January 1, 2011 - New Year's Day

New Year's Day, World Day for Peace, the Solemnity of Mary . . . Today is the Octave Day of Christmas -- the Eighth Day of Christmas -- which now marks the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. It used to commemorate the Feast of the Circumcision of Our Lord and bore the title In Circumcisione Domini et Octav Nativitatis. It represented Jesus, the "Giver of the Law," as consenting to submit to the Law of Moses, and also as spilling His blood for the first time for the sake of mankind. Thus, it demonstrated not only the obedience of Jesus, but foreshadowed His Crucifixion.

The eighth day following His birth, Jesus was presented in the Temple and circumcised according to the Law of Moses. On this occasion, He was given the name Jesus, which the Archangel Gabriel had announced to the Virgin Mary.

Whatever you call it - Happy New Year from the friars and sisters in Above Rocks. May you and those you love, know the blessing of our new born King, today, and the whole year 2011. PEACE!

Fr Andrew Santamauro

We welcome Fr Andrew Santamaura, one of our friars on Campus Ministry Staff at The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. Fr Andy made an offer to come and help for Christmas when we gathered for Chapter back in June. Fr Andy followed through on his word, and joins us to help with the Christmas and Holy Family celebrations. Here Fr Andy pauses for a photo with the people of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rock Hall.

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While Fr Andy has been enjoying a good dose of Vitamin D (sitting in the sun on the porch), now he's following the "blizzard on the East Coast" on the Internet and the Weather Channel hoping he'll make his connections and up to see his mom in Connecticut. We thank Fr Andy and pray God's speed in his travels.

CHRISTMAS 2010

• This Savior whose birth we celebrate ushers in a new story for human- kind, one that tells of changed rela- tionships that are made possible by the mystery of the incarnation, the story we remember this day. With the incarnation there is a new marriage of divinity and humanity, of heaven and earth. There is a new family. And we are part of that family of God.

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Blessings to your family as we celebrate the Birth. PEACE!

The Friars and Sisters

Happy BirthdayS

Thanks to our generous state-side donors, we were able to treat some of our children to a pre-Christmas evening out. Dinner at KFC, desert at famed Devon House in Kingston and a visit to the Jamaican Pegasus Hotel to see the Christmas lights made the night magical. Prior to our trip into the city, we paid a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, parishioners of our church community in Pinto. Carrying a birthday cake and a package of fish, we sang "Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to this joyful couple who, in addition to celebrating Jesus' birthday on the 25th, have some celebrations of their own.

Oh, Christmas Tree

Yum!

Mrs. Simpson turns 96 on December 25th. Mr. Simpson is 100 years old! The couple will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on the 25th

Basics Come Together

Saint Mary's Basic School and Sacred Hearts Basic (Pinto) gathered last week to celebrate the birth of Jesus with their annual Christmas Party. A good time was had by all and then the little ones (ages 3,4,5) needed a nap! Thanks to our friends at Saint Louis Parish Batesville, Indiana, Santa was able to give each students a stuffed animal or doll.

Little ones line up to take a shot on goaaaaaaal!

Howard and his dog

Father Michael breaks the "Cliff Lee" news to his little friend

Little Joseph eats his ice cream and juggles his baby

Advent Week 4

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

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This Sunday begins the final week of preparation for Christmas: schools here on the island are closed and most businesses will shut down come Wednesday, at the latest Thursday midday. So much attention to this holiday. As we draw near to the great Feast of Christmas we too must heed the message: how shall we name Him? Will He be with us? We must make ready a place in our homes and in our hearts to receive

"God with us!"

The weather outside is ....

We feel your pain. Watching the news from the States it seems that old man winter is paying a visit before the official start of the season. Our friars in South Florida tell us it is in the 30s up there. We are not being spared either. The temps plunged to about 60 this afternoon - we didn't even need to turn on the fans for Holy Hour. May we all pray the Jesus, the Light of the world, will come and warm us this Christmas.

Advent Week 3

“Are you the one who is to come,
or should we look for another?”

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As we celebrate Guadete Sunday, rejoice Sunday, the midway point of the Advent Season, the question posed: are you the One, or do we look for another is our focus. If we have a preconceived notion of who the King is and how He is to arrive - then we may miss the King and continue to look for the one we think is coming. Are our eyes open? Are our ears listening? Is our heart disposed? for the message . . . for the King . . . Unless we step aside and "prepare" our hearts, our senses, we might miss Him. So,

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are you the One, or should I keep on looking?

It slices, it dices, it julienne fries

He's better than the "vego-matic" at the New England Expo - yes he cleans, he cooks and he celebrates Eucharist. Here are two more shots of Fr Michael Zielke. The bowl he's mixing: his legendary Christmas Fruit Cake! We want to thank Fr Michael, and wish him God's Speed as he makes his journey back to Baltimore tomorrow.

"Let the wilderness and arid land rejoice!"

Yesterday, December 11, the youth of our four Church Community joined 50 other young people from our Deanery VI for an Advent Day of Prayer. They traveled up to Mt. Tabor in Golden Springs, Jamaica, to get away from the noise and lights of the commercial prep for Christmas. The day was conducted by Bill and Teresa Carroll, a newly married couple from Arizona. The are giving their first year of marriage as a year of service to the people of Jamaica. The day was a great opportunity for our youths to get to know other young Jamaicans as well as prepare spiritually for Christmas.

Bill and Teresa with the 75 youths on their Day of Prayer

Advent Gathering

This past week the friars and sisters hosted a pre-Christmas gathering for the Consecrated Women and Men of the Archdiocese of Kingdom. the evening began with Evening prayer I for the Immaculate Conception and was followed by drinks and hors d'oeuvres on the back veranda of the Friary. Ham and roasted turkey (being carved by chef Tennessee) with all the trimmings were served in the St. Louis Educational and Social Center. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together as we prepare for the Lord's arrival.

Father Michael with some of the Women Religious of Kingston Archdiocese. To Father Michael's right is 95 year old Franciscan Sr. Jean. She is a native Jamaica and it was her first visit to Above Rocks.

Fr Michael Zielke Makes Visit

We welcome the rector of St Stanislaus Basilica,

Fr Michael Zielke .

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The jury is still out - who took longer to get here: Fr Michael or the Blessed Mother Statue in memory of his late Aunt Josie. Fr Michael is seen below posing with some of our St Mary's students and visiting the statue of epic delivery. Today Fr Michael has graced us with his culinary skills. After a quick run to MegaMart and Family Pride, he's whipped up a fresh apple pie, a glombki dinner and has the fruit cakes ready to go in the oven after they cool down.

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We are blessed to have him with us!

Visit theier website: www.saintstanislaus.org/index.htm

Advent Week 2

A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.

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Here in Jamaica the idea of "fixing the road" is a metaphor with which all can identify. The call this second week is to make ready the way; ready for December 2010, to daily ready our hearts, and most importantly, ready for the Second Coming. What are the pot holes that impede us from making the path straight? Is there over growth that we need to trim back because our forward vision is becoming obstructed? Does "the every day rain of life" distract us? lead to greater potholes?

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Remember make straight His path!

Turkey with shoes

The family of Father Michael Martin OFM Conv. (Duke University) gathered for their Thanksgiving Feast this year with a little different twist. Along with bringing the turkey and all the trimmings to the table, each guest brought a pair of shoes to be sent to the Mission. Blessed with many gifts from the Lord, The "Martin Sisters" felt that a great way to show their thanks was to give to those who have less. A BIG thank you to all who will help our Jamaican people to travel "over the river and through the woods...!"

Advent Week 1

Therefore, stay awake!

For you do not know on which day

your Lord will come.

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As we begin this Season of Advent - as we wait for the Lord's coming at Christmas, we also prepare for the Lord's Second Coming.

We wait - be alert!