Recovery efforts continue in Jamaica

By Kaelanne Jordan

mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

“We stand with you in your time of need,” Archbishop Kenneth Richards of Kingston said in a statement November 5, expressing solidarity with Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa.

He added that the storm had hit the western parishes particularly hard, “where lives have been lost and livelihoods shattered.”

Rejecting the idea that the hurricane was divine punishment, the Archbishop reflected on Jesus’ teachings: “When Jesus spoke about suffering (Lk 13:1–5), He reminded us that such events are not God’s judgement but a call to conversion, compassion and solidarity. We believe in a God who walks with us.’”

Churches and Catholic schools have rallied to provide relief, distributing care packages, welcoming displaced students, and assisting affected institutions. Commenting on this Archbishop Richards said, “Together, we are embodying the Gospel call to serve.”

Highlighting the role of hope in the recovery process, he quoted scripture: “And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:5).

A special collection for the ‘Hurricane Melissa Relief Fund’ is planned for the Solemnity of Christ the King on Sunday, November 23. The Archbishop’s Development Fund Collection will follow on Sunday, December 28.

Devastation in Mandeville

Bishop John Persaud of Mandeville returned to the island Friday, October 31, after being away during the hurricane. He described scenes of widespread destruction: “The images I saw on television prior to my return did not prepare me for what I would eventually experience as I visited communities in the Diocese of Mandeville. IT IS BAD. In some places it looked like a ‘war-torn area’ like Ukraine or Gaza,” Bishop Persaud said in a November 6 statement.

In it, four communities in the Mandeville Diocese were “badly hit”: Black River (“clearly the worst hit”), Maggotty, Balaclava, and Santa Cruz, all in the civil parish of St Elizabeth. “This is not to say that other areas do not have damage and destruction but not on a scale as these,” Bishop Persaud said.

He detailed the damage: all buildings in Black River have been “pretty much destroyed” and the church, school, and rectory severely damaged. In Maggotty, the rectory roof and Convent  are “gone”, and other buildings have been destroyed. However, the church remains standing “almost untouched”.

In Balaclava, the building that houses both the Missionary Sisters of Charity and a home for aged destitutes has lost its roof. The church doors were blown off and destroyed. There was “minor damage” to the church in Santa Cruz and the roof of the medical clinic is gone.

According to Bishop Persaud, reports from Montego Bay indicate “much more damage” to church-related buildings than in Mandeville. “We have lost roofs to the Chancery building, the Cathedral rectory, parish hall, convent and all three schools,” the statement said. The Parish of Reading’s rectory roof was lost, church and parish hall roofs still in place but leaking “badly”.

The two mission communities of this parish has had significant damage to the church and school. The church at Savanna-la-Mar has been destroyed and significant damage to the Sir Clifford Campbell School.

In Lucea, “we have lost a major part of the church’s roof.” The church roof at Discovery Bay is “completely gone”. Seaford Town has been hit badly, “all our buildings have lost their roofs. The parish priest is presently sleeping in his car.”

Despite the devastation, Bishop Persaud said, “I am OK, all our priests and Religious sisters are OK.” He continued, “Our bodies are tired, but our spirits are strong.”

He said they are trying to respond to emergency needs: covering roofs, providing water, food, hygiene kits, lamps, etc. This is being done with partners such as Caritas International, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Food For The Poor (FFTP), Samaritan Purse, and others.

“It will be a long and painful road to recovery, but God has given us the signs (a tabernacle untouched in St Theresa’s Church at Black River, the Holy Spirit Church in Maggotty untouched) that He is with us and will continue to walk with us. The spirit of the Jamaican people is amazing and resilient.”

He thanked the public for their support: “Thank you for your prayerful support, your care, concern, and love expressed in so many ways. We are truly experiencing what it means to be CHURCH, the Body of Christ. As we face the future we know that you are walking with us and this gives us much encouragement and hope.”