Sister Mary Theresa Jackson RSM (Sr. Terry) has been very actively involved in training for Lay persons from 1975; she was a part of the Rural Lay Leadership Training Programme (Rural Team). As a part of the Team she worked in the civil parishes of Portland - Port Antonio, Buff Bay and Avocat; St. Catherine - Linstead, Ewarton, Guys Hill, Donnington; Clarendon - (then a part of the Archdiocese of Kingston) May Pen, Fairburn, Chapleton, Hayes; St. Thomas - Morant Bay, Yallahs, Port Morant.
Laity training became centralised at St. Michael's Theological Seminary/College and its name underwent several configurations LTP, CAREI and the ending with CAREP (Continuing Adult Religious Education Programme). That programme sees its 33
rd group this year, and Sr. Terry was there all along except for the past three years.
Over the years she participated in a facilitator's role for most sessions and on occasion put on the presenters’ hat as the need arose. She was responsible for the Formation For Ministry in Parish Worship designed to train Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Sacristans, Readers, Ushers, Liturgical Committees. Participants in these sessions would be mesmerised by her knowledge and the simplicity of her explanations for difficult theological issues.
Sr. Terry planned and trained Parish Council members, and instituted or participated in other leadership programmes. Wherever there was a need Sr. Terry would create a programme or participate in one that would enhance the work of the Kingdom of God in Jamaica. She would respond easily to any call anywhere on the Island.