Missionaries of the Poor plans epic production

The Missionaries of the Poor (MOP), known for delivering creative and inspirational drama and musical skits, presents Acts of the Apostles.

The mega production, as Father Ho Lung calls it, will start showing in September. The two-and-a-half-hour production outlines the apostles' work after Christ died, their struggles in building up the Christian community and spreading the good news of Christ.

"It's a very large production. It's going to be held at The Arena," Father Ho Lung told The Sunday Gleaner recently.

Known for productions such as Moses, Jam Reggae Opera and The Prophet Isaiah, there is usually an audience of 6,000 at each show. This year, MOP will be hosting 12 shows for The Acts of the Apostle.

As usual, there will be school shows on September 29-30 and October 6-7, and shows for the general public, which will run between October 1-2 and 8-9 of the same month.

"There's a cast of about 70 or 80 singers and dancers, actors and actresses. And its just incredible talent that we find in Jamaica," stated Father Ho Lung.

He went on to say that Acts of the Apostles is highly dramatic and very powerful. "It includes a scene at sea and a shipwreck. There will be a scene where a horse takes St Paul and throws him in the air as he goes through his conversion," he said.

Jamaican opera

The music is Jamaican opera with Caribbean rhythms, including reggae, dancehall, mento and ska.

When asked if people are skeptical of the show incorporating dancehall elements, the Father replied, "I think they find it interesting. They say it's unusual to have a Jamaican opera because usually we think about European opera."

Typically, funds raised from this production will go towards MOP homes, which include Bethlehem Children's Centre, Lord's Place - a home for HIV patients, Jacob's Well Women's Centre, Brothers of the Poor Faith Centre for men, and the newly constructed Holy Innocents Centre.

The recent construction of the Holy Innocents Centre, located at 15 West Heroes Circle, was inspired by cases of women who have been forced to leave their jobs because they have babies, or have had to resort to aborting their children. Absentee fathers or the threat of dropping out of school are just some of the reasons girls have had to abort their children.

The centre is aimed at providing an alternative to abortion by providing shelter for the mother and baby, a day-care centre for working mothers, medical and spiritual counselling, and prenatal and postnatal care, which includes ultrasounds.

There are three dorms, a chapel and facilities for babies and women who are not able to walk.

Another building on the property is multi-functional and is currently housing volunteers. However, it will also be used for meetings and conferences.

According to Brother Ignatius Minj, the centre will target 200 babies and women who are in need of help.

Free clinic

While MOP does not get help from the Government, local and foreign donors fund their projects and charities, as well as volunteers who help with the physical functioning of the centres.

One such case is that of the clinic located on the grounds of the Brothers of the Poor Centre, at the corner East Queen and High Holborn streets.

Volunteers include Dr Lorraine Gentles and Dr Shirley Reeson, who offer reflexology (massages), dieting and counselling services.

There is also Dr Francis D'Mello, a specialist in gastrointestinal diseases, and his wife, Dr Wilma D'Mello, who is a paediatrician. Both are volunteers from New Jersey.

There is also a dental facility, and a pharmacy that dispenses medication prescribed by the doctor. Such medications are donated by various hospitals.

The clinic is open only on Thursdays.