THE FOUNDER OF OUR ounfò (temple), PAPA MARCEL (MARCEL JEAN-BAPTISTE), WAS BORN IN JACMEL, HAITI, INTO A LONG LINEAGE OF VOODOO PRACTITIONERS. HIS GRANDMOTHER, MAMBO ELISE, WAS A REVERED PRIESTESS WHO INTRODUCED HIM TO THE MYSTERIES OF THE LOA AT A YOUNG AGE. AT 18, HE UNDERWENT INITIATION AS A HOUNGAN SUR PWEN (PRIEST OF POWER). AFTER YEARS OF TRAINING UNDER MULTIPLE ELDERS, HE BECAME A HOUNGAN ASOGWE, THE HIGHEST RANK, RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING CEREMONIES, COMMUNICATING WITH THE SPIRITS, AND PROVIDING SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE. AFTER HIS DEATH, HIS SPIRITUAL GRANDSON, PRIEST RICHARD, BECAME THE HOUGAN ASOGWE (HEAD PRIEST) OF OUR VOODOO TEMPLE.
GUIDED BY THE BALANCE BETWEEN LIGHT AND SHADOW, PRIEST RICHARD BELIEVES BOTH ARE NECESSARY. MASTER OF TRADITIONAL ROOTS AND THE DARK ART OF SPELL CASTING, HE HAS A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF ANCIENT AFRICAN TRADITIONS. HE IS ALSO AN ADEPT OF BLACK MAGIC AND A DEVOTEE OF CENTELLA NDOKI, RULER OF THE LOWER ASTRAL AND MISTRESS OF THE WINDS. PRIEST RICHARD IS KNOWN FOR ACTING AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN HUMANS AND THE LOA, AND HAS A DEEP CONNECTION TO BARON SAMEDI AND PAPA LEGBA, TWO MAJOR LOA IN HIS SERVICE. PRIEST RICHARD SEES VOODOO AS HARMONY BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE SPIRITS. TO HIM, EVERY CURSE OR BLESSING STEMS FROM IMBALANCE, AND IT IS HIS DUTY TO RESTORE EQUILIBRIUM.
GUIDED BY THE BALANCE BETWEEN LIGHT AND SHADOW, PRIEST RICHARD BELIEVES BOTH ARE NECESSARY. MASTER OF TRADITIONAL ROOTS AND THE DARK ART OF SPELL CASTING, HE HAS A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF ANCIENT AFRICAN TRADITIONS. HE IS ALSO AN ADEPT OF BLACK MAGIC AND A DEVOTEE OF CENTELLA NDOKI, RULER OF THE LOWER ASTRAL AND MISTRESS OF THE WINDS. PRIEST RICHARD IS KNOWN FOR ACTING AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN HUMANS AND THE LOA, AND HAS A DEEP CONNECTION TO BARON SAMEDI AND PAPA LEGBA, TWO MAJOR LOA IN HIS SERVICE. PRIEST RICHARD SEES VOODOO AS HARMONY BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE SPIRITS. TO HIM, EVERY CURSE OR BLESSING STEMS FROM IMBALANCE, AND IT IS HIS DUTY TO RESTORE EQUILIBRIUM.
