Ellen Salmi Van Cleef and Br. Dan led a mission trip to Jamaica this week with five other members of the USA Marist Young Professionals: Isabella Douglas (Marist Youth Intern, Brownsville, TX), Jonathan Fechtel (Science Teacher, Marist Catholic High School, Eugene, OR), Erin Gilbert (Province Communications Director, Chicago, IL), Keanu Orfano (Campus Chaplain, Marist University, Poughkeepsie, NY), and Jens Salva (Database and Events Assistant, Mount Saint Michael Academy, Bronx, NY). The trip offered opportunities for service, reflection, and the sharing of Marist community. Participants stayed at the Immaculate Conception Hostel, and each evening the group gathered for prayer and reflection centered on themes of gratitude and generosity, with invitations to presence and simplicity woven throughout the experience.
Sister Senitila, a Marist Missionary Sister, served as an unofficial guide throughout the trip. The group was welcomed with a dinner prepared by the Guadalupe Munro Skills Training Center, a ministry rooted in over 70 years of Marist Missionary Sisters’ service in health, education, and pastoral outreach in Jamaica, in partnership with the Catholic Women’s League of St. Richard’s Parish. The Center is dedicated to upholding the dignity of every person and empowering individuals—especially women and the less fortunate—through education, skills development, and community transformation.
On Saturday the group visited St. John Bosco Vocational Training Centre, where they were warmly welcomed by Sister Susan and Sister Mimi. Newton Coote, master chef, manager of the Centre’s Catering Department, and a longtime friend of Br. Dan, guided the visit, which included a tour of programs in crop production, commercial food preparation, nail technology, greenhouse technology, and butchery. For more than 50 years, St. John Bosco has equipped young Jamaicans with practical skills, certified training, and meaningful work experience rooted in Catholic tradition and Mercy Corps Values. In partnership with the HEART/NSTA Trust and City & Guilds, students receive regionally and internationally recognized certifications while gaining hands-on experience through on-campus business enterprises that integrate agriculture, culinary arts, and social enterprise. Emphasizing sustainability and climate resilience, trainees learn modern, eco-friendly farming practices such as water harvesting, irrigation management, composting, mulching, crop rotation, and greenhouse cultivation.
Lunch was shared at The Falls Restaurant on campus, featuring meals prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including crops and meats produced by the school’s own farms and butcher shop. Through enterprises such as Bosco Meats, catering services, and the campus restaurant, students gain real-world experience from farm to fork, preparing them to thrive professionally while serving their communities.
Sister Senitila invited the group to join her for Sunday morning Mass at St. Richard of Chichester Roman Catholic Church, celebrated by Fr. Walter Dorsey. Following Mass, the group spent time visiting with one of the parish’s Sunday school classes, offering encouragement to the students as they continue walking in their faith.
After Mass, the group visited a mission of the Missionaries of Charity in Kingston, where they shared time with residents through simple but meaningful activities, including bingo, watercolor painting, and painting nails. The Missionaries of Charity serve in more than 760 communities across approximately 139 countries, including missions in Haiti, Trinidad, and Cuba. Founded by Mother Teresa (now Saint Teresa of Calcutta) the congregation continues its witness of compassion, dignity, and care for those most in need.
On Monday, the group spent time at Bethlehem House, a residence for babies and young children with profound physical and developmental disabilities. Many of the children require constant care, and the visit proved to be emotionally challenging. With a spirit rooted in “I am here to serve,” the group assisted with feeding residents their lunches and brought moments of joy through music, face painting, and simple games, offering presence, tenderness, and love.
Bethlehem House is operated by the Missionaries of the Poor, a religious congregation founded in 1981 by Fr. Richard Ho Lung to serve the poorest and most vulnerable in Jamaica. Founded on a mission of compassion and radical service, the Missionaries of the Poor care for individuals who often have no family or support system, many of whom live with severe disabilities or chronic illness. Through their network of centers, several of which are located in Kingston, the Brothers, along with local and international volunteers, provide daily care, prayer, companionship, and dignity to those entrusted to them, witnessing to Christ’s love through simple acts of mercy.
On Tuesday, the group visited a parish served by the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi (ASN) within the geographical area of Saint Elizabeth Parish. While there, they toured a now-condemned independent health clinic on the property that was flooded beyond repair during Hurricane Melissa in late October 2025. In the meantime, the sisters have continued operating the clinic out of two small offices within the main church building—providing care despite the absence of running water or electricity.
During the visit, the group learned more about the ministry of Sr. Juliet Muthoni, a Kenyan ASN sister serving in the Diocese in Jamaica. In an interview last year, marking her Silver Jubilee of Religious Life, Sr. Juliet reflected on her work as a missionary and teacher, emphasizing the importance of nurturing faith in young people. “We teach children simple prayers to help them embrace Christian values,” she shared, noting that these values help students relate more positively within their communities.
The group later traveled to Black River in Saint Elizabeth Parish, where Sr. Juliet currently serves as head principal at St. Teresa Basic School. The original school building on the property was destroyed during Hurricane Melissa, and classes have since continued in makeshift classrooms within the church building. After playing with the schoolchildren, everyone gathered together for a few songs and dancing (and spins!) before lunchtime. Witnessing the resilience of the students and staff—and their commitment to learning despite significant challenges—filled the group with hope and became one of the highlights of the trip.
