THE Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) was founded by Father Richard Ho Lung, a Catholic priest, in 1981, in Kingston, Jamaica. Father Richard Ho Lung was associate pastor of St Thomas Aquinas Church in Papine, Jamaica, when he ventured into the depressed community of Mona Commons and listened and shared the struggles of the people.

Many of his earliest musical compositions came out of these encounters, expressing the cries of the people, both of joy and of pain. Father Ho Lung encountered a fundamental problem: the absence or lack of family life and a sense of community. Thus, when the ‘Brothers of the Poor’, was founded in 1981, one of the main objectives was to build family and community among the poor and disadvantaged.

These objectives were to be pursued in two ways: first, by building a community of male religious brothers and priests who would live in a community, share all things in common, and follow a common spirituality and charisma with a common ministry of service to the least in society. Secondly, by bringing together the poor, especially the destitute, homeless as a family and forging community relationships with the wider society.

Initially consisting of only four members, the Brothers of the Poor were approved by the Bishop of Kingston, Jamaica and the name changed to the ‘Missionaries of the Poor’. The brothers began their work in a government-run house for the homeless, destitute and aged, where they succeeded in opening the consciousness of the public to the needs and struggles of the poor.

They continued their work with prisoners, where they helped to bring to light the need for rehabilitation among prisoners, not mere isolation. The community thus began with two successful projects in its early years.

Since its founding, the MOP has received both papal and Episcopal approval for their work and constitutions. Today, the order has over 550 brothers serving in nine missions around the world.

Father Ho Lung always points out: “The poor possess a joy that is pure and highly contagious, for it doesn’t come from material comfort and prosperity but from the very gift of being alive each day.”

The MOP are known for their inspirational music, but they also produce award-winning shows with a group of amazingly talented writers, performers and producers known as Father Ho Lung and Friends.

Their shows certainly provide an excellent means of fundraising, but their mission in these performances goes far beyond that. Every show is evangelistic in nature, reaching out to large audiences and bringing to them the Good News of Jesus Christ through an entertaining and family friendly venue.

The MOP also has events where they invite high school and college students for a weekend youth retreat in the mountains of Kingston, Jamaica. Their aim is to bring Christ and His Kingdom and a life of deep prayer in action to the young people.

The MOP have been serving Jamaica in many magnificent wayss. TEENage has taken the time out to highlight the work of Father Ho Lung and his team as heroic and encourage them to continue the good work.