Franciscan Relief Fund mobilized to support Jamaica

One week after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, the immensity of the devastation in the impoverished areas where the friars serve is becoming clear.

Franciscan Friars Charities, the charitable arm of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, has activated the Franciscan Relief Fund to help people recover from the extensive damage wrought by Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms to develop in the Caribbean.

Hurricane Melissa was a Category 5 hurricane when it passed through Jamaica early last week. The 185-mph winds and torrential rainfall destroyed homes and businesses and left many in the communities of Negril and Revival without access to food, water and shelter. Authorities are still working to restore access to water and electricity to the area.

The friars in Negril have quickly mobilized to assess the community’s needs after the storm.

Each day they ground their hearts in faith through Morning Prayer and Daily Mass before heading out into the community to provide vital services:

• The friars serve warm meals daily through St. Anthony Kitchen, and Br. Colin King, OFM, has established a partnership with World Central Kitchen to provide additional nourishment and support to the Negril area. The friars anticipate a significant increase in the number of people coming to the kitchen, expecting around 400 to 500 people a day.
• Brothers Seraphim Gonzalez, OFM, Ricky Ferrer, OFM, and Phil McCarter, OFM, are working to clean the Revival Clinic, which provides basic medical care, and are also looking into creating a mobile clinic to visit remote areas.
• The friars have also been visiting parishioners, many of whom have lost their homes. The friars have provided them with some immediate relief – water, cup noodles, crackers – but many will need to completely rebuild.

The friars are also assessing damage to the local churches they serve. Portions of Mary, Gate of Heaven’s roof were torn off during the storm. While it has been temporarily fixed, it will need extensive repairs. St. Luke Church in Little London has lost two water tanks and the trailer meant to serve as a clinic was knocked over during the storm. A tree punctured the roof of St. Julie Church near the sanctuary and sacristy, with additional damage in the parish hall.

The friars are helping as many people as possible, but the need continues to grow.

Please help the friars ease the suffering caused by this catastrophic event by donating to our ministries in Jamaica. Let our friars in Jamaica be extensions of your generosity and compassionate heart.

Together, we can help the people of Jamaica survive the aftermath of the worst storm to ever hit the Atlantic basin.

Hurricane winds ripped off roofs and flipped houses. The friars have been visiting parishioners and offering them basic essentials. (Photo courtesy of Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish)

St. Anthony Kitchen is partnering with World Central Kitchen to feed 400 to 500 people a day – numbers last seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish)

Br. Tim Lamb, OFM, serves up fresh food at St. Anthony Kitchen. The kitchen remained open for as long as possible before the hurricane’s arrival, serving over 200 meals on Monday, Oct. 27 before the storm hit. (Photo courtesy of Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish)

Revival Clinic, which provides access to basic medical services, sustained damage during the hurricane. Br. Seraphim Gonzalez, OFM, pictured here, and the other friars are working to reopen the clinic and possibly provide a mobile unit to visit remote areas. (Photo courtesy of Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish)

Br. Maxwell Klug, OFM, celebrates Mass in Mary, Gate of Heaven Church after the storm. Portions of the roof were torn away during the storm and have been temporarily fixed while awaiting permanent repairs. (Photo courtesy of Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish)

Fraternity is a cornerstone of Franciscan ministry. The friars have begun each day with communal prayer and ended with a shared meal by candlelight as they wait for electricity to be restored. (Photo courtesy of Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish)