‘PRAYERS, PLEASE’ - Missionary asks J’cans to pray for indigent

Missionaries of the Poor has asked for prayers on behalf of its wards, many of whom have contracted the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

Secretary General Brother Roche Tulalian said that while they are much in need of groceries, medical supplies and financial donations, prayers are extremely high on their list.

"Most of our residents, if not all, are confined either to their beds or to their wheelchairs on account of their disabilities. This time, however, COVID has come in. The mental agony in knowing that COVID is now the primary reason why they have to be confined to their 'sacred space' can be very daunting. We ask everyone to include us in your prayers. When you fold your hands and bend your knees before the presence of God, kindly remember the anawim of God under our care," he said.

Missionaries of the Poor cares for some 500 people in six locations across the island. The residents are mainly elderly, mentally and physically challenged, and children. A cluster of COVID-19 cases has been detected at its Faith Centre residence, which is located in downtown Kingston. Some 74 persons at the facility - all but six of them being residents - have tested positive for the dangerous virus.

Faith Centre is a home to 114 homeless and abandoned elderly men.

Brother Tulalian said that when Faith Centre first opened its doors in 1984, it originally housed 32 destitute homeless men and women. "After the fire that destroyed our Good Shepherd Home on the night of August 27 last year, we had no choice but to relocate our 56 elderly men with multiple disabilities to Faith Centre, which at that time was already housing 73 homeless elderly men with developmental disabilities, mentally and physically," he said.

"With the increased number of residents and limited space left to move around, the spread of COVID-19 from one resident to another is almost inevitable. This is indeed a challenging time for Missionaries of the Poor and a very difficult scenario for our already-vulnerable residents," he said.

Brother Tulalian said that the charity's top priority at this time is "to contain and stop the spread of the virus to any of our homes and facilities".

"This is, in itself, a very challenging scenario," said Brother Tulalian, adding that "we will continue our policy of no visits and tighten our precautions so as to ensure the safety of everyone, especially our residents, whose underlying illnesses pose a greater problem during this time of pandemic".