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Poverty in Jamaica
Jamaica, a country in which nature
is so lush, but its people so very poor...		 A Jamaican woman before her poor house

At the request of His Exc. Bishop Paul Michael Boyle, Apostolic Vicar of Mandeville in Jamaica, the Sons and Daughters of Mary opened two missions in his Vicariate in February 1992.

The Sons of Mary – Bull Savannah
As soon as they arrived, several parishes were entrusted to the Sons of Mary. The missionary apostolate of the Sons of Mary was quite diversified, necessitating direct action in the most destitute areas. Thus, the Sons of Mary offered assistance, relief and comfort to the best of their ability. They brought Communion to the sick who were Catholic, provided spiritual and sacramental assistance without neglecting the material aspect, distributed foodstuffs and clothing, transported people who lived far from major centers, cared for the sick, provided visits and help in a school for deaf-mutes.

In September 1993, a high school was opened in Bull Savannah under the direction of the Sons of Mary. Several of them taught classes in different subjects, with the help of volunteer lay people who generously offered their services without pay for a year or more.

The Daughters of Mary – Black River
As soon as they arrived in the parish of Saint Theresa in Black River in 1992, the Daughters of Mary became involved in the parish, offering physical, psychological, moral and spiritual assistance.

They brought Communion to the sick or the elderly, taught catechism classes, established a choir and organized different activities for young people. A Sister with nursing experience offered first aid care to the most underprivileged.

Another Sister Daughter of Mary was appointed head of the kindergarten and pre-school in which there were close to one hundred students.

Students from the high school
The students of the high school
in Bull Savannah

One of the preschool classrooms
In Black River, some one hundred
children attend the pre-school.
It’s feeding time...
Sr. Lucille has
her hands full.

In 1996, the Daughters of Mary were given the responsibilily of the orphanage which they opened in the ancestral house located on their property. This house, abandoned for several years, had been renovated thanks to the generosity of volunteer Knights of Mary who participated in an apostolic voyage organized by the Army of Mary in 1995, for the purpose of renovating the premises which would later become home for orphan children.

A dozen or so children found refuge there, surrounded by their new mothers... Sisters, who made every effort to provide them with the necessary care.

It was in the generous giving of themselves that they met their daily tasks, seeking to create a family atmosphere in the house, an atmosphere in which everyone could grow in freedom, feeling that he is loved and appreciated. In order to accomplish this, they could count on the generous assistance of young volunteer adults who, each in turn, did not hesitate to give several months or even an entire year of their lives in the service of the missionary cause.

In July 2001, after nine and a half years of apostolate in Jamaica, the Daughters of Mary left their mission to return to Quebec.

© 1998 - All rights reserved: ÉDITIONS CO. DAME, Quebec, Canada

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