The Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) is an international Roman Catholic monastic order of Brothers dedicated to "Joyful Service with Christ on the Cross" to serve the poorest of the poor. The order was started in 1981 by Father Richard Ho Lung in Kingston, Jamaica and has now grown to over 550 brothers from 13 countries.
Their headquarters is in Kingston Jamaica, where they presently maintain five large homes for destitute persons, including abandoned sick, disabled, or dying men, women, infants, and children. The Brothers also perform charitable work in India, the Philippines, Haiti and Uganda.
The work of the Missionaries of the Poor has attracted international attention, including visits by Mother Teresa in 1986; Francis Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria, who celebrated the Eucharist with the brothers in Kingston in 1990, and His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1993.
Father Ho Lung is also multi-talented, in that he writes and composes music and also dedicates his life to spreading the message of the gospel through music. Each year, 'Father Ho Lung and Friends' stage a musical performance to raise funds to support the work of the Missionaries of the Poor.
The work of the Missionaries of the Poor has attracted international attention, including visits by Mother Teresa in 1986; Francis Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria, who celebrated the Eucharist with the brothers in Kingston in 1990, and His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1993.
Father Ho Lung is also multi-talented, in that he writes and composes music and also dedicates his life to spreading the message of the gospel through music. Each year, 'Father Ho Lung and Friends' stage a musical performance to raise funds to support the work of the Missionaries of the Poor.
Numerous awards
He has received numerous national and international awards and recognition for his contribution to music, humanitarian cooperation, and community service. In October of this year, he received the national honour, the Order of Jamaica, for his dedicated service on behalf of the mentally and physically challenged, the homeless and the poor.
His best friend is Wynton Williams, music director with Father Ho Lung and Friends. Wynton has been associated with Father Ho Lung and his ministry for the past 22 years. In this week's feature, Wynton tells us of Father Ho Lung's fighting spirit, which is at the heart of his steadfast commitment to serving the needs of the poor. He also reveals interesting insights about Father Ho Lung, such as his love for fishing, and that the 67-year-old priest is very good at playing volleyball.
How did you meet Father Ho Lung, and how long have you been friends?
I met Father in about 1985. My brother introduced me to him because, at the time, he was looking for singers to join his group.
I was 18 years old when I started and, since then, the relationship between Father and me continues to grow and deepen. One of the main things that brought us together is our vision for Jamaica; we are both die-hard Jamaicans, dedicated to serving our country. Our faith was another factor. He is Catholic and I am Baptist, but his understanding of Christ and the fact that the dividing wall of denomination doesn't exist won me over.
Tell us what you admire most about him and why you think you have remained friends all these years.
Honestly, it is his forthrightness, his ability to articulate the truth and the fact that he is uncompromising. His love and commitment to Jamaica is another quality that I admire.
Our vision of Christ and our vision for the country keep us bonded together. In the beginning, I wondered how we would relate to each other, based on the age difference, but as the relationship developed, Father became a good friend ... a pal. At times, he was a father, at other times, a brother, and sometimes a spiritual counsellor.
On our travels as the performing group, or on his missions overseas where I accompany him to sing or share the Word, it has always been easy to relate to him and to discuss issues. It's amazing how, over the years, we have had differences of opinion but never conflicts. We have a very harmonious relationship.
Tell us something interesting about him.
Father has a special love for nature and plants. His gardens at Corpus Christi and over at 87 Hanover Street, where the senior brothers are located, are well kept. He also loves to go fishing, whenever he gets a chance to do it.
Father is also quite good at volleyball and plays often with the brothers. For him, it is both recreation and to keep fit.
And we all know of his talent for writing and composing music, which he does mainly for the production that we stage every year.
What are some of the things you talk about when you get together?
We talk about life in general, developments in the country and personal issues. He will also share his burdens and challenges. We also get into those theological arguments about faith (laughs).
His depth of knowledge of human behaviour and his understanding of the issues behind people's deviant behaviour is also quite interesting.
Share with us one of the happiest moments you have experienced with him.
When the Missionaries of the Poor received formal recognition from the Vatican as an official religious community in 1997, he was so elated as it meant more brothers could volunteer and more work would be accomplished. It was a very touching moment.
Father has also received quite a number of humanitarian awards, but the ones that stand out was an honorary doctorate he received from UWI, which I thought was a worthy recognition, and the Martin Luther King Award, which is presented to persons who have made a noticeable impact on their country. Martin Luther King fought for the freedom of blacks in the United States and the world, and to think that Father was seen as bringing freedom to the poor and destitute, and was given this award in recognition of his work, was quite touching.
Tell us the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Father Ho Lung, and why.
A fighter ... He is very determined, and if he believes strongly in something, he is not going to let go. He is going to stick with it to the end and he is not put out by challenges. I see that stubborn determination in the way he goes about getting things done on behalf of the poor and destitute, and it is an admirable quality.
What are his favourite food, favourite music and favourite sport?
Food is his favourite pastime. He loves, in particular, stew peas and a good steamed fish.
He's a Jamaican at heart and so his favourite genre is Jamaican mento and folk, but he also has a fine ear for European classical music.
He loves cricket.
Tell us the colour that you associate with him:
Yellow - signifying someone you'll never forget
Orange - signifying someone you consider your true friend
Red - signifying someone you really love
Green - signifying someone who has had a significant impact on your life
Orange, red and green.
Father is a true friend, a confidant and a good support. I love him and could see myself giving my life for him, because I believe his life is significant to others because of his service. Father will beg humbly for the poor, even to the point of taking insults, and yet, he continues to serve and so, because of who he is and how he serves others, I would lay down my life for him.
Father has also had a significant impact on my life because, while I shared his concern for the country and the poor, the depth with which Father has served challenged my own dedication and commitment to the cause of Christ. It challenged me to look deeper and to go deeper in terms of serving the poor.
Father is a wonderful friend and father to me. I am confident and positive that our friendship was meant to be, and that by God's grace it will continue
Their headquarters is in Kingston Jamaica, where they presently maintain five large homes for destitute persons, including abandoned sick, disabled, or dying men, women, infants, and children. The Brothers also perform charitable work in India, the Philippines, Haiti and Uganda.
The work of the Missionaries of the Poor has attracted international attention, including visits by Mother Teresa in 1986; Francis Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria, who celebrated the Eucharist with the brothers in Kingston in 1990, and His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1993.
Father Ho Lung is also multi-talented, in that he writes and composes music and also dedicates his life to spreading the message of the gospel through music. Each year, 'Father Ho Lung and Friends' stage a musical performance to raise funds to support the work of the Missionaries of the Poor.
The work of the Missionaries of the Poor has attracted international attention, including visits by Mother Teresa in 1986; Francis Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria, who celebrated the Eucharist with the brothers in Kingston in 1990, and His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1993.
Father Ho Lung is also multi-talented, in that he writes and composes music and also dedicates his life to spreading the message of the gospel through music. Each year, 'Father Ho Lung and Friends' stage a musical performance to raise funds to support the work of the Missionaries of the Poor.
Numerous awards
He has received numerous national and international awards and recognition for his contribution to music, humanitarian cooperation, and community service. In October of this year, he received the national honour, the Order of Jamaica, for his dedicated service on behalf of the mentally and physically challenged, the homeless and the poor.
His best friend is Wynton Williams, music director with Father Ho Lung and Friends. Wynton has been associated with Father Ho Lung and his ministry for the past 22 years. In this week's feature, Wynton tells us of Father Ho Lung's fighting spirit, which is at the heart of his steadfast commitment to serving the needs of the poor. He also reveals interesting insights about Father Ho Lung, such as his love for fishing, and that the 67-year-old priest is very good at playing volleyball.
How did you meet Father Ho Lung, and how long have you been friends?
I met Father in about 1985. My brother introduced me to him because, at the time, he was looking for singers to join his group.
I was 18 years old when I started and, since then, the relationship between Father and me continues to grow and deepen. One of the main things that brought us together is our vision for Jamaica; we are both die-hard Jamaicans, dedicated to serving our country. Our faith was another factor. He is Catholic and I am Baptist, but his understanding of Christ and the fact that the dividing wall of denomination doesn't exist won me over.
Tell us what you admire most about him and why you think you have remained friends all these years.
Honestly, it is his forthrightness, his ability to articulate the truth and the fact that he is uncompromising. His love and commitment to Jamaica is another quality that I admire.
Our vision of Christ and our vision for the country keep us bonded together. In the beginning, I wondered how we would relate to each other, based on the age difference, but as the relationship developed, Father became a good friend ... a pal. At times, he was a father, at other times, a brother, and sometimes a spiritual counsellor.
On our travels as the performing group, or on his missions overseas where I accompany him to sing or share the Word, it has always been easy to relate to him and to discuss issues. It's amazing how, over the years, we have had differences of opinion but never conflicts. We have a very harmonious relationship.
Tell us something interesting about him.
Father has a special love for nature and plants. His gardens at Corpus Christi and over at 87 Hanover Street, where the senior brothers are located, are well kept. He also loves to go fishing, whenever he gets a chance to do it.
Father is also quite good at volleyball and plays often with the brothers. For him, it is both recreation and to keep fit.
And we all know of his talent for writing and composing music, which he does mainly for the production that we stage every year.
What are some of the things you talk about when you get together?
We talk about life in general, developments in the country and personal issues. He will also share his burdens and challenges. We also get into those theological arguments about faith (laughs).
His depth of knowledge of human behaviour and his understanding of the issues behind people's deviant behaviour is also quite interesting.
Share with us one of the happiest moments you have experienced with him.
When the Missionaries of the Poor received formal recognition from the Vatican as an official religious community in 1997, he was so elated as it meant more brothers could volunteer and more work would be accomplished. It was a very touching moment.
Father has also received quite a number of humanitarian awards, but the ones that stand out was an honorary doctorate he received from UWI, which I thought was a worthy recognition, and the Martin Luther King Award, which is presented to persons who have made a noticeable impact on their country. Martin Luther King fought for the freedom of blacks in the United States and the world, and to think that Father was seen as bringing freedom to the poor and destitute, and was given this award in recognition of his work, was quite touching.
Tell us the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Father Ho Lung, and why.
A fighter ... He is very determined, and if he believes strongly in something, he is not going to let go. He is going to stick with it to the end and he is not put out by challenges. I see that stubborn determination in the way he goes about getting things done on behalf of the poor and destitute, and it is an admirable quality.
What are his favourite food, favourite music and favourite sport?
Food is his favourite pastime. He loves, in particular, stew peas and a good steamed fish.
He's a Jamaican at heart and so his favourite genre is Jamaican mento and folk, but he also has a fine ear for European classical music.
He loves cricket.
Tell us the colour that you associate with him:
Yellow - signifying someone you'll never forget
Orange - signifying someone you consider your true friend
Red - signifying someone you really love
Green - signifying someone who has had a significant impact on your life
Orange, red and green.
Father is a true friend, a confidant and a good support. I love him and could see myself giving my life for him, because I believe his life is significant to others because of his service. Father will beg humbly for the poor, even to the point of taking insults, and yet, he continues to serve and so, because of who he is and how he serves others, I would lay down my life for him.
Father has also had a significant impact on my life because, while I shared his concern for the country and the poor, the depth with which Father has served challenged my own dedication and commitment to the cause of Christ. It challenged me to look deeper and to go deeper in terms of serving the poor.
Father is a wonderful friend and father to me. I am confident and positive that our friendship was meant to be, and that by God's grace it will continue
