Franciscan & Friends Caribbean Music Mission 2008

Celebrating the Gospel in Song

by Denis Grady

“The Franciscan and Friends Mission effectively utilizes the universal language of music to build community, evangelize and minister not just to the poor but the broader human family, a smart Catholic initiative with good ecumenical participation.” Bishop FB Henry
Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary

“Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day.” Isaiah 58:10

The Franciscan and Friends Music Mission began in 2002 at World Youth Day in Toronto. The Franciscan Community of Toronto invited a group of musicians from North America, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe to participate in the celebrations during the visit of Pope John Paul II.

In 2005 the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Trinidad and Barbados invited the group to the Caribbean for a series of fundraising concerts and ministry visits to prisons, drug and alcohol rehabs, seniors’ homes, schools and impoverished neighborhoods.

The Caribbean Mission is now an annual event every October (The Feast Day of St. Francis is October 4) and has expanded to other islands including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Grenada.

The work has also expanded from music to manual labor in some of the Dioceses.

Franciscan & Friends Caribbean Music Mission 2008
Celebrating the Gospel in Song

Featuring
Jilasio Lokuawii/Sudan
Gospel Elvis/Canada
Brent Saklofske/Canada
Denis Grady/Canada
Cathy Goddard/Canada
Toons the Clown/Canada
Gretchen & Amy Harris/USA
Derek Fields/Barbados

Barbados
Sat. Oct. 4 St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Barbados
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Tues. Oct. 7 Almond Tree Beach Concert, Bequia
Fri. Oct. 10 Heritage Square, Kingstown
Sat. Oct. 11/Sun. Oct. 12 St. Joseph’s Parish, Union Island

Grenada
Mon. Oct. 13 St. Peter & Paul Parish, Windward, Carriacou
Tues. Oct. 14, St. Patrick’s Parish Hillsborough,Carriacou
Fri. Oct. 18 Blessed Sacrament Parish, Grand Anse
Sat. Oct.19 St. Martin de Porres Parish, Crochu
Sun. Oct. 20 St. Andrew’s Parish, Grenville

www.franciscanandfriends.com

Feedback

“Your ministry has touched many lives. I hope that you can continue this ministry in the Caribbean as it is a blessing to our people.”
Archbishop Robert Rivas OP, Coadjutor Castries, St. Lucia

“Our sincere thanks for your selfless ministry. You have impacted our lives with a tremendous example of serving.”
Rosemary Scott, Living Water Community, Trinidad

“We are most grateful for your ministry. Our churches, schools and prison were spiritually refreshed by your ministry. We look forward to an annual celebration of fellowship in Christ.”
Yvonne Patterson, Cursillo Leader, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

“Your willingness to bring the Good News of the Gospel in song and your generous contribution of labour in the restoration of our churches has had a deep impact on our community. Grenada continues its recovery from the destruction of Hurricanes Ivan & Emily. We are hopeful of a long term relationship with you in Christ through your ministry.”
Bishop Vincent Darius OP, Diocese of Grenada

“We were very blessed by your ministry. I want to thank you for your generosity in coming and blessing us at your own expense. My prayers are with you and your work. May God bless you always.”
Fr. Clair Watrin, Blessed Sacrament Parish, St. Lucia

“As a delegate of the Mission and a recovering drug addict I had the most amazing experience of God using the rebellion of my past and my recent surrender to do His will in the most beautiful way, to encourage those still struggling with addictions in the prisons and rehabs we visited. I can’t say enough about the love I received from the Mission Team, my new brothers and sisters in Christ and the way God introduced himself to us in the eyes of the poor we encountered on each island.”
Adina E. Mustard Seed Street Ministry, Calgary

“As an Evangelical Christian I was deeply touched by the genuine unity I felt as a mission delegate on the Team. Our focus was completely on serving Christ in the poor. That is the theology of this ministry.”
Rob Laird, Intake Coordinator, Calgary Dream Centre

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