Jamaica 2020 Mission Trip - Annotto Bay ($650)

Start 2020 by sharing the love of Christ on a mission trip in Jamaica! CLICK HERE to see a video of our 2019 mission trip.

After an amazing experience last year, we're excited to serve the community of Annotto Bay once more this January. In partnership with the Congregation of the Oratory and Franciscan Mission outreach, we will be serving the parish of St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church as well as its various mission chapels and schools.

The Need
Did you know that Catholics make up only 2% of Jamaica’s population and often encounter negativity towards their faith? The community of St. Theresa’s where we will be serving has had no resident priest for at least the past five years. Due to the lack of pastoral care, the main church and mission communities have declined in number and vitality. We are excited for this opportunity to bring renewal and revival through God's grace to this community.

Our Work
Our work will consist of various clean-up projects, light building work, and beautification projects. We will also have various teaching and evangelization opportunities. Together and in partnership with the parish community, we will build up Catholic identity as well as restore places of beauty where people can come together in fellowship and worship.

What’s Required
This trip is for adults in theird 20s and 30s who have a desire to serve Jesus in the poor through an intense yet enriching experience of service, community, and prayer. Maturity and flexibility are required due to sometimes unpredictable nature of mission work.

Missionaries will be required to attend at least (1) formation meeting with the team as well as travel from NYC with the group.

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TRIP DETAILS

Trip Dates
January 14-20, 2020 (depart Tuesday evening on a redeye / land Monday morning, MLK day, at JFK)

Experiences will include
- Building up the Faith through catechesis and evangelization
- Living in community with Mass, Adoration, and family meals daily
- Adventuring into some of the environmental beauties of Jamaica
- Getting our hands dirty with some manual labor & service projects for the community

Trip Cost is $650 and includes
- All lodging
- 3 meals a day
- Ground transportation in Jamaica
- Some project supplies
- Parish donation

Excludes
- Flights
- Transportation to/from the NYC airports
- Passport and visa fees (if required by traveler)
- Travel and medical insurance

Flights to Book
Once your application is accepted, missionaries will need to book the following JetBlue flight and make their own arrangements to and from JFK airports. We will meet as a group at JFK on the day of departure.

Outbound on Tue, Jan 14, 2020
JetBlue #659 8:57pm JFK - 1:07am +1 KIN (Kingston’s Norman Manley Intl Airport)

Return on Mon, Jan 20, 2020
JetBlue #960 2:27am KIN - 6:10am JFK

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APPLICATION & PAYMENT

To Apply
- Click the "Register" button and complete the application via Eventbrite.
- You will have the option of paying a non-refundable deposit of $200 or paying the trip in full.**
- Once your Eventbrite application is accepted, someone from the missions team will contact you to discuss the trip in further detail via phone and next steps on payment.
**Please note if you pay the trip in full, this will include your non-refundable deposit of $200.

Payment Deadlines & Info

- A non-refundable deposit of $200 is due once your application is accepted and to secure your spot.
- Trip must be paid in full by December 15, 2019**

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PRACTICALS

Lodging
We will be based in St. Theresa’s parish with separate separate communal quarters for the men and women. Though the lodging is simple, the basic needs of the missionaries will be met. A sleeping bag, pillow, and mosquito net are required.

Meals
All meals will be provided except at the airports. Meals during the mission will include cold breakfast, bagged lunches, and hearty dinners consisting of various Jamaican dishes. Bottled water for the group will also be provided.

General Itinerary (subject to change)
Tue night, Jan 14 (Travel/Recover day) - We fly to Jamaica on a redeye and land in Kingston at 1:07am. We will travel directly to Annotto Bay (approx 1hour bus ride) and have a late morning to recover from the travel. We'll have late start and spend the day doing orientation and planning.

Wed, Jan 15 - Sun, Jan 19 (Mission Days) - Mass, project work, recreation, and some sort of evangelization opportunity during the day. Holy Hour In the evening. Schedule each day will vary based on the project needs. On Sunday, we travel to Kingston in the late aternoon and have a group dinner of Thanksgiving

Mon, Jan 20 (Mission & Travel Day) - Depart from Kingston at 1:00am and land at JFK in New York at 6:00am.

Formation Meetings
We will have 3 formation meetings as a group
Sunday, November 10th @ 5pm
Sunday, December 15th @ 5pm
Sunday, January 12th @ 5pm
All meetings will take place at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer (Lexington Avenue between 65th and 66th Street)
Missionaries are required to attend (1) formation minimum though we strongly encourage missionaries to make every effort possible to attend each one.

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FUNDRAISING
We will be fundraising as a team for the two main projects we will be doing-
1) Repairing a large perimter fence at St. Theresa's Parish
2) Clean-up, gardening, and beautification at St. Theresa's church
3) Serving food to the poor and evangelizing the local community

For missionaries, interested in fundraising to cover their own trip expenses, we can help! We will help you with a GoFundMe, donor letters, and other outreach. Fundraising for yourself is a great way to get raise awareness and get more people involved. Contact us at missions@frassati.nyc if you would like help with this.

To support our fundraising efforts please visit our GO FUND ME page.

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FAQ's & OTHER IMPORTANT INFO

Refunds & Cancellations
The initial payment of $200 is non-refundable. Any payments beyond the deposit will be refunded less any expenses if (1) the refund request is received no later than December 1st and (2) we are able to fill your spot.

Payment methods
You will receive details on how to make your mission trip payment once your application has been accepted.

Do people have to be Catholic to attend or part of Frassati?

People of all faiths and beliefs are welcome to join us on this trip! It is important to note, however, that the nature of this mission is rooted in our Catholic faith.

Is travel insurance required?
While travel insurance is not required, we do encourage you to purchase it. We recommend Star Assist.

Is medical insurance required?
Yes, missionaries are required to have some sort of medical insurance for this trip. Missionaries should contact their insurance companies prior to departure to know what their medical insurance covers in foreign countries. Be sure to bring your insurance card.

What transportation is included?
All ground transportation while in Jamaica including airport transfers. International flights and transportation to/from JFK the day of departure and return are each missionary's responsibility.

Can I bring donations?
Yes, missionaries can bring some donations. However, due to the rapidly changing needs of the community, missionaries will need to follow specific donation guidelines that will be shared leading up to the trip.

Are vaccines required?
Vaccines are not required for travel to Jamaica. However, the CDC recommends the following: Typhoid, Hepatits A and B, Rabies, Influenza, and Yellow Fever. In addition, missionaries should ensure all routine vaccines including MMR, tetanus, chicken pox, etc.are up-to-date.

Passports & Visas
All passport and visa fees are the responsibility of the traveler. Those traveling with an American passport do not require a visa for entry to Jamaica but passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs at www.travel.state.gov. Those travelers not traveling with an American passport should contact their local consulate for visa requirements as soon as possible.

Sleeping Bags and Pillows
All missionaries will need to bring their own sleeping bag and pillow. Missionaries have the option of also donating the sleeping bag to St. Theresa's for future missionary groups.

How large is the group?
The group will be roughly 16-18 people

Is there running water? And is it drinkable?
Yes, there is running water where we are staying. No, it is not drinkable.

Is Annotto Bay Safe?
As with any developing country, people should always exercise caution and prudence. Like other economically challenged areas, Annotto Bay does experience crime, but it is overall a safe community.

Is there internet?
There is no acess to internet. The missions team will send email updates on behalf of the group.

Can I use my cellphone and camera?
We ask all missionaries to keep their phones packed away for the duration of the trip in order to be more present with one another and the people we are serving. We value our time in mission as a time of retreat and community. There will be a designated person each day for pictures with general picture taking towards the end of the trip.

What should I pack?
A full packing list will be shared with you once your application has been accepted.

Who can I contact with questions?
We thank you for your interest in this trip and hope you will join us! Please contact us at missions@frassati.nyc with any further questions.