22nd july

Journey back home!

We’ve finally made it back home! But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s share the final chapter of our providential Miami diversion. Last we left off, we were at the St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in the Palm Beach area of Florida. Our Saturday there was restful, fun, and most importantly, full of prayer and reflection on all God’s workings throughout the mission.

On Sunday, waking up in real beds for the first time in quite a while was a wonderful feeling. We gathered for our morning gospel meditation in the beautiful chapel, and then dispersed to find quiet spots around the campus for deeper reflection. Following meditation, we had time for confessions and then celebrated a glorious mass in the breathtaking church on the campus. The Sunday Gospel was particularly moving, especially Mark 6:30-31:

«The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.'»

This entire mission providentially coincided with liturgical readings that mirrored our daily experiences, and this one really hit home. Our time on mission was filled with great joys, hard work, and sacrifices. But through it all, we did our best to give every moment our all. God orchestrating for us to have this time of rest and transition back into everyday life was something we all agreed we needed and were beyond grateful for. We were indeed called by God to this summer-deserted seminary to rest for a while. What a beautiful way to live the gospel so literally.

After mass, we enjoyed lunch and then had a few last hours of free time to soak up the beauty and abundance of this incredible place. It was with some sadness that we finally had to pack, clean, and prepare to leave for the airport by 7 PM. On our train ride to Miami International Airport (MIA), our priests and some of our missionaries seized the opportunity to go from car to car, guitars in hand, preaching the gospel and singing songs of praise.

Upon reaching the airport, we navigated through TSA and grabbed food on our way to the gates, making it just in time to board at 9 PM. Another magnificent lightning storm lit up the sky as we prepared for takeoff, but we lifted off safely towards Oregon. Many rosaries were said as we grouped up to pray together before getting some much-needed sleep. We landed in Portland at 1 AM and were joyously greeted by our families and friends. After gathering our bags and saying heartfelt farewells, these last moments together were bittersweet. We had spent the last two weeks growing to know and love each other deeply in a tight-knit and intentional community. As we told those we met in St. Lucia, we will always be connected in the Eucharist, even when we are far apart.

Thank you for following our journey and for your support and prayers. This mission has been transformative, and we look forward to sharing some final highlights soon.

Transformed by His grace, 

The St. Lucia Mission Team

21st july

Missionaries in Miami!

The last couple of days have been an absolute roller coaster. Yesterday morning, we woke up ready and eager to prepare for our travels home, looking forward to seeing our friends and families and sharing with them all the blessings of the past two weeks. Following our usual morning routine, our flight was scheduled to leave St. Lucia at 2:55 PM and get us into Miami for a decently short layover before proceeding back home to Oregon. Little did we know what was about to happen.

Mid-morning, our mission rector, Jamey, informed us that our first flight had been delayed by a couple of hours and our second flight had been canceled altogether due to the global IT shutdown. If there’s one thing we’ve learned during the mission, though, it’s that God works in mysterious ways, and this «complication» seemed as though it would manifest as a part of His plan some point further down the line.

We finished cleaning, packing, and then boarded the buses to the airport. As it turned out, our flight was delayed 6 hours after our initial departure time and we finally boarded at 9 PM. Earlier in the day, Fr. Aaron spent nearly 2 hours on the phone with our airline to discuss and negotiate the second leg of our flight. We had been told that the soonest flight we would be able to get out of Miami would be on Sunday night instead of the original Friday night.

We landed in Miami at 1 AM but were detained on the tarmac for nearly an hour due to a lightning storm (a consistent theme throughout this trip). When we finally made it into the airport, quite exhausted, we headed to baggage claim where Fr. Aaron decided we needed a pump-up session to get our energy and zeal back. For the next half hour or so as we waited for our bags, we pulled out all of our instruments and sang our hearts out in praise to God, effectively a 2 AM flash mob for the Lord.

By the time our bags finished coming out, we were charged up again and ready to tackle whatever else was in store. We ended up having to spend around 5 hours in the airport ironing out travel plans, getting everyone fed, and figuring out what the next step was. Eventually, it was announced that we were going to be staying at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary around an hour north of Miami. We caught a train at around 6 AM northbound to the seminary and found a squadron of priests in minivans, waiting to pick us up at the station.

Somehow, between the time our team first made contact with them sometime on Friday and early Saturday morning, the staff at SVdP seminary organized a way to get us all to the seminary where they had prepared beautiful guest rooms, stocked the kitchen with food for us, and provided an extremely generous and hospitable welcome for us. We didn’t really know what to expect rolling onto the campus at around 7 AM, but were met with more than we could have imagined or hoped for.

Our past two weeks in St. Lucia have given us the graces of living simply and being grateful for the small things, and transferring so quickly into a place of such comfort and abundance was a shock to the system in the best way possible. Even so, it was still the small things that filled us with the most wonder and joy. Before our mission, most all of us probably took for granted the luxury of temperature-controlled running water, beds, air conditioning, and access to washing machines. Being re-acquainted with these things brought joy to the point of tears. The beauty of it all is that while we were in St. Lucia, we were beyond grateful for what we had, savoring every sip of cold water we were offered and basking in God’s love and generosity as manifested through every small grace and blessing. But coming back here, we have been able to bring that same spirit with us, seeing God in even the most «insignificant» moments.

After being shown around the campus and all that had been prepared for us, we were given a few hours to be able to rest and get some sleep before gathering for Mass at noon.  Following mass, we prayed a rosary and then had lunch before another several hours of free time during which we were able to sleep, shower, go for a swim in the pool, or use the gym, amongst the many other wondrous amenities this place holds.

The highlight of our evening was adoration, where we were able to thank God for His providence in bringing us to this beautiful place of rest and rejuvenation. Thank you so much for following along with this journey and for all your prayers and support. We’re excited for you to find out along with us how the rest of our time here goes before we head back home tomorrow night, if everything goes according to plan.

Our joy is in the Lord,

The St. Lucia Mission Team

Day 13 – 18th july

Surprises and Farewells: our last day on the Island!

Today was our last full day on the island, and it was a day full of surprises. We got to sleep in a bit after last night’s events but jumped up for our morning offerings at the ringing of the bell. Without a morning Mass scheduled, we started with our gospel meditation and then entered a silent retreat. This retreat was a time to reflect on the past two weeks and the ways we have seen God at work in St. Lucia and in our own hearts and souls.

After the retreat, we received a great surprise. We were told to eat a quick lunch and get ready to head to the beach! Our last beach day didn’t go as planned, but with favorable weather this time, the core team decided a redemptive beach outing was in order for our last day here. We quickly made our way to the beach and had a wonderful time swimming, floating, and riding waves. The sunny weather made for a joyful and relaxing afternoon.

On the beach, we shared and discussed insights from the morning meditation, reflecting on how we have seen God’s providence at work during our time here. All too soon, we headed back to base to freshen up for one last parade through our zones to say our final goodbyes. Our last mission visits were yesterday, but today we walked through our towns in large groups, singing and praising the Lord, and running from house to house to give last hugs and farewells.

We made it back to the church just in time for our last Mass here, an opportunity for the community to come together with us one last time. It was a joyful event, full of the sense of spiritual revival that has been growing throughout the mission. After Mass, the entire congregation broke into celebratory song and dance, rejoicing in God’s love and light. The community then hosted a potluck for us, bringing an abundance of food as a grand display of the generosity and hospitality we have been so blessed by during our time here.

Concluding our time here with such a celebratory attitude was wonderful. It stems from the joy of life in Christ, knowing we will remain connected in the body of Christ even after we leave. We eventually made our way back down the hill from the church and gathered to share testimonies of the moments and graces that have impacted us most as a result of answering God’s call to come here and preach the gospel.

Afterward, we gathered for a special night prayer during which Father John exposed the Blessed Sacrament. Throughout the night, the Eucharist will remain exposed, and we will take hour-long shifts in groups to pray before it in the chapel. There is much on our hearts to bring before Jesus: our joys, thanks, and intercessions for all those we have met along this incredible journey.

Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare to depart, and for safe and smooth travels tomorrow.

With abundant thanks to God,

The St. Lucia Mission Team

Day 12 – 17th july

Last day of mission and powerful night of prayer!

Today, the last night of our mission and retreat, was filled with zeal, joy, and enthusiasm, but also with the bittersweet knowledge that we will soon leave this community into which we have poured our hearts over the past two weeks. Despite this, we went about our day as usual, starting early with meditation on the Word of God.

Day 11 – 16th july

A day of grace and freedom!

Today was a day full of abundant grace and renewal, the second night of our adult retreat. Our day, like yesterday, was centered around preparing for the retreat. We began our morning with lectio divina followed by Mass and breakfast. Today, we fasted on the fruit donated by the community as an intercessory offering for our retreatants, with prayers that they receive abundant spiritual fruits from the retreats.

After breakfast, Sister Magdalene led another formation session on the story of the execution of the Maccabees and their mother. This incredible story forced us to consider our commitment to God in the face of trials or even death and the crucial role community plays in our spiritual health.

Following formation, we went out to mission as we have been doing since our arrival. At this point, we have adopted the approach of going to our zones and letting the Spirit guide us, whether to those we have visited before or those we have not yet reached. We trust that we will find those most in need of what we have to give.

In the afternoon, we came back together to pray the rosary and fuel up with more fruit. After our siesta, we jumped back into missioning. Many of us have a long walk to get to our mission zones, so hitchhiking back and forth has been a great help and a fun adventure. The afternoon mission followed the same track as the morning, making a final push in our last days here to drive home the message of God’s love and His desire for a relationship with us.

We returned earlier tonight to set up for the retreat, which focused on the topic of «Jesus as Friend.» Father John gave a wonderful talk, followed by a skit and a testimony. Simultaneously, in Anse La Raye, where we currently have 10 missionaries with Father Aaron, they hosted their own retreat night on the same topic. Father Aaron delivered a rousing talk on Jesus’ love for us, which led Him to lay down His life for our sins, followed by an equally inspiring testimony from one of the missionaries there.

Both retreat nights culminated in a powerful moment of prayer and a penance service. We urged the participants to face the burdens of sin and suffering they have been carrying with courage through the sacrament of confession and exchange them for the freedom found in God’s loving mercy. As a physical sign to illustrate what takes place in confession, those who chose to confess their sins first had their hands symbolically bound with twine. After receiving absolution, they approached the altar and burned their restraints over the Paschal candle, seeing a physical representation of the shackles of sin falling away. Cries of «I AM FREE!» rang through the church as the bonds were broken. The spirit of the crowd was one of unbridled joy and relief as people sang along with our music team in triumphant praise. It was beautiful to see smiles light up faces as they exited the church after the service.

We all returned to base full of joy, feeling that our work here has not been in vain. Dinner, thankfully, wasn’t just fruit; we celebrated the success of the retreat and the birthday of one of our missionaries, Becca—two great reasons for celebration. We are exhausted but happy, ready and waiting for our final night of retreat tomorrow, which will hold a beautiful spiritual surprise for the attendees.

Please keep us and the community of St. Lucia in your prayers as we enter our last couple of days here. 

With freedom in Christ, 

The St. Lucia Mission Team

Day 10 – 15th july

The First Day of Our Adult Retreat!

Today marked the beginning of our adult retreat, and all our activities centered around preparing for this significant event. We started the day as usual with our gospel meditation, Mass, and formation. Today’s gospel providentially culminated with Matthew 10:40-42:

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple– amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”

This passage has been a guiding light for us in the past days as we visited homes, often asking for a glass of water. This simple request serves not only to bring relief from the heat of the day but also to bless those who open their homes and hearts to our message.

After the morning mission, our lunch and siesta provided valuable rest time. With things ramping up in preparation for the retreat, the rest was much needed. Our service team uplifted our spirits with some delicious iced coffee they prepared before our afternoon mission. Energized, we rushed out again to gather as many people as we could for the retreat.

The retreat began with a lively session of praise and worship, accompanied by some members of the church choir who generously lent their talents, adding a vibrant flair to our music ministry. The theme of tonight’s retreat was «Jesus as Teacher,» and Sr. Magdalene delivered a rousing talk about the distractions of this world that pull us away from Christ and how turning to Him and His teachings is the only assurance of a fulfilling and purpose-driven life.

Our incredible team also coordinated an illustrative skit of Jesus calling His apostles to be fishers of men, followed by the sharing of a powerful testimony from one of our missionaries. The night concluded with a profound prayer moment, invoking the Holy Spirit to instill in us the knowledge of the Word.

Simultaneously, our mission team in the neighboring community of Anse La Raye hosted their adult retreat with tonight’s topic being God’s Love. They brought back joyous reports of how people connected powerfully with the prayer moment, sharing testimonies of heartfelt experiences and deep spiritual breakthroughs. 

Overall, the night was a wonderful success, with representatives showing up from each of the towns we have been missioning to. We are thrilled about the next two days and are hopeful to see even more people responding to our call to deepen their faith and love for the Lord.

Please keep us in your prayers as we continue this journey, seeking to touch hearts and transform lives through the love and teachings of Jesus.

With joy and thanks to God, 

Day 9 – 14th july

Sunday Mass and spiritual renewal!

Day 8 – 13th july

A Blessed Visit and Deepening Connections!

Today was a day of spiritual enrichment and deepening connections. Our morning began with a profound honor: a visit from the Archbishop of St. Lucia. After our gospel meditation and morning mass, the Archbishop spoke to us about the state of the church in St. Lucia, his experiences with his flock, and how we can support his mission. This dialogue provided us with a clearer understanding of the community’s spiritual landscape and our role in nurturing it.

Following this inspiring visit, our mission teams set out to their assigned zones, focusing on fostering deeper personal connections with the residents. This morning’s visits were particularly special as we invited people to our upcoming three-night adult retreat. Revisiting familiar faces has been a rewarding experience; people are now more comfortable sharing their joys, struggles, and needs with us, allowing us to pray more effectively with and for them.

After a fulfilling morning, we returned to base for a delightful taste of home: grilled hot dogs, courtesy of today’s kitchen team. Our lunchtime was followed by a talk given by Sister Ines, who shared insights on the story of Samuel as a part of our ongoing formational series on the Old Testament. 

In the afternoon, our teams continued their morning’s work, collecting powerful stories and testimonies from people who hunger for truth and God’s love and mercy. One of the most heartwarming aspects of this mission has been experiencing the generosity of the communities we visit. Many of us have been sent home with bags of fruit, and others have donated food, bug spray, and even their time by preparing meals and treats for us. Today’s special treat was freshly made mango juice from our volunteer security guard, a delicious blessing that refreshed us after our mission.

Upon returning from our afternoon mission, we gathered all our joys and sufferings and laid them before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. This moment of reflection and prayer was followed by another delicious meal prepared by today’s kitchen team. Each day, a different mission team stays back at base to prepare meals and refreshments, using their time and creativity to bring sustenance and joy to their fellow missionaries. This practice has been a beautiful way to serve each other, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

The evening was spent preparing for the adult retreat, which will span the next three nights. As we anticipate the retreat, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunities to serve, connect, and grow in faith together. Each day brings new blessings and challenges, but through it all, we are united in our mission and strengthened by the love and generosity of the communities we serve.

For Christ, with Christ, and like Christ,  

The Saint Lucia Mission Team 

Day 7 – 12th july

A very exciting rest day!

Today was supposed to be our rest day, but it turned out to be more exciting than we bargained for! The day started off wonderfully with an extra hour of sleep, followed by our usual gospel meditation and breakfast. After breakfast, we enjoyed a peaceful morning silent retreat, reading and meditating on a sermon by Cardinal Newman and journaling about our mission experiences so far and how God has worked for, with, and through us this past week.

Following the retreat, we attended Mass and then quickly ate lunch in anticipation of our long-awaited beach excursion. Just as we set off on our mile-or-two trek to the beach, a torrential downpour began. Though our clothes were soaked, our spirits remained undampened. Upon arrival at the beach, we were met with beautiful, warm water in which we floated and swam for a good long while, despite the continuing rain.

At one point, the rain intensified, dumping bucketloads on us. Suddenly, loud claps of thunder cracked through the sky, prompting us to hurry back to shore. The urgency increased when lightning began striking the water around us. Once safely on shore, we marveled at the awe-inspiring sight of the thunderstorm over the blue Caribbean waters. With the deluge persisting, some of us took cover in the only structure in sight—a beach-side bar where locals were enjoying a drink and the storm’s magnificence.

It was an unlikely place to mission, but we shared our purpose and message with the locals. One woman even asked us to pray a prayer of healing over her for some health issues. Finally, as the rain began to subside, we said our goodbyes to our newfound friends, who mentioned they might see us again at our retreat nights next week.

On our drippy trek back to base, they passed us on the road and offered to take as many of us as could fit into their truck bed part of the way back—13 people, an impressive number for that small truck. Once back at base, after having navigated a veritable obstacle course of puddles and deceptively deep mud, we cleaned up and headed to adoration. Adoration brought a perfect sense of rest back to the day.

Afterwards, we were blessed with an absolutely delicious dinner generously prepared by some locals, complete with the treat of cold soft drinks, also generously donated. In a place where being offered cold water feels like a luxury, these cold, sweet, carbonated drinks were a top-tier treat. Our rest day was perhaps less restful than anticipated, but it will likely result in a good night’s sleep for all.

Ultimately, we had a great day full of unexpected surprises that will surely make for lifelong memories. I think we all agree it was an unforgettable day.

Resting in His love, 

The St. Lucia Mission Team

Day 6 – 11th july

A day of healing!

Today marked a special milestone in our mission—our first event, the Healing Mass. Our morning began with meditation on today’s providential gospel, Matthew 10:7-15, which calls for spreading the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. It speaks of healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing those with leprosy, and driving out demons, urging us to give freely as we have received freely. This passage set the tone for our day, reminding us of the profound purpose behind our mission and the divine power we carry with us.

With our spirits uplifted by this powerful message, we gathered for breakfast before setting out for missioning. Our task was to revisit the homes from the past few days, offering a final invitation to the Healing Mass. The morning was filled with purposeful steps and heartfelt conversations, as we carried the message of Matthew 10:7-15 into each home, embodying the call to heal and share God’s love freely.

After a productive morning, we returned for lunch and took a well-deserved siesta to recharge for the evening’s activities. During our afternoon missioning, many of us made new connections that we hope to deepen when we revisit next week. 

As the afternoon drew to a close, we hurried back to base to prepare for the big event. We were uncertain as to how many would accept our invitations, but were gratified to see many familiar faces walking through the church doors, a testament to the power of faith and the longing for healing within the community.

The Healing Mass and service lasted over three hours, with a seemingly endless line of people waiting to be prayed over. The words of Matthew 10:7-15 came alive as we witnessed many people faithfully opening themselves up to physical and spiritual healing, the cleansing of burdens, and the powerful presence of God’s mercy. Each prayer, each touch, each tear shed was a manifestation of the gospel, a living testament to the Kingdom of Heaven at work.

Exhausted but elated, we returned to base at 9:30 PM for a late dinner. The day’s culmination was a delicious dessert of grated dried coconut and sugar, prepared by a local volunteer who has generously served as our security guard. This luxurious treat was a sweet end to a day filled with divine abundance.

Reflecting on the day, we saw how the gospel’s call to heal and give freely had manifested in every moment, from our morning meditations to the evening’s Healing Mass. The sense of connection and spiritual fulfillment was profound, leaving us with hearts once again full of gratitude and joy.

All thanks and praise to God,

The St. Lucia Mission Team

Day 5 – 10th july

A day of abundance!

Today was truly a day of abundance, overflowing with grace, love, kindness, generosity, and joy. Our morning began with spiritual and physical nourishment through our daily gospel meditation, Mass, and breakfast. After some chores to tidy up our base, we set out for another day of home visits, venturing further into the remote areas of our town.

For many of us, this is a first-time experience, though several have been here before. Today, a newfound confidence and zeal emerged as we practiced engaging with the locals, gradually falling into a stronger, steadier rhythm. During our morning missions, we made numerous new connections before returning to base for lunch and a brief siesta.

We’ve also honed the skill of hand-washing our clothes, a necessity in this heat and without washing machines. Today’s formation, led by Sister Ines who recently returned from Argentina, continued our study of Moses and provided fresh insights into our mission’s purpose. Inspired, we headed out again for our afternoon missions.

We reached the final houses in our zones, setting the stage for revisiting and deepening our connections. The generosity we encountered today was overwhelming. In a place where cold water is a luxury, offers of ice water or cold juice were particularly uplifting. We also received many gifts of fruits like mangos, coconuts, wax apples, and other fruits we’ve never even heard of. Some of us experienced the luxury of air-conditioned cars while hitchhiking back to base.

Upon returning to base, we were greeted with joyous welcomes, cold water, and delicious fruit to snack on. Our visit to the Blessed Sacrament was filled with gratitude, followed by an exceptional dinner prepared by today’s meal team using generous donations. As we head to bed, our hearts are filled with a deep sense of gratitude and joy, reflecting the abundant spirit of this day.

Day 4 – 9th july

Day of Deepening Connections: Revisiting and Rejoicing in Our Mission

Today began with a peaceful gospel meditation followed by a beautiful mass, setting a serene and reflective tone for our second day of home visits. After a quick breakfast, we set out with renewed energy and purpose.

We revisited many of the people we met yesterday, checking in on them and continuing the conversations we had started. It was heartwarming to see them open up more about their joys and sufferings, giving us deeper insight into their lives and more specific intentions to pray for. These follow-up visits strengthened the bonds we are building and allowed us to offer more personalized support and prayers. Meanwhile, the Vacation Bible School team had another fantastic day. The kids’ enthusiasm was palpable as they arrived over half an hour early, eager to participate in the activities. 

After a delicious lunch back at base and a much-needed siesta, we gathered for another formative session with Father John on the story of Jacob from the Old Testament. From there we ventured back out for more home visits, meeting new people from a variety of faith backgrounds, including Catholic, Seventh-Day Adventist, Pentecostal, and Rastafarian. Each encounter was a unique opportunity to share and learn, fostering meaningful connections that transcended differences.

As the day drew to a close, we trekked back to our base, greeted by a delightful surprise: delicious mangoes donated by some of the generous people we had met. It was a sweet and refreshing end to a day filled with much walking, talking, and praying.

We concluded our day with a reflective time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, offering our gratitude for the day’s experiences and the connections we made. Dinner, once again prepared by our amazing kitchen crew, was a delicious finale to a rewarding and spiritually enriching day.

Reflecting on today’s mission, it’s clear that each visit, conversation, and prayer is weaving a tapestry of faith and community. I am excited to see how these connections will continue to grow and flourish in the days to come.

Day 3 – 8th july

First day of visits

Today began with a beautiful mass in our newly set up chapel, a perfect way to center ourselves before embarking on our first day of home visits. After fueling up with breakfast, we split into groups and set out to the various towns we are missioning in. Each group walked to different neighborhoods, going door to door, and entering the homes of those who welcomed us. Our mission was simple: to get to know the residents, share the gospel with them, and pray together. 

The warmth with which we were received was truly heartening. Nearly every house opened its doors to us, with people eager to spend time with us. Some even remembered us from previous years and greeted us like old friends. Meanwhile, back at base, our VBS team kicked off their first day of faith-filled fun for the local children. 

This year, with our larger group of 54, we were also able to respond to a long-standing request from the more distant town of Anse La Raye. A group of 15 from our team traveled there, answering their call for our aid which they have requested for the past few years. They will be staying there for the next four days. It was gratifying to extend our reach and bring our mission to new communities in need.

We returned to our base for lunch, a refreshing siesta, and a formative session. As we then ventured out again for more home visits, we noticed an even greater sense of anticipation in the community. News of our arrival had spread, and more people seemed to be waiting for us, eager to welcome us into their homes.

By the time we returned to our base, we were both exhausted and fulfilled. We ended our day with a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, a moment of reflection and gratitude for the connections we made and the experiences we shared. Dinner, prepared by our amazing kitchen crew, was a delicious and much-needed end to a rewarding day.

It’s incredible to see the impact of our mission and the warmth of the communities we are serving. We are all looking forward to the days ahead and the many more connections we will make.

Day 2 – 7th july

Renewed in spirit!

This morning, many of us were awakened by a chorus of roosters crowing at 5 o’clock sharp. The air was thick and sweet with the scents of lemon, eucalyptus, and citronella, as many of us were faced with the reality that bug spray is absolutely essential here. After a swift rising and morning prayer, which we refer to as the Leap of the Tiger, we prepared for our first Mass here with the community of Holy Family Parish. The warmth and enthusiasm of their reception were truly heartening, setting a positive tone for the day. 

After Mass, we engaged in Lectio Divina, meditating on today’s gospel, followed by the Rosary and lunch. The afternoon brought a siesta, a cherished time to rest and recharge. While some of us used this time to catch up on sleep, others took to the soccer field, joining local children who were curious about our presence and eager to play. 

Post-siesta, the highlight of the day unfolded—the missionary parade! With hearts full of joy, we sang our praises to the Lord as we paraded through the streets of the towns we will be serving in the coming weeks. This lively procession was not only an announcement of our arrival but a paving of the way for our home visits and an invitation to the community to join us in our upcoming retreats.

As we returned from the parade, we were greeted by our first tropical thunderstorm of the mission. The rain was a welcome respite from the heat, cooling the air and refreshing our spirits. Then, after a formational session from Fr. John, we gathered in the church for a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. In the quiet of the sanctuary, we reflected on the day’s events, offering our gratitude and seeking guidance for the journey ahead. It was a fitting end to a day filled with new experiences, meaningful connections, and the promise of what is to come.

With joy and gratitude,

The St. Lucia Mission Team

Day 1 – 6th july

Arrival in Saint Lucia

We started off early this morning in North Carolina after a red-eye flight from Portland. During our five-hour layover, everyone found ways to keep themselves occupied. Some played games, others stretched their legs, and many jammed together on the numerous guitars we brought along. The airport was filled with laughter and melodies, making the waiting time pass perhaps just a little more quickly.

Our next leg of the journey took us from Charlotte to Saint Lucia, a five-hour flight that many of us used to catch up on much-needed rest. When we finally touched down and stepped out into the hot, salty air of Saint Lucia, the travel fatigue was momentarily forgotten. The feeling of having our feet on the ground again filled us with renewed vigor and enthusiasm.

As we piled into the vans for the hour-long ride from the airport to the parish where we’ll be stationed for the next couple of weeks, our spirits soared. We sang songs and shared stories, the camaraderie growing stronger with each mile. The lush landscapes and vibrant culture of Saint Lucia greeted us warmly, and we couldn’t wait to immerse ourselves in the mission ahead.

Upon arriving at the parish, we quickly settled in, eager to start our work. The day culminated in a beautiful celebration of Mass, followed by a much-anticipated dinner.

Though traveling has been exhausting, we are filled with anticipation for the mission ahead, ready to serve and be transformed by this incredible experience.

Until Tomorrow,

The Saint Lucia Mission Team