The Saint Albert Mission Outreach Committee participates in Social Justice Ministry primarily by way of its support of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and Holy Spirit Foundation in Maggotty Jamaica. The committee has members who have traveled to Jamaica and maintain relationships with the persons directly administrating the church and mission activities. They provide the committee with a direct link to the work of the mission and keep it informed of their needs and successes on a regular basis.

Because Holy Spirit Catholic Church only takes in about $7.00 US per week in collections, they rely on donations from sister parishes and benefactors from around the world to carry out their ministry and we are grateful that the parish of Saint Albert has seen fit to assist the committee in order to further the work of the mission. As stewards of the funds raised from parishioners, the committee seeks with this document to articulate some of the many ways their contributions are supporting social justice activities.

The various programs and projects of Holy Spirit Foundation (HSF) are the direct outcome of the social ministry work of the Holy Spirit Parish in Maggotty Jamaica. The services and support offered are not based on religion or race. They are specifically tailored to serve the poor. A recipient of services does not have to be Catholic, however the services are provided following the principles of Catholic Social Teaching by persons who are ministers of the Catholic Faith. Because Saint Albert the Great Parish financially supports the Holy Spirit Catholic Church and Holy Spirit Foundation, it is important that we are able to verify that those funds we provide are being spent wisely on programs and projects that are consistent with the teachings of the church.

This document seeks to demonstrate some of the ways the programs and projects align with the Seven Themes of Catholic Social teaching as summarized by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Sections in blue below are reprinted from the website.

One of the most important things that can be done to try to attempt to stop the cycle of poverty involves education, so that is the primary program of HSF. Without a proper education, a person will be ill prepared to participate in a meaningful economic and socially just community. Most of the efforts to raise funds go toward paying for transportation and lunch for the children to attend public school on a regular basis because without funding, they will not be able to attend due to the cost of transportation. There are numerous other projects and programs which seek to encourage community, promote the teachings of the Gospel, and alleviate suffering, but most are either directly or indirectly related to the Education program. Many of the economic and social problems in Jamaica result from corruption, misuse of limited funds and abuse by those who are educated of those who are uneducated. HSF seeks to educate more within the context of Social Justice in the hope of improving the lives of future generations of Jamaicans.

The governance of the mission (the Church and the Foundation activities) is consistent with the principles of Catholic Social Ministry as indicated below. Numerous other examples can be given as to how the mission aligns itself with Catholic Social Teaching, but these are just examples.

The Church's social teaching is about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition:

1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person. The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. The intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks is always wrong. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

  • Sisters of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus run a clinic serving the poor (11,833 visits and procedures–4 Sisters). They conduct home visits and make arrangements for nursing home placement at times for those unable to care for themselves. They do not provide contraceptives.
  • Father Marek is a Chaplin for the police force and serves as a consultant to the force in addition to being available for counseling for prisoners if requested.
  • One mission group visiting in 2014 conducted classes about non violence in response to increased violence in the area. They taught games and conflict avoidance techniques to the children.

2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation. The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society -- in economics and politics, in law and policy -- directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and the family are the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

  • A parent or caretaker must participate in the Agricultural program one 5 hour day every other month per child in the Education program. This promotes dignity, builds community, promotes responsibility, and allows for families to get to know each other in order to become community.
  • Marriage and family is encouraged and supported- a prayer for families is recited each Sunday. Part of the reason for having a parent work in the Agricultural program is to reinforce this idea of responsibility.
  • When working together as a group in the fields or in other areas on the Mission, parents become aware of those who are perhaps even worse off than they are. This helps to promote the idea of common good and discourages self absorption and competition for charity without responsibility.

3. Rights and Responsibilities. The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

  • Parents and the children are constantly being subjected to the consequences of their choices, have to sign commitment forms to participate in the Education program and are held accountable. This has been a most formidable task for the last 12 years because the culture of poverty led many to just expect a “handout” with no responsibility. It is a constant and difficult lesson to teach equality and fairness for responsible behavior when for generations, it has not been taught, practiced or role modeled.

4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

  • The children in the program are all known to the Pastor and teacher. They are extraordinarily poor, often from single or no parent situations (grandparent caretaker or aunt). Parents are sometimes mentally handicapped or mentally ill.
  • Persons seen in the clinic are poor aswell.

5. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

  • The sausage factory is an attempt to create meaningful work for up to 200 persons from raising livestock, feed, and spices, to actually working in the factory or along the sales process.
  • The Agricultural program allows parents to participate in something they know how to do well.
  • The computer classes and internet café allow for preparing persons for job skills.
  • In association with Food for the Poor, projects assist directly. For example containers of donated supplies are shipped and items distributed and the farm program gives persons the initial animals to build from. In both cases there is a responsibility on the part of the recipient– to demonstrate either a donation of service to the community in return or responsible care of the business opportunity being given.

6. Solidarity. We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that if you want peace, work for justice. The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.

  • Mission trips to the Community Center promote awareness of what it means to be poor in an underdeveloped country. Lasting relationships are formed. These trips are life changing for some visitors. Individuals as well can make arrangements to travel there to work for as long as desired.
  • The library and computer center allow for the community members to feel a part of the world outside their community.
  • Mass is said for benefactors of the Mission each Wednesday. The children in the program write thank you letters to donors and are constantly reminded of the support they are being provided. Parishioners at Saint Albert receive updates on the mission activities at the Mission Outreach Meetings. It is believed that this relationship is vital to the goal of this project being more than just charity.

7. Care for God's Creation.We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan; it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

  • Visitors are challenged to conserve as everything is much more expensive there and resources are limited–but also because it is a good practice to consider continuing upon return home.
  • The children are required to pick up trash and are constantly reminded to take care of things and conserve resources, which is something they were not used to.
  • The exchanges between those with a lot and those with hardly anything provide for lifelong lessons for both.

Other ways members of Sister Parishes might support the Social Justice issues facing Jamaicans, include:

  • Visit the mission-organize a team to go.
  • Consult on some area of expertise that you can offer which may be needed (marketing, internet cafe ideas, educational testing, health care, educational programs, sewing, web site development).

When traveling to Jamaica and staying at resorts:

  • Refuse drinks using imported fruit concentrates when farmers are having to throw out their harvest because there is no market for their fruit.
  • Do not buy items “made in China” made to look like something from Jamaica.
  • Talk to the people who wait on you and learn about their lives.
  • Make eye contact.
  • Do not encourage begging by giving money to people unless you have received a good or service.
  • Do not insult someone by trying to buy something cheap–pay a fair price.

When you come home:

  • Conserve all natural resources at all times.
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle.
  • Live simply so others might simply live.
  • Hold charities accountable for how they spend the money you donate (such as by requesting to see or reading their annual reports if they publish them or, in the case of HSF, knowing the persons responsible directly–maintaining a relationship with those you are financially supporting).
  • Read an International paper so you know as much about what is going on outside the US as you do about various actors in Hollywood.
  • Pay attention to the food, coffee and chocolate you buy.
  • Don’t buy stuff you don’t need.

For more information about Holy Spirit Parish and Holy Spirit Foundation go to or search Face book for Holy Spirit Foundation Jamaica