SMC - Guidance Dept Award

Yesterday St. Mary's College's - Guidance and Coun- seling Department were among six finalist for Region 6. Sr Naomi and Br Michael represented the Board of Management at the ceremony held at the Holiday Inn in Montego Bay. St. Mary's College came in 4th for their Guidance and Counseling Plan for the 2008 - 2009 Academic Year. The program sponsored by the Jamaican Association of Guidance Counsellors [sic] in Education included a pointed speech by the president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association and an ambitious address by the new CEO of the Ministry of Education, Ms. Grace McLean. Both speakers were supportive of the guidance and counseling programs across the island and thanked the counselors for the impact they are having on the young people in Jamaica.

Below you will see Mrs Davidson, principal (left), the Guidance Dept in the centre, and Br Michael, Chairman of the Board (right).

Do You Hear What I Hear?

On the evening of the Second Sunday of Advent, Church Members from St. Mary's Above Rocks, St. Helen's Linstead and Apostolic Mission Hall joined Holy Family Cassava River for their annual Christmas Concert. Joining voices with the Heavenly Hosts, songs filled the "cool" night air (70 degrees) as they "prepared the way of the Lord" on their Advent journey.

Pastoral Visit - First Sunday of Advent

On Sunday, 29 November 2009, Archbishop Donald Reece, joined the faith communities of St Mary's, O L of Lourdes, Sacred Hearts and Holy Family for Super Sunday (5th Sunday of the month) in Above Rocks. while the Ordinary might be expected to celebrate at the Cathedral Church on the beginning of a New Liturgical Year, His Grace said it was important for him to make a pastoral visit to St Mary's and Missions. All four faith communities were well represented and the presidents of each local church assisted with the Advent Wreath Service. After Communion the St Mary's Dancers provided us with a song and movement for our meditation, and 10-A-C Lewis had the chicken foot soup ready when we hit the back steps. Below you can find a 3 minute slide show of the day's events. Thanks for visiting the BLOG.

Please note: we are aware of the missing "h" in Bishop below. It appears spelled correctly in the text box but when the frame is formatted for the slide show it drops the "h" - we have tried to fix the spelling without success. Thank you for your understanding.

Comments

Thanks to our benefactors and friends who leave us comments after viewing a post. Due to electronic posts that are not from benefactors and friends, all future posts will be reviewed before they are posted. Thank you for your continued support of the Mission. PEACE!

Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord

Today marked the annual blessing of graves in the Archdiocese of Kingston. All four of our Churches have areas where the dead are buried. After each Mass this morning we blessed the graves of those who have gone before us and remembered the many contributions they made to the Mission.All-powerful God, whose mercy is never withheld from those who call upon you in hope, look kindly on your servants who departed this life confessing you name, and number them among your saints forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN

27 Months . . . but B V M Arrives

In February of 2006 a friend of the Franciscan Friars, +Aunt Josie, died in Baltimore, MD. Her family wanted to donate a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Mission, as +Aunt Josie had a great devotion to Our Lady. So in May of 2007 the family purchased the statue. At first we were told it had be shipped to a "Brother Michael" in Central America. Then a few months later we were told she was on the island (Jamaica) but they just couldn't put their finger on the exact location. In August of 2008 we found here, in a garden in Mandeville. Actually she had been sent to the Passionist "Brother Michael" in Mandeville, where she was given a home on the lawn of St Paul's Cathedral. Through the tireless efforts of +Aunt Josie's Family, especially Pat, the long awaited statue was put in her home today. My hunch is: she could have walked from Baltimore, MD, to Above Rocks, Jamaica in 27 months...what do you think?

Special THANKS to the

Karwoski Family!

St Francis Day

St Francis Day Celebrations - Through the permission of the local Ordinary the Friars were able to celebrate the Feast of St Francis at the weekend liturgies (vs 27th Sunday of the Year). After Mass at each of the worship sites the Franciscans (friars and sisters) joined with the people of God for cake and juice (above). Later Sunday afternoon the Franciscan Sisters of Allegheny joined us for dinner (below). . . here you see: (left to right) Br Michael, Sr Marcia, Fr Michael, Sr Goretti, Sr Colleen, Sr Angela and Sr Terecita enjoying dessert, awaiting the full moon to come over the distant mountain. Not pictured, because she's getting the picture for us, is the FSE Postulant, Ana.