WINDSOR TERRACE — Proper as much as the tip of his life, retired Auxiliary Bishop Man Sansaricq was busy engaged on behalf of the Haitian neighborhood.
In his last days, the Haitian-born bishop, who died Aug. 21 at age 86, was organizing a drive to get church buildings rebuilt after the current earthquake in Haiti. He had met with Archbishop Max Leroy Mesidor, the archbishop of Port-au-Prince, to debate the subsequent steps.
“He beloved his folks,” stated Lilas Sylvain, who knew Bishop Sansaricq for 25 years, courting again to his days as parochial vicar for Sacred Coronary heart Church, Cambria Heights. “He was at all times there preventing for the neighborhood to ensure the neighborhood was handled with respect.”
The 7.2-magnitude quake that hit Haiti on Aug. 14 was a giant private blow to the auxiliary bishop, Sylvain stated.
“I feel it was an excessive amount of, emotionally, for him. I feel the earthquake broke his coronary heart,” she stated.
Bishop Sansaricq’s coronary heart was at all times together with his fellow Haitians, in line with Catholics who knew him. Throughout his time at Sacred Coronary heart (1971-1993), he was appointed coordinator for the Haitian Apostolate for the Diocese of Brooklyn — a job that noticed him change into the chief of Haitian Catholics right here.
“He was a unifying determine to Haitians. His aim was to have Haitians come collectively and work collectively. It was principally immigration, however he labored on different points too,” stated Carlens Bruni, who knew the bishop from St. Jerome Church, Flatbush, the place he served as pastor from 1993 to 2007.
Nancy Milien, who met him at Sacred Coronary heart, admired him vastly. “He did quite a bit. He actually did. He was the kindest individual. He had essentially the most endurance. And the way in which he beloved folks and the way in which he beloved his neighborhood was past phrases,” she stated.
Within the Nineteen Seventies, Bishop Sansaricq based a company referred to as the Nationwide Heart of the Haitian Apostolate to convey Haitian-Individuals nearer to the religion and to serve their wants — every part from immigration points to job placement.
“It was a tough time. There was a whole lot of hassle in Haiti and a few clergymen had been expelled,” stated Monsignor Pierre Andre Pierre, the middle’s vice director. “He welcomed them. He’s an icon to Haitian clergymen.”
In 1987, the U.S. Convention of Catholic Bishops elected Bishop Sansaricq to move the Nationwide Haitian Apostolate.
His efforts additionally included making certain that church buildings with giant Haitian populations celebrated Lots in French and Haitian-Creole “so that individuals might be grounded to the Liturgy in their very own language,” Msgr. Pierre stated.
Bishop Sansaricq wished to instill satisfaction in Haitians, Msgr. Pierre stated. To that finish, he established a pastoral institute the place programs had been performed in Creole and printed a e-newsletter on church points associated to Haiti.
The well-respected cleric was thought-about the “go-to” individual for all issues Haiti within the U.S. However he was additionally a priest at coronary heart. “He helped folks with immigration issues however he additionally took time to speak to folks about their household issues. He gave good recommendation,” Bruni stated.
“Bishop Sansaricq was a very good man. He was humble,” stated Benedict LaMartine, a buddy from the St. Jerome days. “You would speak to him about something,”