Power of love evident following Princes Town RC burglary

Call it the power of God’s love… such an overwhelming outpour of love and support last week from the national community upon learning that ruthless burglars made off with thousands of dollars worth of kitchen appliances big and small, utensils and foodstuff from the soup kitchen of the Holy Cross RC Church, Princes Town was nothing short of amazing, according to kitchen manager Joan Lee Chong.

The kitchen is located on the church’s compound at Buen Intento Road, Princes Town and the theft was discovered on Tuesday (June 26) afternoon by the cook who had gone to prepare the meals for the following day.

And so it was in this the ‘Year for Love’, in less than 24 hours after news of the incident became public, phones were ringing off the hook. On Thursday (June 28) afternoon, frowns turned into broad smiles for those involved in the day-to-day operations of the facility.

Thanks to the enormous generosity of Price Club, Chaguanas who not only replaced the stolen goods including foodstuff, but also delivered a chiller among items the kitchen never had and thereby restoring faith in humanity.

For the past 19 years, ‘Friends of Holy Cross’, a female-dominated group of parishioners, have been providing hot meals for the less fortunate in Princes Town and surrounding communities. Last week Wednesday (June 27) was the first time there weren’t any hot meals for those most in need.  As many as 70 mouths are fed every Wednesday at lunch.

For well-wishers gathered at the soup kitchen on the day, it was sad to see clients, including babes in arms, being turned away one by one. But the goodness of God prevailed and continues to do so not only from corporate Trinidad and Tobago but from ordinary citizens.

Lee Chong held back tears as she spoke of how events unfolded. She said: “There are so many people calling. I am really overjoyed and overwhelmed because we got back everything and more.  By 4 o’clock on Thursday, a truck loaded with everything including things we did not lose.”

Guide’s Funeral Home, Advance Commercial Equipment Limited among other companies have also offered support to ensure that their corporal work of mercy continue in the community.

Lee Chong said: “I really feel good to know that there are people out there who are willing to do things like this. We get the bad, and then the good certainly outweighs the bad.”

Efforts are now being made to increase security on the compound.

Parish Priest Fr Santhosh offered the Mass last Saturday for all the generous donors. – Cecily Asson, parishioner.