involved in a long-term project that turned out to be one of Friends of Montfort's most significant accomplishments, which came to fruition this past year. It will serve many well into the future in Haiti—educators, students, their families, and the general population— the publishing of Haiti's—and the World's—first-ever comprehensive Haitian Sign Language (LSH) Dictionary. This significant milestone in the efforts to empower the deaf community was a ten-year project that included the input of dozens of committee members, showcasing the power of collective effort. The 26 Chapter book translates signs into three languages, Creole, English, and French, and includes multiple illustrations for some signs or phrases. Maryse helped translate the English and French portions of the sign language book.
The other effort was to support pregnant women at birth by helping to assemble Birthing Kits for safe, clean births for women who give birth at home or in remote locations from medical care. Kits are assembled here in the United States in collaboration with members of the Zonta Club of Long Island, which heads up the effort and supplies the contents. Maryse’s link here was Sr. Evelyn Lamoureux, DW, who is a member of the Zonta Club. She and many volunteers, including Girl Scouts, high school students, church members, and members of the community, all join together one day a year to replenish the supply of Birthing Kits. They are then sent to Haiti, where another one of her sisters coordinates their distribution there, and to Africa. Compiling about 500 a year, thousands of birthing kits have been delivered to women in need, and Maryse has often been the source of transportation, traveling to her homeland with two to three suitcases full of them.
A long-term congregant of Sacred Heart Church in Merrick, Long Island, she has always been involved in activities that promote peace and justice and advocate for women and children. A former scout herself, it was there where she became involved with the Girl Scouts and later became a member of the International Scout and Guide Fellowship, a worldwide organization of adults in support of scouting and guiding. With this group, she has safely guided scouts as they traveled all over the World to meet in fellowship to serve others in need and develop means to achieve it. Through a core group of people in the Church, the Idea of supporting Institute Montfort was born, and Friends of Montfort was initiated.
In the late 1990s, Maryse became involved with the Associates of Wisdom. She learned about them during an encounter with a friend from Haiti visiting the United States with the Daughters of Wisdom's Superior General, Sr. Barbara O'Dea (1987-1994). At the time, Maryse's friend, Sr. Nicole Baron, DW, served on the General Council and told Maryse about the Associates. She then learned more about the Associates of Wisdom through Sr. Catherine Sheehan, DW. Maryse made her vows as an Associate of Wisdom in 1999. Associates of Wisdom reaffirm their covenant annually around the feast of Blessed Marie Louise Trichet (May 7), where they promise, as Maryse has and demonstrates daily, to "love, live, proclaim Wisdom" in everyday life experiences.
Congratulations, Maryse, on your 25th Jubilee!
A Tribute to Maryse by Associate of Wisdom Valerie Day
"The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in the human race." I was so drawn to humanity that "I came forth from the mouth of the Most High and I covered the earth like a mist" always seeking to enter holy souls, to dwell within them, and "make them Friends of God and prophets. "
I found many holy souls and holy families among the good people of Haiti. Families such as the Sansaricqs, the Barons, the Jean-Charles, the Talleyrands, and the Haigs gave me a warm reception . . . .”
I first met Maryse at an Associates Weekend Gathering at Star of the Sea in Port Jefferson. I was struck by the peace she exuded as she participated in the day's discussions. Having two sisters as Daughters of Wisdom (and she herself named after +Sr. Maryse Talleyrand, D.W.), it was obvious she was steeped in the spiritual tradition bequeathed to us–Sisters and Associates–by our Holy Founders, St. Louis de Montfort and Blessed Marie Louise of Jesus. Maryse was surely at home.
After completing the formation for Associates, Maryse made her first covenant on December 12, 1999. From the start, she "stretched" us, introducing us to the Friends of Montfort and the work they do to sponsor the education of deaf children in a school run by our DW Sisters in Haiti. For many years we provided the funds to sponsor Juventane, and after she graduated, we did the same for Caleb. And thanks to Maryse's continued connection to the Friends of Montfort, the Associates still provide funding to help meet the many needs of the children.
Maryse has always put her whole heart and soul into her vocation as an Associate of Wisdom. She was one of six U.S. Associates who attended the First International Encounter of the Friends/Associates of Wisdom held in St. Laurent in the summer of 2003. This was the hottest summer in Western Europe in over 100 years; the summer of 100° temperatures at 8 am! We shared a room, a room without air conditioning, for 10 nights. This did not stop Maryse from participating in all the excursions and sessions and in formulating our mission statement for the associates.
In 2008, Maryse was one of our delegates to the Gathering of Associates in St. Jacques, Canada. And again, in 2018, Maryse headed for France, this time with Sr. Marie Chiodo, for another International Meeting. Did I mention she likes to travel? Maryse traveled a lot during her work with and for the Girl Scouts. Through the years, Maryse has always reflected the Face of Wisdom and enfleshed the Spirit of Wisdom, a spirit that is "beneficent, humane, steadfast and sure" to all she encountered, most especially her dear friend + Monique, with whom she shared so much of life.
Maryse continues to do so much for others. She is part of the Associate Core Group and enjoys being with the Associate Community. She has prepared birthing kits for Haiti with the women of the Zonta Club; she makes rosaries to send to those who do not have one; and she is part of her parish's Prayer Shawl Ministry. Last year, after an accident resulted in her needing surgery, Maryse gave us an example of how to recover with great grace and trust in God.
"Wisdom knows how to make Her way in the lives of Her disciples." She has certainly made Her way in the life of our dear Maryse.
Thank you, Maryse, for 25 years of faithfulness as an Associate of Wisdom. It has been a great joy and a precious gift to share this journey with you as "Together, we love, live and proclaim Wisdom."
Love,
Valerie, for all the Associates