GUYANA
Mercy Resident Care received a digital keyboard, sponsored by Friends of Mercy on behalf of the De Mendonca/Martins families formerly of New Amsterdam, now resident in Canada.
Two of the residents at the centre were delighted to play for other residents. According to a Catholic Standard report, both Dr Joycelynne Loncke and Jane Defreitas are committed Catholics who also have been involved in music all their lives.
Defreitas learnt music at a very early age and started playing the organ at Brickdam Cathedral in the 1960s, retiring about one year ago.
Loncke comes from a well-known musical family, being the daughter of the famous Francis Loncke. Friends remember her as a young teacher at St Roses High School playing the piano for morning assembly at the school. She became a professor at the University of Guyana and has received several awards.
(Taken in part from SJMH Facebook page).