Catholic Charity Work in Jamaica

Jamaica is an island country located in the Caribbean Sea and sustained by its service economy. Jamaica’s neighbors include Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. It’s 2.9 million people are mostly of sub-Saharan African ancestry. For over 500 years, Jamaica has been predominately Christian, with 70% of its population Protestant, 28% other denominations, and 2% Catholic. There are three Catholic dioceses in Jamaica with the largest in Kingston. The Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) was founded in 1981 in Jamaica to serve the poorest of the poor. Fifteen years later, in 1996, the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor (CFSOP) were founded and they have gently served the poor and marginalized in Jamaica ever since.

Feeding the Hungry

The Mission in Jamaica

COVID-19 hit Jamaica hard and its people have suffered greatly with the tourism industry grinding to a halt. Hotels are closed. Many service workers are displaced. Children are out of school and languishing at home. The overwhelming impact has reached the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor (CFSOP) in the Diocese of Montego Bay. Explore the other tabs to learn more about how the sisters deliver basic needs to those who are the most vulnerable and hungry.

CFSOP in Jamaica are helping people during Covid pandemic

Jamaica_CFSOP_ Care packs_food_distribution

Feeding the Hungry

In Montego Bay, many children and their families are struggling throughout Chester Castle, Seaford Town, Grange Hill, Cambridge, and Glendevon in the rural Catholic parishes, mission chapels, ghetto communities and Children Homes. CFSOP through their call to show mercy to those in need and “to shine a little ray of Christ’s light” have developed CFSOP COVID 19 Care Packages and Food Distribution Outreach Programs to respond to the community’s cry for help.

Through these compassionate programs they deliver vital basic needs to children and families in St. Agnes, Sacred Heart, St. Mark, St. Mary Angels, and St. Paul parishes and communities. 150 of the poorest and most vulnerable families are receiving care and compassion through these outreach programs. In addition to nutrition, the humble sisters provide educational assistance and school supplies hoping to keep these children engaged and providing a hope for a better tomorrow.

Jamaica CFSOP many children and their families are struggling

Jamaica_CFSOP_ Care packs_food_distribution 2020

Packages to Distribute to the Families

Winter 2020

Catholic World Mission, through the generosity of its donors and the general fund, was able to help CFSOP procure immediately needed food supplies for suffering children and their families. The sisters were able to make bulk purchases of food such as rice, counter flour, corn meal, and meats. They created care packages to distribute to the families “for the love of Jesus and to bring hope to His people as they struggle through these difficult days.”

Currently, the CFSOP are the only religious community who are registered and able to freely clear containers of donated goods and mission supplies without being heavily taxed. This makes it possible for them to help even more Jamaicans who are struggling. The sisters continue to develop their program and hope to sustain it in “order to assist those who are poorest, most vulnerable, and experiencing great suffering.”