We are very pleased to announce that the CLB Senior Corp, in conjunction with the South American Missionary Society (An Anglican Mission Agency) are planning a mission trip to Belize in June of 2009.

Belize is situated on the Caribbean Sea, south of Mexico and east and north of Guatemala in Central America.  In area, it is about the size of the Avalon Peninsula.  Our work will take us north of the airport in Belize City to the Island of San Pedro.  It is here, under the direction of Miss Francis Wilson, a local mission partner, that we shall help in the further construction of Holy Cross Anglican School.

The island of San Pedro is a major tourist destination.  In the center of the island exists a pocket of very under privileged people, many of whom live in shacks situated in salt-water marshes.  The Anglican Church, under the direction of Francis Wilson and her Bishop, Bishop Philip Wright, began to develop a school in the fall of 2006 – this school now numbers over 500 students – and has a major need to expand and continue to develop.  

In March of 2007 Rev’d Pilling, Colonel Arns and Colonel Pelley visited the Diocese of Belize.  While in the country, the Bishop, Bishop Philip Wright showed them many of the Diocese’s needs and joys – and the precious beauty of the Belizean people were evident to all three of them.  It was while they were in Belize that they visited Holy Cross Anglican School on San Pedro Island.  

Upon seeing the needs, they came to the conclusion that our CLB could and should make a difference in this part of the world.  That the CLB would benefit from helping to construct a school as well as our members would benefit from experiencing another culture.  We believe it is important for our youth to see themselves making a positive difference in this world, and we are wishing to provide them with such an opportunity.  Part of this opportunity is that our members will be working alongside other Belizean workers, and having active interchange with other students of this island.

We are limiting this mission trip to members of the Senior Corp, and those who will be Seniors as of September 1, 2008.  The deadline for applications will be May 31, 2008. Selection will be made over the summer months.  An application form will be available from your CO or by contacting the names listed below.  

While on San Pedro Island, Rev’d Pilling, Colonel Arns and Colonel Pelley found a hotel, relatively close to the work site where the Seniors and Officers would be staying for their work on San Pedro.  A Medical Team of a Doctor and Nurse will accompany the mission team as will Bishop Pitman, some Company Chaplains and a number of Officers.

The selection of the mission team will be based on application, on a willingness to participate in the Fund Raising activities within each sponsoring Parish and CLB Company, attendance at training sessions, regular attendance at worship at your parish church and a willingness to work with other members to achieve this goal.  Our training sessions will help prepare the team to be focused on the project at hand and to help prepare them for working and living in another culture.  

The project is fully sanctioned and endorsed by the Anglican Church; Dioceses of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, the Diocese of Central Newfoundland and the CLB of Newfoundland.