Children's Prayer Meeting Advent 2009
1ST ANNIVERSARY
After two years of prayer and discernment, and with the invitation of Archbishop Rivas, LWC arrived in St. Lucia on February 21, 2009. Rosemary Scott, Monique Rostant (Mission leader) and Elizabeth King were met at the airport by Anista Brown and Therese Robinson, the two St. Lucian women who were largely instrumental in bringing to the attention of LWC Trinidad, what they discerned as a call from God to serve the poor of Soufriere. They had approached the Soufriere Foundation whose agenda was to “better” Soufriere, and who agreed to give financial support to the mission.
LWC was warmly welcomed by Archbishop Rivas and the team was introduced to the people at a Mass con-celebrated with Fr. Laurent, Parish Priest of Soufriere. Monique, Rosemary and Elizabeth also met with the Board of the Regional Soufriere Foundation to discuss mutual concerns and areas to be addressed.
The Mission would be comprised of Monique Rostant (Mission Leader) and Elizabeth King. They were later joined by Roger and Lisa Anton in June 2009.
The first area of Ministry opened up through a visit to the local Soup Kitchen, where the poor and homeless gathered daily for a cooked meal. One year later, LWC continues to assist the staff of the Soup Kitchen during the week, and has come to know and love those who come daily. The clients now fully participate in the prayer and song before the meal, bringing their own favourite songs and being openly responsive to the care and dignity LWC has shown to them. Be they drug addict, alcoholic, mentally ill, or poor, they all are treated as children of God and the inter-action they now have with LWC is the fruit of their feeling loved and accepted by us.
Two weekly prayer meetings are held for children 5-8 and 9-12 and attendance has grown exponentially. Our first annual summer camp was a great success and was attended by an average of 50 children from each age group and all denominations. The local Community was extremely supportive and a social evening was hosted at the end with a “Camp slide show” for parents.
We have established a weekly prayer meeting in the neighbouring Parish of Fond St. Jacques and we assist in the Monday night prayer meetings hosted by the local Hope Prayer Group, led by Bernadette Bobb for many years. Life in the Spirit seminars in Soufriere and Fond St Jacques began in May 2009 with the help of LWC Members from Trinidad and continue to bear fruit.
Home visitations started almost immediately and a local lady Sr. Agnes, known to all, accompanies us weekly to visit the many sick and shut-ins. It is estimated that we have visited and prayed with approximately 100 home-bound individuals over the last year.
Roger and Lisa assist at the local Care School (a Servol structured school) conducting computer classes three days a week. To date the students have completed Microsoft Office and are making progress with Excel. Classes were also started for four teachers with the intention of empowering them to be able to teach future students. Remedial reading classes are also conducted for adults, whose self esteem has greatly improved. These lessons have also provided an opportunity for spiritual guidance.
To date, the feedback from the local Community has been extremely positive and acknowledging of the work LWC Soufriere has done. While God continues to unfold new areas of need, and His vision for Soufriere, the work continues one day at a time.
Children's Prayer Meeting
Advent 2009
Christmas Lunch for the
poor and homeless
Children with crowns
More Photos......
Roger
delivering Christmas Hampers