On Saturday, March 15, Bishop Charles Dufour of Montego Bay presided at the Chrism Mass when the Chrism, Oil of Catechumens and Oil for the Sick are blessed. Priesthood is a central focus of the liturgy. I usually attend the Chrism Mass in Cincinnati where the Cathedral is packed and many priests are in attendance. There were 12 priests concelebrating, three of us visitors. Two priests were absent. Of the 11 working in the diocese only one is Jamaican (and the bishop). The rest are from the USA, Samoa, Fiji, Nigeria and the Philippines. Of the 11, five are leaving in the summer. While the Church in Jamaica is small, meeting their needs is a real challenge for the Bishop.

The Coat-of-Arms of the Diocese of Montego Bay
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

The façade of the Cathedral
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

The interior of the Cathedral
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

The view from the front doors of the Cathedral
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Another view from the front doors
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Bishop Dufour with Franciscan Br. Vince, the Master of Ceremonies
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Br. Vince giving directions to the Bishop.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Bishop Dufour with Fr. Joe Hund, pastor of our mission in Sav-la-mar
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Some of the gathered priests
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Several priests
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

All servers from the parishes and missions are invited to this Mass. The Bishop hopes to inspire vocations in this way.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Servers
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

I am with servers from St. Joseph in Sav-la-mar, one of our missions.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Br. Vince is the administrator and Fr. John Joseph is the pastor. Br. Tom assists in various capacities. The 4th resident of the friary is Clare. Not to worry—Clare is a dog.

The Palms in the side yard
Photo by Lascelles Mellers

Blessing the Palms
Photo by Jill Watson

The servers are ready.
Photo by Lascelles Mellers

The presider enters the church.
Photo by Lascelles Mellers

Hey, don’t bother me. It’s Sunday afternoon and I worked hard this morning.
Photo by Jeff Scheeler, OFM

Fr. John Joseph returned on Monday of Holy Week after successful heart bypass surgery.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Sometimes I just can’t resist…by the way, the little boy on the right is my friend Lascelles Mellers.
Photo by Jim Bok's Camera

I baptized Errol Forrester two years ago. He is a faithful member of the parish. He has a little farm in the hills. He has no running water or electricity and his transportation is an old bicycle. The friars have assisted him with his farming. Now he has an irrigation system and a motor scooter.

Errol on his farm
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Errol’s water tanks hold 1600 gallons. He collects rain water and has water trucked in.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

We furnished the PVC pipe and Errol installed it.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Errol turns on one of many strategically located spigots.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Errol picks some callaloo (kind of like spinach) for me.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Errol’s front door
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

The words hanging above Errol’s door
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Errol has begun to build himself a little house. When he has extra funds he buys materials. Building “little by little” is common in Jamaica.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Fr. John Joseph (JJ) presided at the Easter Vigil and I presided on Easter Sunday morning. Julie Lewis and Andrew Nosworthy were baptized and Bilouxi English came into full communion. Julie was baptized in church and Andrew in the pool at the Rayon Hotel, two doors down from the church. At the Easter Vigil there were a few tourists. Most in attendance were the local faithful.

On Easter Sunday morning we had about 300 people in attendance, the majority tourists, and way more than the church could hold. We rented a tent for the yard next to the church. The sun is already quite hot at 10:00 a.m. The Easter Bunny visited after Mass, a first for the Jamaica children—and adults, for that matter. The visitors enjoyed him too.

All the friars from both missions gathered for evening prayer and dinner later in the day. Br. Vince and I managed to get to the beach to celebrate the joyous day.

Clare prepares for her Easter bath. Br. Vince has to carry her to it against her will.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Once in the tub,Clare becomes resigned.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Br. Vince has the church decorated for Easter.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Fr. JJ is prepared for the Vigil.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

The faithful gather.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Julie is called forth for baptism.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Julie is baptized.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

The pool at the Rayon
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Andrew is called forth for baptism.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Andrew’s baptism
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Andrew’s baptism. I’m on the pool’s edge taking the previous photo.
Photo by Jill Watson

Fr. JJ comes out of the pool after Andrew.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Back in church Julie and Andrew receive the light of Christ and are clothed in white garments.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Bilouxi makes her profession of faith with her sponsor and husband Michael.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Bilouxi, Julie and Andrew
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Michael, Br. Vince, Bilouxi, Julie, Andrew, me, Peter Fong (Godfather for Andrew) and Fr. John Joseph
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Br. Tom does the music ministry at Mary Gate.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Br. Tom with his choir; Miss Yvonne, Miss Bilouxi, Miss Pearl and Miss Kathleen
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

A little girl from the parish in her Easter finest
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

The church is packed.
Photo by Lascelles Mellers

The overflow is under the tent.
Photo by Lascelles Mellers

Communion distribution under the tent
Photo by Lascelles Mellers

Where’s the Easter Bunny?
Photo by Lascelles Mellers

There he is!
Photo by Jim Bok's Camera

The Easter Bunny with parishioners and visitors
Photo by Jim Bok's Camera

Tourists wanted a picture with the Easter Bunny.
Photo by Jim Bok's Camera

The friars in Jamaica for Easter – Front row: Humbert (helping at Sav while Felix is on a home visit back in Pakistan), John Joseph, Joe (pastor at St. Joseph’s in Sav), Vince. Back row: Louie (ministering in Sav), me, Tom, and Jeff (our Vicar Provincial and assisting at Sav and its missions for Easter). After this photo we went to the Rayon, site of the baptism, and had Easter dinner together.
Photo by Stan Holland, T.O.R.

My associate, Colleen Cushard, and I attended a meeting of the development directors from the 7 U.S. Franciscan provinces. The meeting was in Albuquerque, NM, lending itself to a visitation of some of our friars working in the area. Here is a quick visit with them.

Our Lady of Fatima is built in a Hogan shape, a traditional Navajo structure.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Fr. Blane, pastor, prepares for the entrance procession at Mass.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

A baby was baptized during Mass.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

The light of Christ is given to the child.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Blane greets folks as they leave church.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Colleen and I pose with Blane.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

We visited St. Michaels Mission, St. Michaels, AZ, on the way to Chinle. It is the first place the friars from Cincinnati went on mission in 1897. This is the original mission; a residence for 3 friars and a small chapel.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Frs. Bruce and Bryant Hausfeld, brothers, minister at Immaculate Conception Church and missions in La Luz and Cloudcroft. Br. Bill Spirk assists at IC.

Fr. Bryant works with young men who are in prison and being released from prison. He calls it ministry to inmates and exmates.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

We visited the inter-provincial Border Project, a collaborative ministry to immigrants, and Fr. Henry Beck, Catholic chaplain at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).

Colleen is pictured with Frs. Joe Nelson and Frank Probst outside the mission of La Purissima, the parish they administer. Fr. Francis Wendling will be joining the project after his sabbatical. Francis has been and will continue to be the chaplain at Casa de Asis, a home for street kids in Juarez, Mexico, just across the border.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Fr. Henry, Colleen and a student who works part time in the Newman Center office.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Henry and I sit next to the new Newman Center sign. The new center was just opened a few months ago. By the way, those are UTEP hats we are wearing.
Photo by Colleen Cushard

I’ve often written about Casa de Asis, a home for street kids. It was founded by our Fr. Francis Wendling and Sr. Frances Alonzo, a Franciscan sister. It’s one of my favorite places. During our visit we took the kids to Peter Piper Pizza for pizza and ice cream. The place has a game arcade and the kids have a great time.

Profe Mario, a retired school teacher/principal comes to the Casa every day to tutor and work with the children after they get home from school.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Kindergartner Jesús honing his coloring skills.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Aaron, Ernesto, Jesús and Kevin
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Did someone say pizza?
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Playtime at Peter Piper
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

More playtime
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Pizza time
Photo by Colleen Cushard

Sr. Frances, aka, Madre, and me. She is the director—the “mother”—of the Casa.
Photo by Colleen Cushard

Jesús likes ice cream.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Armondo likes ice cream.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

And, yes, Madre likes it too.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

Colleen with Madre
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.

See why I love the Casa de Asis.
Photo by Jim Bok, O.F.M.