Spreading Christmas warmth and cheer

Mary Gate of Heaven Catholic Church treats more than 200 people

Claudia Gardner, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:The Mary Gate of Heaven Catholic Church in Negril catered to more than 200 persons during its annual Christmas dinner, held at its St Anthony's Kitchen facility at Non Pariel Road in the resort town last week Friday.

The event was held in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Negril, with support from donors in the town and from as far away as the United States and Canada. Most of the beneficiaries were residents of the adjacent Whitehall and Red Ground communities in Negril who are considered less fortunate.

"Basically, we put together a special meal for our patrons. At St Anthony's Kitchen, we generally serve about 140 people a day and about 50 children from Monday to Friday. Today, the local Rotary Club also provided food baskets for 120 persons with lots of food stuff, which will serve for over a week as St Anthony's Kitchen will be closed for two weeks," Father Jim Bok, priest at the Mary Gate of Heaven Catholic Church, told Western Focus.

closed for two weeks

"We have people who, during the year, donate toys and a lot of school supplies, and the Rotary helps to package all of those so that the children all get a gift. So we will close the kitchen for two weeks so we can all breathe and clean, and so on. We are open every day, Monday through Friday, and so we had a lot of people here today - more than normally would come. The Rotary Club of Negril has been wonderful. We have a lot of benefactors, most from overseas, and a lot of volunteers," the priest added.

But perhaps the happiest persons of the scores who were treated were the nine children who received bicycles as Christmas gifts after having honoured a commitment they made at the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic year, in September, to maintain perfect attendance as well as creditable grades at school. Among the nine were 10-year-old Linroy Turnbull, nine-year-old Dominick Dockery, and 10-year-old Ranae Byrd, who were the first to receive their prizes.

"I feel good and nice to get my bicycle. I will care for it by washing it. I wished to get a bicycle and I got it. I will ride it at my home on Red Ground Road," Linroy told Western Focus.

Father Jim said he was impressed that so many of the children were able to fulfil their commitment.

"At the start of the school year, I told the kids that anybody who goes to school every day, from the first day up until Christmas - perfect attendance - I will buy you a bicycle. So today, we have nine kids who never missed a day - two high school kids and seven all-age school kids," Father Jim explained.