​When we think of Jamaica, the thoughts of Ocho Rios, beautiful beaches and wonderful scenery come to mind—all of which are part of the island. A year before becoming a priest of the Diocese of Mandeville, I spent 5 days with our founding bishop touring the diocese—and, I saw a very different side of Jamaica! 
 
Bishop Paul Boyle said to me: “We have dire poverty.  It’s something the tourists don’t see, nor do the television ads feature.  Our people are poor.  Jamaica is one of the poorest nations in the hemisphere after Haiti, and our diocese is the poorest part of Jamaica.” 
 
In the Diocese of Mandeville, there are about six hundred thousand people. Sixty eight percent have no running water; only, outside latrines. Families are using “primitive methods” of disposing human waste—they go into the bushes. People need  basic necessities of life:  food, clothing, shoes to wear, mattresses—many need a home. The average annual income in Jamaica is US$1,500.00—a little less than $29.00 per week. Many workers don’t receive even this wage.  Among people’ aged 15 to 19, 25% are “functionally illiterate.” Many of those who are functionally literate have severe reading problems.  Seventy-five percent of students who take standardized testing cannot pass even one subject. There is an alarming number of destitute elderly and abandoned/neglected/abused children and adolescents. People are dying every day from diseases, which no longer exist in the United States because we have adequate medical care. BOTTOM LINE:  the Diocese of Mandeville is very, very poor!

In this three part series, professionals in the field of health care and in the church shared their knowledge of what to expect when a person nears the natural end of life, how to provide compassionate care, and what steps need to be taken in preparation and upon death. 

Visit also: Spiritual

What is a parish mission?
We take our cars in for periodic oil changes. We see our physicians for an annual physical or wellness check. The same is needed for our spiritual lives, individually and as a faith community, and we can't always get away for a retreat. So a parish mission is that "shot in the arm", that energizing renewal of our personal faith as Jesus' disciples and our parish community's commitment to the Body of Christ.

Due to technical difficulties, sessions 15 & 16 were not recorded.  October 31, 2016 session was cancelled.
​The last gathering was November 21, 2016.

A two part series with Dr. Paul Ford.