Clergy, Religious share first days after ‘Melissa’

JAMAICA

The Archdiocese of Kingston confirmed that they have lost a church, school and rectory in Black River following Hurricane Melissa. A Catholic Opinion Online article reported that Fr Francis Arumanaithan has led several forays into St Elizabeth to contact communities there. “We have managed to locate Fr Thomas Ngigi, Deacon Tony Hall, and wife Esther. However, they have chosen to remain in Black River with their communities despite our making arrangements for them to leave,” the local news source said. It further stated that “the clinic, convent, rectory, hall, and computer room in Maggotty…roofs all gone. Amazingly, the church alone is intact and dry.”

The team accessed Maggotty by climbing over landslides and walking a mile. Fr Marek and the Sisters had given away almost all their food and water and needed gas for generator use.

“The people have been coming to them, and they don’t have anything left to give them. They say people are dying and their relatives are having to dig holes to bury them because they are decomposing.”

Bishop John Persaud of Mandeville and Fr Francis have since been back to bring supplies for the community. This, the news source said, will be “an ongoing endeavour.”

The church community has been rallying with donations and supplies. It reported damaged churches and schools in Balaclava and Oxford, and the Santa Cruz clinic roof is gone.

The infirmary in Balaclava, run by the Missionary Sisters of Charity, has a concrete roof that is “leaky”, and was therefore covered by a secondary zinc roof.

The zinc roof lifted during the hurricane and immediately all residents from second floor were moved to the ground floor. They have since been able to return them to the second floor. Schools, churches, and rectories across the Diocese have had less damage but repairs are still costly.

In Montego Bay, the Chancery and rectory and convent roofs are gone.

Rectories have been flattened in Seaford Town and Savlamar. Catholic Opinion Online said that Fr Moris Achid has been sleeping in his car. He has managed to communicate through a community member with Starlink service.

“But we are grateful for making it through the storm. We will need to rebuild, and also help our community members rebuild,” the report said. Its housing ministry will be pivoting to become a housing repair ministry for the months ahead. The team is also working with and accommodating agencies who are coming in to give support. “It’s a hard road ahead but we’ll get through.”