NDCL Students Serve during Jamaican Mission Trip

During the week of May 30- June 6, 2015, seventeen students from Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School journeyed to Montego Bay, Jamaica to serve the local community. The group, accompanied by alumnus Phil Lewandowski `07 and faculty Christopher Stoffl and Christie Fleming, spent the week assisting at two Mustard Seed Community homes. The Mustard Seed Communities serve mentally and physically disabled children.

Each day began with morning prayer, student –child interaction and then painting and yard work at the sites. NDCL students experienced opportunities to stretch beyond familiar comfort zones by working with people with such severe disabilities, eating the food set before them, and taking cold showers. Ultimately, they learned much from the experience and grew in their faith. Respect for life is a tenant of Catholic social teaching and one of NDCL’s five core values.

In Jamaica, there are no facilities - governmental or otherwise - available to take care of individuals with mental and physical disabilities after they reach 18 years of age. The vision for the Mustard Seed Communities is to fill this void by providing 500 young adults with mental and physical disabilities with a home where they can live out their lives. Upon completion, this apostolate will have 100 cottages for staff and residents. At present, there are over 80 residents living at the sites and new cottage construction is ongoing.

Cole Prots `15 (Newbury), David Plent`15 (Chardon) and John Eszterhas `16 (Chagrin Falls) pose for a photo with new friends.		Katherine Farizel `16 (Chardon) shares a moment with Jamaican child.		Alexis Bruno `16 (Chardon) gets to know and help a Jamaican girl.