THE ACTION STARTED AS SOON AS I LANDED
Trip # 10 Will Be a Very Busy One
Trip # 10 Will Be a Very Busy One
Pam (the Pastoral Centre housekeeper) and Collitta (the cook) treat me like a king when I am visiting. They wash and iron my clothes and cook my meals - something I do for myself at home. They are standing in the new kitchen we were able to remodel about a year ago.
I had a meeting on Thursday with Sandra Davis (center) and Clyde Fitzpatrick (right) and Fergal Redmond (taking the photo) to make preliminary plans for my visit with the Minister of Health to plan the second shipping container of surplus medical supplies from Supplies Over Seas in Louisville, Kentucky.
The need for these supplies is critical, especially in the outlying clinics and the city hospital.
A SURPRISE VISIT TO SISTER CARMEN'S
Second Grade Class
Second Grade Class
Saint Mary's School
I took them some packets of cookies and a new tooth brush. I recently sent them down some school supplies.
Sister Carmen has 25 kids in her classroom, which is very small and divided from the next classroom
by a small screen. All the classrooms are packed with kids and crowded next to the next classrooms. The classrooms were also very, very hot. They have no playground because it is in the heart of the city of Kingstown.
I was told, even in these conditions, the testing success rate is about 98%.
I am told they make do on tuition that amounts to @$50.00 US dollars per semester per child for those who can afford it!
LOCAL POLICE HELPING OUT
The local police help deliver a hospital bed for Msgr. George (age 89) who is recovering from a stroke at the Pastoral Centre.
Thursday evening Mass crowd at the Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Kingstown, SVG
At the grocery, we parked next to the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) van. Many countries have an embassy here.
Neal, the maintenance man, at the Pastoral Centre looks like a Martian in his safety shield.
A stunning view of the sea from inside the newly built Saint James Chapel inside the Pastoral Centre.
You can also go out on a "prayer balcony" from inside the chapel for an even better look at the sea.
The bishop is very happy with it. Below is a photo of the old chapel with no windows and which held about 6 people maximally. It was basically a walk-in closet.
MY NOON MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL EXPERIENCE
I celebrated noon Mass today at the Cathedral. It was quite an experience indeed! I was sweating from the heat under my three layers of clothes. Outside the open windows (no air-conditioning), crowded in the court yard, were many, many of the 600 Catholic school children in recess - yes, 600!
Along with that, there was a street person in the back of the church acting up and yelling something all during Mass. I was practically screaming all during Mass to the 15-20 people who had come for Mass! Last night's Mass, even though there were several kids in the courtyard, kicking a ball and screaming, was a piece of cake! Remember, they do not have a playground!
This photo was taken from the church window right before the huge number of kids flowed out of the classrooms above and below the stairs.
The Cathedral, and Saint Mary's School adjoining it, were designed by an eccentric monk-architect from Belgium who lived here many, many years ago. It looks like a castle made out of rough volcanic stones with turrets and arches and towers and winding staircases. The whole complex is surely a nightmare maintenance wise!
MEETING WITH THE
PERMANENT SECRETARY
Ministry of Health
Mr. Cuthbert Knights
to discuss a second shipping container of surplus medical supplies from SOS in Louisville.
Clyde Fitzpatrick, Cuthbert Knights and myself.
Fergal Redmond, who also attended the meeting, took the photo.
Mr. Knights was very happy with the contents of the first shipping container. He talked about all the good it has done and about the ongoing needs of this island country. The meeting went very well. We will have a final word from the government soon about the funding needed for shipping. We hope to have a second container on site by November.
IT HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL TWO DAYS SO FAR
THE BUSIEST TWO DAYS ARE COMING UP
I am told they make do on tuition that amounts to @$50.00 US dollars per semester per child for those who can afford it!
LOCAL POLICE HELPING OUT
The local police help deliver a hospital bed for Msgr. George (age 89) who is recovering from a stroke at the Pastoral Centre.
Thursday evening Mass crowd at the Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Kingstown, SVG
At the grocery, we parked next to the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) van. Many countries have an embassy here.
Neal, the maintenance man, at the Pastoral Centre looks like a Martian in his safety shield.
A stunning view of the sea from inside the newly built Saint James Chapel inside the Pastoral Centre.
You can also go out on a "prayer balcony" from inside the chapel for an even better look at the sea.
The bishop is very happy with it. Below is a photo of the old chapel with no windows and which held about 6 people maximally. It was basically a walk-in closet.
MY NOON MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL EXPERIENCE
I celebrated noon Mass today at the Cathedral. It was quite an experience indeed! I was sweating from the heat under my three layers of clothes. Outside the open windows (no air-conditioning), crowded in the court yard, were many, many of the 600 Catholic school children in recess - yes, 600!
Along with that, there was a street person in the back of the church acting up and yelling something all during Mass. I was practically screaming all during Mass to the 15-20 people who had come for Mass! Last night's Mass, even though there were several kids in the courtyard, kicking a ball and screaming, was a piece of cake! Remember, they do not have a playground!
This photo was taken from the church window right before the huge number of kids flowed out of the classrooms above and below the stairs.
The Cathedral, and Saint Mary's School adjoining it, were designed by an eccentric monk-architect from Belgium who lived here many, many years ago. It looks like a castle made out of rough volcanic stones with turrets and arches and towers and winding staircases. The whole complex is surely a nightmare maintenance wise!
MEETING WITH THE
PERMANENT SECRETARY
Ministry of Health
Mr. Cuthbert Knights
to discuss a second shipping container of surplus medical supplies from SOS in Louisville.
Clyde Fitzpatrick, Cuthbert Knights and myself.
Fergal Redmond, who also attended the meeting, took the photo.
Mr. Knights was very happy with the contents of the first shipping container. He talked about all the good it has done and about the ongoing needs of this island country. The meeting went very well. We will have a final word from the government soon about the funding needed for shipping. We hope to have a second container on site by November.
IT HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL TWO DAYS SO FAR
THE BUSIEST TWO DAYS ARE COMING UP
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