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Jamaica Mission

Shortly after our diocese, the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, developed a “twin” relationship with the Mandeville Diocese in Jamaica, the Church of the Good Shepherd in State College and the Holy Spirit Church in Maggotty became sister parishes in 1999.

The Church of the Good Shepherd and its Jamaica Committee maintain close communication with Father Marek Bzinkowski and the Holy Spirit Church, so the sister parishes continue to have an awareness and an understanding of one another. To uphold its mission to the Holy Spirit Church, the Church of the Good Shepherd

(1) Educates and informs our parishioners of the goals, needs, progress, and opportunities of the Holy Spirit Church and Mission;

(2) Provides monthly financial support;

(3) Collects goods (such as school supplies);

(4) Raises additional funds through an Advent Giving Tree and other fundraisers;

(5) Conducts an Academic Sponsorship Program with the children of the Holy Spirit Church and Mission;

(6) Conducts a Higher Education Scholarship Program to assist young people in the Maggotty region to attend a Jamaican university, college, or vocational school; and

(7) Organizes Mission Trips to Maggotty to foster our relationship with the Holy Spirit Church and Mission, calling us to our Christian responsibility to serve those who are in physical and spiritual need.

For more information, please contact:

Read more about the Education Program at the Holy Spirit Church and Mission in this 2023 article from the Jamaican Information Service: 2023 Jamaican Information Service Article.

HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

If you are interested in donating to the Higher Education Scholarship Program, you might want to first view the following video. Hopefully, you will then want to help some of these deserving young people in Jamaica make a better life for themselves, their families, and their community. Please contact Bill Zierke if you have any questions. You can also contact Thersea Hawbaker in the Good Shepherd Parish Office to make a donation.







INTERESTED IN A MISSION TRIP?

If you are interested in being part of a Mission Team traveling to Maggotty, Jamaica, you should review our Mission Guide Book.  Once you decide you would like to go on a Mission Trip, please make an appointment to meet with the Mission Leader to discuss mission team expectations. Please download and complete the Mission Guide Application Form for the meeting with the Mission Leader. Once you are accepted for a Mission Trip, please complete the Medical Information Form, and one of the Consent Forms.  Note that we have one Consent Form for adults and another Consent Form for a parent accompanying a youth (ages 13 to 18).

(1) Mission Guide Book,

(2) Mission Guide Forms,

(3) Medical Information Form,

(4) Consent Form (Adult), and

(5) Consent Form (Parent for a Youth).

 

NEXT MISSION TRIPS:

After a long delay due to COVID-19, we are currently planning a new mission trip for March 2-9, 2024. Please contact JoAnn Vautour or Bill Zierke if you have any questions.