If it's Wednesday...then it's school Mass day!

Here at St. Mary's Wednesdays are School Mass Days. Each Wednesday a different grade (from 1st thru 11th) comes to Church for morning Mass. This provides us with an evangelization opportunity. While the majority of our students are not Catholic, most all are Christian... this weekly moment allows us the time to show them what the Mass is, how Catholic's pray, and that we don't have horns. Here to the right is a picture of the college band (high school). The band has much improved over the year and the students can identify with their music. Michael W Smith look out!

Run The Good Race...

On Thursday and Friday our students from Saint Mary's All Age School participated in the National Track and Field Champs. They finished an impressive 8th out of 24 schools.

As a result of our generous benefactors in the States, the student-athletes were able to wear uniforms for the first time and ran in new track shoes.

"Let The Little Children Come To Me"

This past week Fr. Joe spent his time at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church, Pinto. Working 18 hour days he painted a beautiful mural of Jesus and the children. Fr. Joe added a Jamaican flare to his mural. Jesus is depicted as a Jamaican and the children from our School modeled for the "little ones."

Here Fr. Joe puts the finishing touches on the heart of Jesus.

Father Joe is known in the States for his artwork, one of his many talents. The last murals he painted were at Saint Francis Parish, Athol Springs New York. This is his first mural in Jamaica.

VISITORS from Lithia Springs, GA and Meriden, CT

Today we welcomed two sets of visitors to St. Mary's, Above Rocks: Fr Carl Zdancewicz and the Mission Group from our Franciscan Parish on Lithia Springs, GA, St. John Vianney; and the Mirabello Family, friends of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in Meriden, CT.

The Mission Group from Lithia Springs is participating in a week long program at The Mustard Seed Community. The group is looking to become more active in mission outreach as a parish-family. They came to spend a day with us in Above Rocks: helping to paint the feeding center and working with the children in the Cupertino Program (pre/after school program).

While their intentions were to review math and help with reading, several of the boys decided that they needed to see how to play Cricket... we are in the midst of World Cup Cricket.

The Mirabello Family, having survived the Northeaster this week and leaving home at 1:30am this morning to catch a 6am flight out of LaGuardia...made it here and through Customs with all eight bags of goodies for the Mission... Thanks to Sr Frances Zajac(back at the Meriden Mother House) and the Mirabellos portage we have additional soccer supplies for our growing team and extra supplies for the Cupertino Program. Here you see the happy travelers around and on the many 50lb bags...

Catholic Women's League - Divine Mercy Retreat

The ladies... Miss Laurel (front), Miss Gloria (back aisle) and Miss Dawn (back window) board the bus for Sligoville... St Catherine's Retreat. Fr Joseph will be leading the ladies of the League on this Divine Mercy Sunday.

Msgr Albert, the Episcopal Vicar for St. Catherine, our Dean and local boss, covers the 11am Mass here at St. Mary's, Above Rocks. Msgr greets the congregation after the Sunday Mass and Divine Mercy Prayers.

Resurrection Fish Fry

The Gospels tell us that one of the places Jesus revealed Himself to His Apostles was on the beach cooking fish. On Easter Monday the Youth Ministry at Holy Family, Cassava River, sponsored a Fish Fry. All four of our Church Comminities came together to enjoy delicious fish, chicken foot soup and festival (Jamaican Fried Dough).

Here members of the

Youth Ministry

fry fish in pots placed on

old tire rims filled with charcoal.

Brother Michael,
Sister Marcia and Sister Bernardone
play a friendly game of dominoes,
a popular game in Jamaica.

The VIGIL - "Christ our Light"

At 6:30pm we began to reassemble at the Easter Fire... by 7pm we were in Church, singing the Easter Proclamation... just in the nick of time because the heavens began a "sprinkling rite" just moments after the first reading from Genesis.

Iona (St Catherine), Jean (St Theresa) and Carol (St Elizabeth) came forward to "Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit...Peace be with you!"

After the Vigil all were encouraged to visit the tomb (a Fr Joe Dorniak original) where the open grave, the binding cloths and oil jugs for burial preparation can be found in front of the rolled back stone. Interestingly: the first at the tomb, the women; all three for Initiation Sacraments this year: women. Yes Lord- we are walking in the light of God, we are walking in the light of God! Thanks be to God! HAPPY EASTER to one and all!

HOLY SATURDAY - Baptisms at the River

Meet at the River! Born, Born, Born again, Thank God I'm Born Again!

Two choruses that filled the air as we gathered this morning (8am) for the Baptism of three church sisters: Iona, Carol and Jean.

Here we see the reflection of the ladies and their sponsors as we await the singing of the Litany of Saints... the calling down of the Holy Spirit over the waters... the Anointing and then the full immersion of the sisters in the river...Born, Born, Born again, Thank God I'm Born Again!

Iona, aka LuLu, takes the third plunge. As she emerges from the waters the hillside congregation breaks into: Born, Born, Born again, Thank God I'm Born Again one more time.

From here we line up behind the band from St. Jude's for the 2.1 mile trek back to St. Mary's, Above Rocks. Along the way we are greeted by well wishers who join us in song and dance as we pass.

Then back at church we gather for the closing prayer - our newly baptized in their white garments... the band plays one last song as the cold drinks and sandwiches are prepared. All will return tonight at 6:30pm (hoping to start by 7pm...) around the Easter Fire on the front lawn.

GOOD FRIDAY CELEBRATION

Today we celebrated Live Stations of the Cross and the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion at our mission in Rock Hall, Our Lady of Lourdes. This year we are having one celebration at three different worship sites (Mission Churches) and bus the others to the site for a fuller celebration of the Triduum.

Here you see Michael Stewart, Jesus, at the Second Station as two guards, Hassan and Rickie look on.

The ladies here in Jamaica tend to wear black and red for Good Friday. Here the ladies from Rock Hall pose for a quick picture. The quick count shows that just under 200 folks from the missions gathered for this second annual event.

Jesus is laid in his mothers arms... from the live stations (which ended on the steps of the church) we went into the Veneration of the Cross and then the Communion Service. We adore you O Christ, and we praise you; because by your cross you have redeemed the world!

Sr Bernardone Visits for High Holy Days

Sister Bernardone arrives for Holy Week and Easter. Sister seen here behind Sr Marcia (foreground) is greeted by Vernon (our driver) and Lloyd (our mason). Sister Bernardone brings to the Mission her great gift of MUSIC. Last night she accompanied our people as they sung, who usually sing accapella, and she picked up the Jamaican tunes with easy. We welcome Sister and look foreword to her continued support of the music during these high holy days.

Enter into Jerusalem... Let us go to God's House

On the front steps of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rock Hall, Fr Mike calls us to prayer and begins the Liturgies of Holy Week with the Passion (Palm) Sunday Liturgy. Here in Jamaica it is tradition to wear red on Passion/Palm Sunday. (Here to the left you see Fr Mike and Miss Narciss.)

After the traditional singing of All Glory, Laud and Honour as we process around the grounds at O. L. of Lourdes we pause at the threshold of the church to break into something more Jamaican: Enter Into Jerusalem, Let Us Go to God's House...

This week posts may be less frequent as we enter into the Liturgies (and preparations) for the Triduum and Easter Sunday. Join us in prayer as we await the singing of the triple A'word next week. PEACE!