Curley Crew: Service Week - Slide Show #2

The week has passed quickly... lots of work and sunshine and no rain has allowed the Curley Crew to tackle the auditorium project and finish it in four days. (A little low on pipe water!) Under the watchful eye of their president, Fr Mike, who has worked each day alongside his team - the auditorium has not looked as good in 40 years! Here's the second installment of Curley's Service Week.

Erdman & Sinclair comes to Jamaica!

Fr Michael Martin, OFM Conv, President of Archbishop Curley High School, Mr John Koegler, VP for Facility Operations and Mr Marty McGinty, Athletic Trainer, have brought our first group of high school aged students (11 total) to the mission for a service week. To follow is the first installment of a slide show of Days 1 & 2..

Western CT State University - Alternative Winter Break

The students from the Newman Club at Western Connecticut State University joined us for a second year. Again this year Fr Michael Lasky brought 14 high spirited collegians ready to be of service to our mission - the task: paint the church in Pinto, Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary.

In addition to manual work, the students helped in: the Cupertino Program - the after school reading and homework assistance program; the Fasini Feeding Centre - the feeding program; the clinic; and in social and recreational moments with the children.

Fr Raymond Borkowski, through a family member, arranged for a donation of over run promotional items from a company in New England. Seven pallets of "stuff" arrived this week- and the students helped in the distribution.

On Friday we end the week with a day on the beach, enjoying the Caribbean waters. Imagine as we took a swim it was 30 degrees back on Danbury with a cold front moving into the Northeast.



We thank the WCSU Students, Fr Michael and Fr Raymond for their continued support of the mission.

20+C+M+B+08

For the second year, the Friars have offered to bless the homes of our parishioners around the Feast of the Epiphany. Asking for the Lord's blessing on the members of the household, the house is sprinkled with holy water as a sign of new life and the main door is marked with 20+C+M+B+08. The letters stand for the first letter of the name of each King who visited Jesus and the year is noted showing that the Lord blesses the home in 2008.

144,000

This past Saturday, 178 young people from the Vicariate of Saint Catherine gathered at Saint Marys for a Study Day presented by Father Jude Winkler OFM Conv.. The theme for the day was the Book of Revelation. Our young people are often questioned by their peers from other faith traditions concerning this often misunderstood book. Father Jude gave the Catholic understanding of this last Book of the Bible and the participants now know the real meaning of "666", the beast, and were comforted to discover that heaven is not limited to 144,000 but rather is open to all.

The day included a Eucharistic Holy Hour with Praise and Worship. Lunch (chicken foot soup, beef patties and juice) was provided as well as time for socializing that included basketball, football (soccer) and dominoes.

The 178 youth represented the largest youth gathering ever for the Vicariate. Thanks to our benefactors back in the States we were able to offer this productive day!

Fr Jude Winkler, OFM Conv

Fr Jude Winkler a member of the St Anthony Province, USA, has been with us these days sharing his expertise and breaking open for us - The Book of Revelation: A Catholic Perspective. Fr Jude has had a busy schedule: Franciscan Sisters Retreat, O L of Lourdes and St Mary's last weekend, talks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this past week, and on Thursday a presentation at the Pastoral Workers Meeting for the Archdiocese of Kingston. Fr Jude is with us through the 22nd, and booked right through. We'd like to thank Fr Jude for sharing his passion with us and helping us understand better the Book of Revelation.

The computer's been sick

Soon after the phone lines were restored the house computer took sick... thanks to a benefactor a new house computer has been secured... and with we hope postings will be more regular. Thanks for bearing with us.

PEACE!