FRIENDS OF THE DIOCESE OF MONTEGO BAY & FRIENDS OF THE DIOCESE OF MANDEVILLE
Thus, serving the poor of the entire western half of the Island Nation of Jamaica
A Florida Based 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charity
Hurricane Melissa
On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa—one of the strongest storms ever to strike the Caribbean—made a direct hit on the Island of Jamaica. The storm’s path crossed the western end of the island, impacting two of Jamaica’s three Catholic dioceses: the Diocese of Mandeville and the Diocese of Montego Bay.
These communities suffered catastrophic damage from the Category 5 hurricane. In areas such as Black River, within the Diocese of Mandeville, entire neighborhoods were leveled. Families are without shelter, clean water, electricity, food, and access to medical care—basic necessities for survival. The devastation has left countless people struggling to meet even their most immediate needs.
Donation
Donate For Humanity
As we slowly transition from the emergency phase into recovery and rebuilding, it is clear that the road ahead will be long and painful. Many church-related buildings—churches, rectories, parish halls, schools, and health clinics—were severely damaged or completely destroyed. These buildings were not insured, as insurance premiums are simply unaffordable for small mission dioceses operating on limited budgets.
Despite these challenges, the Church remains committed to serving the poor and most vulnerable. Both dioceses are largely rural, with widespread poverty; Sunday collections cover only about 10% of parish operating costs. Donor support is therefore essential to sustaining our mission and restoring hope, dignity, and stability to those we serve. In many ways, our donors are the true missionaries, making this work possible.
Housing and Outreach Ministry
Through our Outreach Ministry, donor support makes it possible to provide essential food, clothing, and housing assistance to the poor across both dioceses. Every day, we encounter families living in extreme hardship—often crowded into fragile, makeshift shacks with little protection from the elements. Many of these homes lack running water, electricity, and basic sanitation, while others are nothing more than abandoned or deteriorating structures. For these families, poverty, displacement, and unsafe living conditions are not temporary challenges but daily realities that threaten their health, safety, and sense of dignity. In response to this urgent need, the Diocese of Mandeville, in partnership with generous donors and dedicated volunteers, has established a housing ministry focused on building simple, safe, and dignified homes. Each home includes proper plumbing and hurricane-resistant roofing and can be constructed for approximately $6,000. In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the demand for secure housing has increased dramatically, making this ministry more critical than ever. We invite you to prayerfully consider gifting a home—or contributing toward one—to help restore stability, safety, and hope to a family in need.
