Christian missions

It’s a different world past Montego Bay. The Catholic Church is deeply committed to walking with the poor there. And there’s a role for us to play, too.

Passionist Father Jim Price is an American priest serving in south-central Jamaica in the impoverished rural mission Diocese of Mandeville. He coordinates both the Pontifical Mission Societies and the evangelization office for the diocese, where Catholics make up less than 2 percent of the population. “The Catholic population is small,” Father Price explained, “but our outreach is vast regarding education, medical aid and various forms of assistance.”

Caring for the human needs of the people of rural Jamaica and sharing the Catholic faith with them calls for a heightened sensitivity to the history and culture of the Caribbean’s second-largest island — and second poorest nation.

It’s a different world past Montego Bay. The Catholic Church is deeply committed to walking with the poor there. And there’s a role for us to play, too.