Meet Sisters Ann Marshall and Nancy Sullivan
Working in Jamaica may sound like a pretty easy job, but
Sisters Ann Marshall and Nancy Sullivan can
tell you that life in Annotto Bay on the Northern coast isn’t
the leisurely beach life that tourists might see. As Sister
Ann says,"It’s hot and challenging, but we love
it."
|
Sisters Ann Marshall and Nancy Sullivan
|
Sister Ann and Sister Katrina Rooney arrived there 13 years
ago where the Canadian Jesuits had a small church, 4 hillside
mission churches, 4 Kindergarten Schools and 2 Primary Schools
and a great need of pastoral help. Life since then has been
both arduous and grace-filled.
Over the years, the Sisters have been involved in a number
of projects. One of the many projects Sister Ann is involved
with is a literacy program for ‘street boys’. These
are young men who have left school, are generally illiterate
and have neither work nor useful occupation to employ them,
so some get into trouble. The program uses Peace Corps volunteers,
local volunteers and persons paid through the agency Jamaica
Self Help to teach them reading and writing skills. Sister
Ann describes one young man who said to her recently, "Sis,
I feel so proud of myself, I can read a newspaper."
The building for the street boys program is located at the
local public school and was constructed as a result of efforts
by the Rotary Club of Hamilton and the Hamilton Wentworth
Separate School Board.
The Sisters work gently with teachers at the schools to
improve their teaching skills; help the aged and infirm, sponsor
children and youth to continue their schooling, sponsor an
occasional children’s party, build up the church communities
and make efforts to inform Canadians on their trips back to
Hamilton about the great needs of Jamaica’s poor in their
part of the island and also about Jamaicans’ great gifts
of faith, simplicity and sharing.
They routinely carry supplies into Jamaica when they make
the trip home to Hamilton, everything from school supplies
to canes and walkers as such things are very expensive to
purchase there.
Since the murder of their pastor, Canadian Jesuit priest
Fr. Martin Royackers a year ago at the door of the church,
Sister Nancy has become the Administrator of the 5 churches.
Two deacons conduct church services and funerals and the lay
people are being organized and educated to perform pastoral
functions.
You might think these two have more than enough on their
respective plates, but they have plans for the future. These
include finding more teachers to teach math as well as literacy
to the street boys. They want to assist with the Annotto Bay
Beach Project, a CIDA-supported eco-tourism development once
the beach is cleaned up. And there’s a desperate need
for housing for the many destitute poor.
The Sisters publish a newsletter to let people at home know
what they are doing and they welcome Canadian prayerful and
financial assistance. Indeed, says Sister Ann, "We couldn’t
do the work we do without all the dozens of people who have
provided support and love."
The Jamaican project of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton
gives hope to people both in Jamaica and overseas. It is a
stunning example of patient, cheerful and courageous partnerships
with all who desire that the human person be able to live
with meaning and dignity.
Back to Meet a Sister
|
