Miss Karen Henry, Choir Director and leader of the Church of the Holy Spirit Choir and Assistant Director of the Portmore Chorale, has been awarded a three year contract as Reviser and Head of the English Translation Team at the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.
Karen is a career translator and interpreter with more than 25 years’ experience in that field. She has worked as a Translator at the World Bank and a Spanish Interpreter at the Language Training Centre, University of the West Indies. She has also been a musician for most of her life, an aerobics enthusiast and certified trainer, who loves people and enjoys life. A dedicated member of the St. Andrew High School Old Girls Association, she once served as President.
Contribution to Church and Diocese (Portmore Deanery)
Karen is a life member of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Cumberland, Portmore where she grew up. Dating back to the church’s humble beginnings in Independence City in the home of Mr. Cleveland Bramwell, Karen’s commitment to Jesus Christ has found expression through her love of family, church, and people. When she became Chief Musician and Assistant Choir Director, her feet could hardly touch the organ pedals. She subsequently became Choir Director for the Church, a position she held until her departure for Brussels. Additionally, she has directed combined Deanery choirs for the Portmore Deanery and Kingston Region events.
A founding member of the Portmore Chorale, she was recognized in 2015 for her 30 years of dedicated service to the ensemble.
Karen was also the “visiting tutor” on the popular radio morning feature segment ‘Spanglish’ on RJR 94FM, hosted by Alan Magnus and Paula-Ann Porter-Jones. Her indomitable spirit is reflected in her witness as a cancer survivor and advocate in the fight against this disease.
From this brief summary one can see why Karen will be missed by so many – in particular her family, her church and the Portmore Chorale. A send-off Service of Thanksgiving was jointly organized by the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Chorale on Monday July 11, on the occasion of Karen’s departure. She was presented with gifts from The Women’s Auxiliary, the Church Choir, the wider membership of the Church; and a citation from the Chorale. Clergy present were the Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Thompson, Bishop of Kingston; the Very Rev. Robert McLean, Dean of Portmore; the Very Rev. Barrington Soares, Dean of Manchester, former Rector, Church of the Holy Spirit and former Chaplain of the Portmore Chorale; Rev. Karl Henlin, Chaplain of the Chorale and Guest Speaker; Rev. Pinto, Assistant Director of the Chorale and Rev. Michael Elliott, Rector, Church of the Holy Spirit.
We are very proud of Karen. God speed until we meet again, Karen!
