Latest Happenings In the Diocese: Blessing & Dedication of Eye Care Section of Holy Spirit Health Clinic in Maggotty, St. Elizabeth

On Jan 30, 2019, Most Rev Kenneth Richards, D.D., Archbishop of Kingston, Most Rev Charles Dufour, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mandeville and Most Rev Jan Pietrowski, Bishop of Kielce, Poland, performed the Blessing and Dedication of the new Eye Care Section of the Holy Spirit Clinic, as well as the newly constructed Trade Training Centre in Maggotty, St. Elizabeth.

Run by the Sisters Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of , the clinic offers health care not only to the Maggotty community, but to persons from the surrounding regions of

Accompong, Mountainside and Niagara. Patients travel from as far as Montego Bay to access services at the clinic for a small fee of $400, which covers examination, treatment and medication. The clinic sees approximately 500 patients per week, or about 14,000 patients per year.

Fr. Marek Bzinkowski, of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church L-R: Irena Cousins, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland, Most in Maggotty for 20 years, recently decided to expand the clinic Rev. Kenneth Richards, Archbishop of Kingston, Most Rev. Burchell to include specialized eye care, due to the great need for this McPherson, Bishop of Montego Bay, Rev Jan Pietrowski, Bishop of Kielce, Poland, Most Rev. Charles H. Dufour, Apostolic Administrator of service by the clinic’s clients. While visiting Medical Mission Mandeville, groups visit to examine persons and bring eyeglasses, they do not have the facilities to perform cataract surgeries and other specialized treatment.

The clinic expansion was funded with help from Most Rev. Charles H. Dufour welcomes persons to the Blessing & Dedication. Rev. Jan Pietrowski, Bishop of the Diocese of Kielce, Poland. Food for the Poor has also assisted with floor tiles, and by sourcing eye treatment machines and equipment for the clinic. They are also helping to make contact with volunteer ophtalmologists and eye surgeons who will perform examinations and treatment.

Persons will soon be able to access services such as cataract surgery for a small fee. These are persons who would have otherwise been unable to afford such treatment in any other facility.

A grant from a foundation from , as well as a number of private donors, has also allowed Fr. Marek to construct a new training centre. This addition to the existing Community Centre will become a space where short skills training courses can be offered to adults over 30 years, who have passed the age of eligibility for the HEART training programme . Persons who are illiterate, or those who wish to learn a skill such as carpentry, plumbing etc, or wish to upgrade their skills, will be able to attend these courses. Local and overseas volunteers have already indicated their willingness to share their skills, and RADA has also indicated an interest in providing training to interested persons.

The third construction is a new Auditorium which will be used as a venue to teach the performing arts to the youth and to be used as a community theatre.

Minister Floyd Green, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, made the Keynote address. Greetings were brought by Hon Beryl Rochester, Custos Rotulorum for St. Elizabeth, on

Above: A student makes a presentation to Minister Floyd Green behalf of His Excellency the Most Hon Sir Patrick Allen, Governor and gives him a hug in appreciation for his keynote speech. General of . Irena Cousins, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland was the Master of Ceremonies.

Below: The ribbon is cut by the Most Rev. Jan Pietrowksi, Bishop of Kielce, Poland. Also in attendance from L-R: Hon Beryl Rochester, Custos Rotulorum of St. Elizabeth, Most Rev. Charles H. Dufour, Apostolic Administrator of Mandeville, Most Rev. Kenneth Richards, Archbishop of Kingston, Student of Glen Stuart Primary School, Most Rev. Burchell McPherson, Bishop of Montego Bay, Minister Floyd Green, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.

www.mandevillediocese.org Published by the Diocese of Mandeville Feb 2019