The parish has undertaken to support the work of the Missionaries of the Poor in Uganda. This project is being managed for us by Aid to the Church in Need, whose national headquarters are in this parish. The Missionaries of the Poor were founded by Father Richard Ho Lung in Kingston, Jamaica in 1981. At first a small community of four men provided help for destitute and homeless people in Jamaica. Their mission expanded to care for prisoners, those living in slums, and those who are suffering from physical or mental disabilities. From 1984 the Missionaries of the Poor had established several residential centres in Jamaica. At present, in Jamaica alone, they house over 600 destitute and homeless men, women, children, infants and HIV/Aids patients.
In 1992 a group of brothers went to southern India to open the first mission
outside Jamaica. New missions followed in the Philippines (1993), Haiti
(1994), Uganda (2000) and Kenya (2007). Today, Missionaries of the Poor,
has over 250 professed religious brothers and priests. There are in addition
over 350 young men in formation in their mission houses. To save on costs,
some of the missionaries will now have their formation in Kampala, Uganda
The project that we are now supporting is the building of a formation centre
in Kampala; a cross shaped, two-storied building capable of housing up
to 30 religious brothers. When this project is finished, we hope to continue
to support the work of the Missionaries of the Poor in other ways.
Father Richard Ho Lung writes;
“I am happy that, as best I can, I have lived a simple life and have done
good work without seeking any personal advantage in return. I love working
to bring a positive sense of God’s love to others. There’s nothing more
fulfilling.”
|
