Sunday worship on June 22, 2025, at the Blessed Peter Donders Catholic Church turned into a joyous celebration as parishioners were welcomed into a fully renovated church building in the heart of the Belles community.
Behind the transformation is Fr. Joseph Hung, a Redemptorist Missionary recently appointed to the Parish of St. Joseph, which includes Belles. With a vision rooted in prayer and perseverance, Fr. Hung spearheaded the months-long renovation that breathed new life into the cherished structure.
“I prayed for wisdom to know what to do and also for people to help financially with the project,” Fr. Hung shared. “Little by little, God sent people to help and we were able to accomplish so much.”
In addition to his spiritual motivations, Fr. Hung pointed to a practical need—safety. The church doubles as a designated hurricane shelter for the community, and its previous condition raised concern. “I could not see people using this building as a hurricane shelter because of the floor, and the roof needs to be replaced,” he said.
With a new roof, fresh floors, and a revitalized interior, the space now has a new, much-improved look. Upon completion, Fr. Hung invited Bishop Gabriel Malzaire, Bishop of Roseau, to consecrate the newly installed marble altar and bless other sacred items, including the tabernacle.
(L-r) Fr Hung, parishioner, Bishop Kendrick ForbesThere is much to be done such as replacing the roof, adding a kitchen, and erecting a river wall next to the building. His intention is for the church building to be a resilient building able to withstand the fury of any hurricane.
Such initiative by Fr. Joseph is seen as a wonderful development for a remote community in the forest. A face-lift for a church building can greatly enhance its appearance and provide a more welcoming atmosphere for parishioners to worship. Fr. Hung is very grateful for the help he got from the following: UNDP, Government of Dominica, Fr. Song You and his Chinese community in Brooklyn, the Vietnamese parishioners in Philadelphia, Vietnamese Parishioners of O.L.P.H, Brooklyn, Vietnamese in Vietnam as well as in the US and the Parishioners of Belles.
Oh Boy, how far will catholic stretch this. Looks like Buddhists, paying their way in like vassal chiefs; they have their black nowadays…oh well
lol
DNO – What is the point of an article titled “Catholic Church in Belles gets much needed face-lift” and show NONE of the face-lift in question.
Stop post half a$$ed articles – its 2025
Thank you, Fr. Hung.