Last April, at the Catholic Health Association awards banquet, I had the pleasure of meeting Sister Mary Jo McGinley, executive director of Global Health Ministry (GHM). Last week, I accompanied Sister Mary Jo and a dynamic team of health professionals on a week long trip to Kingston, Jamaica and the surrounding countryside.
I was specifically invited to meet with GHM’s on-the-ground partner, Sister Grace Yap, a Franciscan Sister, and Director of Franciscan Ministries in Jamaica. Sister Grace has started an organic farm, named Porziuncula, on 61 acres in Braes River, Jamaica. I toured and spent a day at the farm, helping Sister Grace farm manager Earl.
The other days I was there I assisted the medical team, and squeezed in some sight seeing, including YS Falls, while traveling across the countryside and on our day off. The people I encountered were warm, as was the weather, and the tropical foods we ate were delicious.
We at The Farm at St. Joe’s are excited for our new relationship with Sister Grace and Porziuncula Farm. I feel fortunate to have been included in this group and humbled by the compassionate care this team provided on the ground.
Contact me at bairdz@trinity-health.org if you want to get involved or connected.