Jamaica Mission
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Jamaica Mission Team!
Jamaica Mission Team
The West Middlesex Catholic Family of Parishes would like to form a Jamaica Mission Team to help with the planning of mission trips, fundraising, the collection of donations and ongoing communication with Fr. Marek and the parishioners of St. Elizabeth parish in Maggotty, Jamaica. If you would like to join the team, please contact Monica Thorpe at 226-238-3708.
Jamaica Mission Trip
The dates for this year's mission trip are August 5 - 15. Volunteers are needed! If you feel a calling and you have a talent or gift for music, art, sport, or a skill like carpentry, dental/healthcare please call Monica Thorpe at 226-238-3708 for more information. The cost is $1600 per volunteer which includes flight, food and accommodation. Valid passport and proof of vaccination required. Check out this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.
com/Holy-Spirit-Foundation- Jamaica-137800012920675/ Jamaica Mission Fundraiser
Join us on Sunday, June 12th from 1 - 4 pm at the All Saints Parish hall for a Silent Auction fundraiser. Sample Jamaican cuisine and enjoy Jamaican music. Fr. Marek will join us via zoom to tell us why our help and support is so vital at this time more than ever. There will also be door prizes, a children's prize table and lots of fun for the whole family. Please consider donating a silent auction item (contact Monica Thorpe at 226-238-3708). All proceeds will be sent to Fr. Marek for his Holy Spirit Foundation. For information go to https://holyspiritjamaica.
org/ Items Needed for Jamaica
Once again donation boxes will be in place in the narthex at All Saints Church and at the back of Sacred Heart Church in Parkhill until the end of June. Items most needed at this time: Back-to-school supplies including geometry sets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, laundry bars, good quality (gently used) shoes, black/brown/blue socks, hats, and First Communion clothes
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Latest update - 2021 Report
Hello Everyone,
It has taken a while to get this 2021 video report completed, but it's finally done!
It is hoped you will enjoy watching the video in which we tried to paint a picture for you of what was accomplished last year despite the fact a team could not go down to Jamaica in person. Covid has hit the people of rural Jamaica very hard; so, in addition to our usual shipments of educational resources and music equipment, donations of personal care items, clothing, food, etc. were sent down to help meet some practical daily needs.
Click here for video.
Thank you to all for the different ways support was given towards our efforts in 2021. None of what you see in the video could have been possible without the many individuals who got involved in unique and different ways to help make it happen.
Sincerely,
Karen Walls
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Letter Back to Monica...please read!
Hi Monica,
I wanted to share with you a few more things I've received since my last email to you, as these details might be helpful in showing others about the work of Father Mark and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Maggotty. Below is a video sent yesterday by Sister Rita; this is such a typical daily scene at the clinic--someone gets up and starts leading in hymns and choruses that praise God while everyone is waiting to be seen. They line up as early as 6 a.m. in hopes of medical attention when the gates open at 8:30 a.m.. It's a long walk and a long day for the poor Jamaicans who live in a constant state of 'waiting' and hope, and have learned to be content as they wait.
VIDEO-2021-07-19-15-09-17.mp4
As well, I am sending you a couple samples of applications from students who have graduated high school through the Holy Spirit Education Foundation and are now applying to the Holy Spirit Higher Education Scholarship Program for financial assistance with post-secondary education. This information was accompanied by the following note from Father Mark in response to my inquiry as to how much it cost to help a student pursuing university, college, etc.:
Expenses for each student are different. It depends what they study, where they study, how many credits they take. It depends also if they are able to stay with family or just rent an apartment and take care of everything.
Please note the figures are in Jamaican dollars. Divide by 123 and you will get the approximate Canadian dollar cost. (There are $123 JMD in one CDN dollar).
FYI, Father Mark leaves Jamaica on August 18th and returns from Poland on September 22nd. So we are setting September 28th as the target date for the shipment to be picked up at the customs clearing wharf in Montego BAy. This means we need to have the shipment ready for August 30th to send down. Will that work for you? We could meet up the week of August 23rd.
Bye for now! (I was donated a box of 48 brand new Yamaha recorders, each in its own little beige canvas bag -- they're going to be given to Brae's River Primary School where Camille teaches.)
Karen
Attachments area
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We sure could use your help!
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Items for Jamaica
The Village of Maggoty, in the Parish of St. Elizabeth, is one of poorest areas in Jamaica. The people there have been profoundly affected by Covid-19 and are greatly in need of food and medical supplies. The pastor, Fr. Marek, has been putting food packages together while 3 Sister Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus run a medical clinic. A crate of much needed donations will be shipped at the end of August. The following items are needed: Good quality running shoes/sandals (because they walk everywhere!), new black, brown or navy socks (to match School uniforms), new underwear, gently used summer clothes, lightweight fleece (twin) blankets, 100% cotton fabrics, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap bars, Sunlight laundry bars, Playmobil, Lego, Mechano and any other educational toys and workbooks (all grades). Monetary donations are also welcomed (please donate to your own parish in your usual way and make a notation “Jamaica Collection”). Items can be dropped off at All Saints Church, Strathroy or pick-up can be arranged by calling Monica Thorpe at 226-238-3708. Deadline for donations is AUGUST 10.
Donations appreciated to cover the cost of shipping the crate. The crate itself costs $550 and shipping is $1200.
Here is some detailed information regarding the Holy Spirit Foundation's education fund:
The Holy Spirit Centre Educational program started in 2001 by financially supporting 3 children with funds needed for transportation and a meal during their school day--children who otherwise would not be able to attend school.
Today, there are 200 children attending school, sponsored through the education program. The resident missionary teacher, Marta Socha, administers the program in which children receive necessary funds, supplies, homework assistance, tutoring, supervision and encouragement to succeed in school.
The children know and meet the expectations of the program, which include daily attendance at school, accountability for funds received for transportation, and proper progress in their studies. Parents of sponsored children are required to volunteer in the Holy Spirit Centre's agricultural program which generates income used towards the education fund.
The average costs for public school in Jamaica in US dollars for children in HSF Education Program are:
Tuition: $50 for these children below poverty line.
Uniform: $50 per child per year. Each child needs at least 2 uniforms due to heat and laundry hardships. This includes shoes, socks, and underwear.
School Supplies: $20 per child.
Lunch: $198 per child ($1 per day, 22 days per month for 9 months).
Transportation: $297 per child based on an average cost of $1.50 per day.
TOTAL $665 per child per year
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