The shoes, the cleats...Curley is Collecting!

The first pictures of the athletic shoe and cleat collection going on at Archbishop Curley High School. Through the Franciscan Youth Ministry (FYM) Office: Mr Jamie Long and Friar Matthew Foley are collecting much needed athletic shoes and football (soccer) cleats for St Mary's and Missions. Again- THANKS to the Curley Family for their support of St Mary's and Missions. If you know of a sport's team that would like to donate used (or new) shoes drop us an email (bro_duffy@hotmail.com) and we will definitely put them to good use.

My Honest Work by Fr Gary Johnson

My Honest Work

I am an observer here-

it is my pleasure to be such.

To my right, across the expanse below

where the schoolyard rests-

the post office.

Did I mention that we live on the side of a mountain?

We live on a mountainside.

From our back porch, which is actually the roof over two classrooms,

there is another larger expanse, a valley.

The view of the mountains and the clouds above

and below their tops

is breathtaking.

One day the clouds movement and the sunlight

Made it seem if the mountaintops were dancing.

I had to catch my breath and look again…

This mountain,

and the side of which I speak is just north of Kingston, Jamaica.

We live, as you may have guessed, in Above Rocks;

Where morning, afternoon and evening, any time of the day or night

there is always an inviting scene to view.

This makes it easy to do my work, and a pleasure.

I am an observer here.

A poem by Father Gary Johnson who assited here at the Mission from August through December. The mural by Fr Joseph Dorniak.

Rebuild My Church

The Youth and Young Adults of the Mission gathered today for a Day of Recollection at Immaculate Conception Convent. The theme for the day was Rebuild My Church. Like Francis, this 800 year old invitation, is extended to the youth and young adults of St Mary's and Missions. Fr Mike began the day with Matthew 25 - the Parable of the Talents. Once we identify our gifts and talents, how can we use them for the building up of the Church in Above Rocks, Cassava River, Pinto and Rock Hall? The morning session ended with Praise and Worship. Through the generous offer of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegheny, the day was paid for and through Sr Ceil's generous support, even lunch was paid for... THANKS!

The afternoon was a time for an address by the newly elected president of CYM, which we call FYM, Andre Simms. Then a short presentation by the Archdiocesan an Family Life Office on the Pro Life movement here in Jamaica. The day ended with prayer at which time each participant was given a small stone with a Tau cross (painted on it) to remind them they are called to Rebuild the Church!

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The day ended with one hour of pool time... even the most shy eventually got in the pool. Thanks to one and all who helped make the day a huge success.

Catholic Schools Initiative - Cluster Day

The Archdiocese of Kingston, under the direction of Archbishop Burke as been engaged in reclaiming our Catholic Schools. Out of the Catholic Schools Secretariat for the Archdiocese was born a work group known as : Catholic Schools Initiative under the direction of Mrs Marjorie Hobbs. Over the past 18 months the group has been meeting and strategies of how we can reclaim our Catholic Schools. Yesterday one fruit of this process came to be: the first Cluster Day for Catholic Students of: Marymount High School, Highgate; St Catherine High School, Spanish Town; and our own, St Mary's College Above Rocks. Marymount High School was our host site and approximately 50 students participated.

The day began with registration and a snack (bun & cheese and a cold drink - thanks to Msgr Albert and Mr Marlon Creary). Then we went into our morning Devotional led by Fr Charles Brown (aka Fr Charlie). Msgr Albert gave the Keynote address, he challenged our young adults to know their faith. Small group work set to answer the questions: what is like to be teen and Catholic? in your family? in your school? if you play a sport or play in band? with your peers and in the community? A wonderful lunch was served and after lunch we heard the testimony of Kevin Alock. Kevin challenged the students to be counter-cultural. We ended the day with Liturgy celebrated by our new Ordinary, Archbishop Donald Reece the Archbishop of Kingston. While His Grace was scheduled for Liturgy at 1pm he spent the entire day with us. His Grace challenged the students to stand up for their faith, to boldly profess their Catholic faith and remember that they are martyrs for Christ each time they so so. The slide show catches us arriving...registering...listening...praying. A good day was had by all, and we look forward to our next Cluster Day.

The Changing of the Ordinary . . .

Yesterday, at a packed Cathedral, the clergy, religious and laity paid a found farewell to His Grace, Archbishop Burke, SJ, the 4th Ordinary for the Archdiocese of Kingston. Just shy of four (4) years Archbishop Burke offered his resignation at the time of his 75th birthday in October 2007. On October 12th a Coadjutor was appointed by Pope Benedict, and at the recent ad limina visit to Rome Archbishop Burke's resignation was accepted, effective Saturday, 12 April 2008.

At the end of the Liturgy Archbishop Burke removes his pallium (the symbol of his being an Archbishop) and then he turns and offers his crozier (his pastoral staff, and sign of his authority as Ordinary in the Archdiocese) to his sucessor. In these two gestures he ends his tenure as the seated Bishop for the Archdiocese and a seamless succession to His Grace, Archbishop Donald Reece, 5th Archbishop of Kingston.

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If ever there was a man who epitomizes what this Sunday's lesson is: the Good Shepherd; Archbishop Lawrence Burks is that man. In the 32 months that we have been here- he has been a leader and a friend; a father and a brother; a true Good Shepherd. On behalf of the friars and sisters, and the entire faith community of St Mary's and Missions, we extend prayerful support to Archbishop Burke as he retires and to Archbishop Reece as he assumes the office.

The picture at the top is of Archbishop Burke greeting the people of God after Liturgy, a Missionary of the Poor is greeting His Grace. Below is a picture of Archbishop Reece greeting some of the ladies after Liturgy.

Founder's Day Celebration - St Mary's College

Tuesday, 8 April 2008 marked the first Founder's Day Celebration at St Mary's College. Using the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew 1 ... we recalled the principals: Mrs Green, Mrs Clarke, Mrs Davidson: the Jesuits: Fr Cheney, Fr Gary and Fr Louie; the Past Students Assoc: Beverly Yearde, Leslie Campbell and Ian Harris; and the past Student Council Reps: Horane Plunkett, Dadrian Manning and Kadine Atkinson. Dr Polly Bowes-Howell gave a rousing keynote: follow your dreams!!! Just as the Founder had a dream for education in the hills of St Catherine (and some called him the mad man of the hills) . . . so too should you, the student body, pledge yourself to follow your dream . . . for in our midst this very day is the next principal, the next board chair, the next Jesuit or Blue Sister. The day's prorgamme [sic] ended with the cutting of the cake (Beverly Yearde and Fr Louis Grenier) and the past principal (Mrs Clarke), the acting principal (Mrs Davidson) and the choir singing the Bells of St Mary's.

Called To Serve

This past weekend (April 4-6) eight young people from our 4 Missions attended a Leadership Workshop/Retreat. Participants learned the meaning of leadership and developed their communication and organizational skills. They also developed a 5 -year plan for youth ministry in the Vicatiate of Saint Catherine. Father Michael presented a conference on leadership styles.


Young people complete a self-reflection exercise - listing their strengths/weaknesses - They learned that self-awareness is the foundation of a good leader.

At the conclusion of the weekend, Andre Simms, a member of Holy Family Cassava River, (yellow shirt) was elected President of the Vicariate Youth Ministry.

Evangelization Workshop #3

Today the third session for the Evangelization Training was held here at St Mary's. The two prior sessions were held at st Catherine High School, Spanish Town, for all the teams of the Vicariate, but today just the team from St Mary's gathered for the practical part of the training.

Sr Gail, a Trinitarian Sister, and Sr Paz, a Daughter of Mary, coordinate the Evangelization efforts for the Vicariate. They are joined by Miss Pete and her team from the Archdiocesan Office for all our sessions.

The snap shots here show the sisters (Sr Naomi, Sr Paz and Sr Christine, top pic) chatting as the participants gather and have a "cup of tea." Also shown are two groups sitting during their break after the small group work: befriending, telling their faith story, recalling the Christ story, inviting and integrating. Next year we will start Step II. Meanwhile all are encouraged to spread the Good News and invite, invite, invite.