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We are a Public
Clerical Association of Christ's Faithful of the Diocese of Mandeville
in Jamaica, "living", to use the words of our Founder Bishop
Paul M. Boyle, "in the manner of a society of apostolic life.
Some years
ago Rome had suggested that our Bishop begin a Foreign Mission Society,
and at the time, Bishop Boyle felt that this project would be a little
difficult to begin because this would suppose a core group of men ready
to embark in such a venture. However, when the Congregation of the Sons
of Mary left Jamaica, Bishop Boyle felt that he could give this charge
to the missionaries who stayed behind to continue serving God's people
in our Diocese. He suggested the project to them and after prayer and
reflection, the above-mentioned men who have been serving our Diocese
decided to go forward with this endeavour. Hence, on the 8 of December
2001 he founded and erected the Mission Society of Mandeville as a Public
Clerical Association of Christ's faithful, approving its statutes and
expressing the wish that canonically some day, when the numbers of members
would be sufficient, that our Association be raised "to the Status
of a Society of Apostolic Life" [Cf. Decreee of Establishment].
This Public
Clerical Association of Christ's faithful, living "in the the manner
of societies of apostolic Life", is defined as "a group of diocesan
clerics and lay persons living a fraternal life in common, united by the
bond of charity pursuing the apostolic purpose of their society as defined
in their statutes." The aim of the Society of the Missionaries of
the Immaculate Heart of Mary is "to participate in the Missionary
Activity of the Church through the spread of the Gospel and service of
the Church firstly in the Caribbean and in other Mission Territories of
the Catholic Church."
After a period
of probation, members take a temporary engagement in missionary life.
After three years they make their perpetual incorporation in the Society.
In choosing this lifestyle they pledge to "share the joys and anguishes
of their apostolate in a spirit of true fraternity. They help each other
through the link of fraternal charity to grow in perfection [...] All
members live in perfect continence, simplicity of life and obedience to
their superiors in virtue of their incorporation in the Society."
From left to right: Fr. Anthony
Aarons, Monsignor Michael Palud, Fr. Raymond Sorin, Fr. Samuel Alloggia,
and Fr. Chuck
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