Boxing Day 2008

Hundreds of children and adults descended on the Mission compound today for the Annual Boxing Day fair for kids. Although there were a few rain showers, all had a tremendous time. Miss Gloria prepares the chicken and pork to jerk on the coal fire.

Father Brad deals with little Fitzroy (who loves the attention) before he begins his day selling raffle tickets for a Digcel CD player.

"Field of Fortune" is a favorite among the fair goers.

Many members of Saint Mary's participated in this day of fun for the kids as well as a fundraising endeavor. Our people are proud that they are able to do something in order to support their Church.

Santa "Claws"

"Father, Santa doesn't come to us poor kids - he only visits the rich kids in Kingston." While many children all around the world woke up this morning with eyes wide open to find all the goodies under the tree left by Santa, our little ones were not as lucky. Santa will visit them, thanks to the generosity of our Mission Friends, tomorrow at the annual Boxing Day Fair at Saint Mary's. Children will have the opportunity to play games, win prizes, jump in the bounce about and enjoy jerk chicken and pork, rice and peas and chicken foot soup.





Here Benie and his brothers know the real meaning of the Season as they adore the New Born King.







This afternoon the Friars and Sisters made the last minute preparations for the Boxing Day menu. Brother Michael and Sister Naomi worked on the chicken "claws" - feet for the soup to be enjoyed by all tomorrow.

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Merry Christmas to all our Mission Friends. The faithful of our four Church Community offered special prayers for all those who support us with their prayers and gifts. Our Liturgy today began at dawn (6:00am) at Holy Family, Cassava River. After Mass we gathered around the newly purchased Nativity Scene.

Liturgy at Our Lady of Lourdes was at 8:00 followed by a 10:00 Eucharist in Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Pinto. In Above Rocks the people sang out "Go Tell It On A Mountain" - very appropriate since we are located on a mountain!


Here the children gathered at the stable to welcome the new born (the new figures are the same size of many of our little ones)

One this day of the celebration of the Word made Flesh, all four Churches were honored to use new Gospel Books thanks to the generous contributions of students and teachers at Saint Rose Grammar School, Belmar New Jersey

The People Who Walked In Darkness

Today the faithful of the Mission were getting ready for the Feast of the Incarnation. The Creche (Thanks to Aunt Evie) was installed with the light of the star and our people prepared for Boxing Day (12-26-08)

(A BIG Thanks to our friends at Archbishop Curley High School for the toys). Unfortunately a fire at Parks Road knocked out power for 7 hours today but we know that Jesus Christ will bring Light into our darkness in just a few days!

O Little Town Of Rock Hall

The weather was coooold up in Rock Hall, the site of our Church Our Lady of Lourdes. This past Sunday night the people of our Church reenacted Greccio, the site of the first Nativity scene by our Founder, Saint Francis of Assisi.

Like those people of the small Italian town, our Jamaicans dressed as The Holy Family, shepherds, kings and angels and placed before our eyes the humble beginnings of Jesus, our Savior.

Following the program, hot chicken foot soup and hot chocolate was served to the "frozen" faithful who braved the 66 degree temps! With only a few more days until Christmas, our people are getting ready to celebrate the Feast of the Incarnation with Eucharistic Liturgies beginning at 6:00am on the 25th.

Thanks Bonnies! Eh

One the 3rd Sunday of Advent the Friars and Parishioners of The Franciscan Church of Saint Bonaventure in Don Mills Canada, invited Father Michael to speak at all the weekend Liturgies about the Jamaican Mission. Following the Masses there was a good will offering taken and the people were EXTREMLY generous! Although the tempature in Above Rocks was 35c and in Don Mills it was -3c with snow on the ground, the warmth of the Community truly made the difference. Saint Bonaventure is a vibrant Parish with many ministries and they take their call to spread the Word to all nations very seriously, especially to this little Carribean Country. Visit their web site http:www.st-bonaventure.ca/ to see this dynamic Community!

Kids will be Kids...

Christmas will be Christmas . . . even when it's over eighty, the fans are on high, the friars have shorts on and the sisters are wiping the perspiration from their foreheads - all to hear our children sing, Silent Night, in a packed auditorium. Yes even in Above Rocks our school children come together to re-enact the birth of Jesus, sing a verse or two of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and feast on jerk chicken. The Sunday Christmas Pageant put on by St Mary's All Age School was a two hour plus extravaganza.

The crowd was over flowing and the performance of the children was excellent.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

All is a buzz . . .

Today the campus was " a buzz" with students of St Mary's All Age preparing for the Christmas Concert this Sunday, 7 December. In the past four years we cannot remember the level of excitement and preparation for this event. The drawing card is the recently completed auditorium where each class will offer a poem, a song, or a skit. As you can see - even the front steps of the Church provided a perfect venue for practice. More on this big event on Monday.

Advent Day of Recollection

The team from St Mary's and Missions (pictured below: Sr Naomi, Fr Brad, Fr Michael, Br Michael and Sr Marcia) took an overnight at the Immaculate Conception Convent in Kingston to pray and spend some time away to reflect (Dec 3/4). The twenty-four hour spiritual oasis allowed for quiet, shared prayer, holy hour and Mass...the day was concluded with a birthday dinner for Fr Brad.