The AEC Youth Commission comprises His Grace, Archbishop Robert Rivas, OP Archbishop of Castries as Chairperson; Fr. Carl Haynes, Diocesan Youth Director, Diocese of St. Georges; Sister Velorna Gervais, SSM, Archdiocesan Youth Coordinator, Archdiocese of Castries; Sister Angilla Corraspe, OP, Diocesan Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Bridgetown; Mrs. Mahalia Paul Diocesan Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Roseau; Mr. Winston Garcia, Episcopal Delegate for Youth, Archdiocese of Port of Spain; Mr. Kyle Dardaine, Archdiocese of Port Of Spain; Mrs Maraika Young, Diocesan Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Kingstown.

The theme of the institute was “Empowering Youth Leaders to Build a Culture of Solidarity and Justice” based on Psalm 84:10. “Mercy and Faithfulness have met, Justice and peace have embraced.” The institute sought: to ensure that Youth Leaders were exposed to the Church’s Social teachings, in order to develop social mission; give participants techniques and strategies for designing and implementing justice and social projects in their local churches; and to ensure that mechanisms are put in place to evaluate programs.

Participants who came from the following Arch/Dioceses of the AEC: The Diocese of Roseau, Dominica; Archdiocese of Nassau, The Bahamas; Diocese of Willemstad, St. Maarten and Curacao; Archdiocese of Castries, St. Lucia; Diocese of Kingstown, St. Vincent; Diocese of Bridgetown, Barbados; Archdiocese of Port Of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Diocese of Georgetown, Guyana; Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre, St. Kitts; beautifully showcased the diverse nature of the Caribbean.

A dynamic team of Catholic presenters made up of Rev. Fr. Peter McIsaac, SJ, Deacon Ronald Thwaites, Member of Parliament, Radio Personality and Attorney at Law, and his wife Marcia Thwaites, from the Archdiocese of Kinsgton, Jamaica; Ms Leela Ramdeen, Attorney at Law and Chairperson of the Catholic Social Justice Commission, Archdiocese of Port Of Spain, Trinidad; made this institute a tremendous success.  The instructors utilized a variety of methods including; powerpoint presentations, small and large group discussions, reflections and a panel discussion to engage participants and transmit their wealth of knowledge on the workshop topics.

During this intense institute valuable resource materials were distributed. Of particular importance were Pope Benedict XVI’s Encyclical “Charity in Truth” and the “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church” – a compilation of over a century of rich Catholic social teaching.

Sessions addressed the following areas: Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Major Concerns and threats to life and human Dignity in the Caribbean Context; Call to Family Community and Participation; Major Concerns and threats to the Family and Human Rights in our Caribbean Context; Rights and Responsibilities of the people; Option for the poor and vulnerable; Solidarity and Justice; Strategies and techniques to help participants design programs and implement justice and service projects in their local churches; Dignity of work and rights of workers; and Care of Gods Creation.

A main feature on the programme was a panel discussion aimed at addressing pertinent life issues.  From their professional perspectives and experience, four panelists shared on the following topics:   The role of family life in helping to build a Culture of Solidarity and Justice; Why is Solidarity and a Preferential Option  for the poor integral to a life of faith?; How can a Catholic culture influence  socio-economic and political change in society?; and how does addressing the issues of abuse in society help to build a Culture of Solidarity and Justice?

The general consensus of participants in the institute was to go back as Youth Leaders and Coordinators and implement the “See, Judge, and, Act” method in our various Church communities; to open the eyes of the many Catholics of the Caribbean to justice issues and rally them to peacefully and effectively create a more just society.

For Justin Thompson from the Diocese of Georgetown, the highlight was not just an awareness of social issues and trying to think of ways to solve them, but the challenge was to become part of the solution and to attack the source of the problem.

Stecia Stanislas from the Archdiocese of Castries, said it was an awakening and a reminder that our call as God’s People from the very start was to be good stewards of His creation.  The scriptures remind us that it is good to practise liturgy and to be a people of worship, but Isaiah 58 tells us that our lives should be devoted to being advocates of Social Justice and not merely external worshipers.

Andrea Seaman from the Diocese of Roseau, learned that Jesus taught us that the Kingdom of heaven is for the poor.  Through the Beatitudes we are told who our neighbours are. Service and Justice go far beyond the people who are hungry and have no shelter but also to those who have no education, who have been abused, and even our own deportees.

Theron Tommy from the diocese of Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines understood that we ought to stand up for something; or we will fall for anything.  Everything we do as Church or as living beings is very important not only to ourselves but to everyone.  Also every aspect of life is very valuable no matter the state of the human person.  We are called to do the work of the Lord and in doing so, exercise our rights and help in defending others since they also have a right to live equally.  We must now act and thereby ensure that Social Justice and other teachings of our Catholic Church continues to touch lives no matter their circumstances.

Chandrice Ferguson from the Archdiocese of Nassau, said “It opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about how we care for the poor, those who are physically and socio-economically challenged, as well as those who are “spiritually” poor. Social justice calls us to be a voice for the voiceless and social action will require venturing into new avenues in my faith journey and will also mean sharing this vision with our young people and the wider community.”

Vernaly Borgschot from the Diocese of Willemstad concluded that as Youth Leaders we must not only teach the youth how to praise and worship the Lord, but also teach them the social teachings of the Church.  Our Youth need to know that if we don’t value the creation of God, we are not valuing Him.

An African saying was impressed upon us “I am because We are,”This means that if one suffers, all suffer.  In this present age of common challenges to our God given human rights and natural resources, we can no longer be silent.  Thus, we will as Youth Leaders of the AEC, unite and shout unceasingly as directed in Isaiah 58:1, about the injustice suffered by our brothers and sisters until the time comes when the unjust relent like the unjust judge of Luke 18:1-8.

Written by:

Andrea Seaman, Dominica, Jay Cartwright, Chandrice Ferguson, Bahamas, Justin Thompson, Guyana, Stecia Stanislas and Marcathian Alexander Saint Lucia

Pray for priesthood and consecrated life

This call by the Holy Father could not be more timely. For one thing, it gave the entire Church, universal, local and domestic, the opportunity to intensify its prayer for priest and all those in consecrated life. No one will doubt that this year has been a very challenging one for the church worldwide. The onslaught of media coverage of both allegations and real cases of misconduct by clergy and the corresponding claims of mismanagement by the legitimate authorities that made the headlines and front pages of international media, have brought great disturbance to all and uncertainty to many. However, they have also engendered deep reflection and introspection by the Church at large. The situation brings us face to face with the fragility of the human condition; thus giving us greater reasons to pray for the sanctity of our clergy.

The letter to the Hebrews constantly reminds us that “Every high priest has been taken out the people and is appointed to act for them in their relationship with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin; and so he can sympathize with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitation of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offering for himself as well as for the people.” (Heb 5:1-4). With this in mind, we realize that the sanctity of the clergy is dependent on his own openness to the grace of God available to him, but also the support and help of the Christian community.

In light of the above-mentioned challenges that confront the Church, we see the need to face the situation head on by seeking the appropriate solutions, but at the same time to affirm the selfless service of the many faithful priests who labour tirelessly in the Lord’s vineyard. Year after year these dedicated servants give their time and energies in caring for the people of God. They need our love and encouragement. Even the few who have failed need our prayers and concern.

Pray for vocations

Secondly, the year has afforded a great opportunity to pray and work for the promotion of vocations. The “crisis” in priestly and religious vocations in the Western world is very much with us. The number of young men and women presenting themselves for consecrated life and the ministry of the Church has been on the decrease for a while. Our own Regional Seminary this year has had to suspend its operations due, in part, to these dwindling numbers. It is hoped that by making vocation promotion a priority, and accompanying it with a vibrant discernment and recruitment programme in the Antilles Region, we will be able to resume the operations of the seminary in the near future (hopefully after about three years).

In the Diocese of Roseau efforts are being made to encourage families to pray intensely for vocations. In each parish a “Vocation Stole” is passed from family to family on a weekly basis, requiring them to pray before the stole enthroned in a “sacred space” that has been created in the home for that purpose. We trust that some fruits will be born out of that venture.

Pray for deceased priests

Finally, we remember the Fathers who paved the way for today’s vineyard. We are constantly aware that what we experience as Church today was not created by us. Someone blazed the trail and others paved the way to what we enjoy presently. Essentially, we are continuing a mission that was set in process two thousand years ago and more. At quarterly Pontifical Masses which were celebrated in three of the four vicariates of the Diocese of Roseau, prayers have been offered on behalf of the many Fathers who preceded us in ministry. Therefore, we bring the curtain down on the year of the priest with the final Pontifical Mass in North Eastern Vicariate, at the Parish of Our Lady of La Soie, Wesley, on Friday, June 11, 2010.

Year of the Priest Continues

Despite the stipulated time frame of the year of the priest, the need for intensive prayer and effort to bring to fulfillment the initiatives and good intentions engendered during the year continue. In that regard, every successive year can be considered as a year of the priest, since the work of the priesthood is perpetual. Therefore, I urge all clergy, religious and faithful to maintain such a disposition for the further advancement of God’s Kingdom.

When he was about four years old, his family moved to Toronto. Fr. Stoeckel had a great devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother. He once stated that is was in St Lambert that he made his first and only Redemptorist Mission during which, “the priest laid great emphasis on the importance of the devotion to the Eucharist and Mother Mary.”

Fr. Albert Stoeckel C.Ss.R made his first profession to the Redemptorists on September 02, 1932. He made his final profession on September 02, 1935.

He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood June 20, 1937. His first missionary visit to Dominica was in 1971. The following year he was called by his Provincial to preach Mission in Canada. He returned to Dominica 1974 and was stationed in following parishes: St Theresa – Salisbury, St Joseph, Cathedral of Our Lady of Fair Haven – Roseau, La Salette – Pte Michel, St. Patrick – Grandbay, and Our Lady of Lourdes – Soufriere.

From 1990 – He was stationed at the St Alphonsus House at the Holy Redeemer Retreat House in Eggleston, where he regularly assisted in the parish of our lady of Fatima and the home for the Aged.

Well into his mid-nineties when it became too difficult for him to travel by himself he occasionally said Holy Mass in the Chapel of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Geraudel – Eggleston community. And he regularly visited the Home for the Aged and the Grotto Home for the homeless to celebrate the Eucharist with them until approximately two years ago when he was no longer able to do so.

Since ordination, Fr. Stoeckel spent most of his ministry preaching missions and giving retreats. He can be described as an excellent and well received missionary who was always in great demand and was well known for preaching the traditional Redemptorist themes with traditional missionary enthusiasm.

After a brief illness he departed this life on May 13, 2010.

He was truly a man on fire for the Eucharist and Our Blessed Mother, Mary!

The Funeral celebration of Redemptorist, Rev. Fr. Albert Stoeckel, C.Ss.R will be held on Tuesday 25 May. At the Fatima Church, in Newtown. Starting at 4:00PM sharp!

This will be followed with the interment at the Holy Redeemer Retreat House, in Eggleston.

What is a SYNOD?

A Diocesan Synod is an assembly of selected priests and other members of Christ’s faithful of a local Church, which, for the good of the whole diocesan community, assist the Diocesan Bishop in the exercise of the office proper to him, namely that of governing the Christian community.

When and where will it take place?

The Diocesan Synod is likely to take place around the time of Pentecost 2010 (May 31) in the Cathedral Church or a suitably large place that can accommodate the number of delegates who will be attending.

Who attends a SYNOD?

The Synod will be attended by members of the clergy and religious working in the diocese and representatives from the various parishes and Diocesan departments and secretariats.

How can I become a SYNOD Delegate?

Some people will be delegates by virtue of the office that they hold in the Diocese (Clergy, religious, heads of secretariats and other Diocesan workers).  Others will be nominated by their parish community to make inputs and engage in the Synod discussions on behalf of their parish and the entire diocese.

If I am not a delegate, what other ways can I participate?

Even if I am not a delegate I can participate in the preparatory process leading to the Synod by helping in whatever way I can in the activities taking place on the parish or vicariate level: being a member of the Parish Synod Coordinating Team, attending educational sessions, conducting surveys, helping to advertise the Synod, praying daily for the success of the Synod, etc.

What activities/events will be held in preparation for the SYNOD?

Many activities will be held in the period leading to the Synod.  These include: training/orientation sessions, study sessions with focus groups in the parishes and vicariates, general assemblies, research/surveys to obtain accurate statistics on various aspects of the life of the Church, etc

What role do I play in the above activities?

Your role will depend on your particular gifts and talents, your interest and desire for the success of that important Diocesan event.  Some of the areas have been mentioned in above.

What will be discussed at the SYNOD?

Guided by the theme of the Synod: Disciples on Mission: Gifted and Called, the matters to be discussed are the issues that pertain to the pastoral, administrative, spiritual, financial, sacramental, communal, liturgical and vocational life of the Church, and how they impact on the life of the clergy and the faithful.  A significant part of the discussions will concern how the Christian life is being lived in the Diocese, and how we can work together to live up to the Gospel mandate in the times is which we live.

What happens after the SYNOD?

After the Synod is completed, it will be the time to implement the resolutions that will be drawn from Synod discussions.  A specific plan of action will be promulgated by the Bishop, which the Clergy and all the faithful will assist in implementing for the good of the entire Christian community of the Diocese of Roseau.

Why are we having a SYNOD?

The Church (Diocese), like every institution (religious or social) needs to take stock of itself at particular intervals in its history.  This requires reflection on its present situation, with the purpose of helping to chart a course for the future of the Church, as it seeks to respond to the needs of the Christian community in accordance to the Church’s teaching.  The Synod is one of the instruments through which Diocesan Bishop, in collaboration with the Clergy and the faithful, can achieve that end.

It all happened in 1985. Over a period from June 30^th to August 18^th, ten (10) men from the region were ordained to the presbyterate. This includes Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB (Trinidad & Tobago), Bishop Gabriel Malzaire (St. Lucia) Fr. Karel Choennie (Suriname), Fr. Stephen Geofroy (Trinidad & Tobago), Fr. Leroy Hopkin, OP (Grenada), Fr. John Persaud (Guyana), Msgr. Michael Stewart (St. Vincent & the Grenadines), Fr. Celsus Auguiste (Dominica), Fr. Charles Martin (Dominica) and Fr. Ron Yeemon (Trinidad & Tobago).  The latter three were unable to join their confreres for the Jubilee celebration. Present with us, however, was Fr. Eddy Birmingham, SJ, the present Dean of Studies at the Regional Seminary, who also celebrates 25 years of priesthood this year. Fr. George Williams (St. Lucia), who begun his formation with the same group but who was ordained five years ago, likewise, was among those celebrating with the jubilarians.

The Eucharist was presided over by the Ordinary of Port of Spain, His Grace, Archbishop Edward Gilbert, CSSR, and the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Thomas Gullickson, was the homilist. In his homily Archbishop Gullickson reminded the congregation that “Priesthood is not a point of arrival, a decoration for somebody’s lapel; it is a point of departure …. Priesthood is a life-long adventure and although we are never ‘home free’ this side of the grave, there is certainly a sense in which after 25 years we can rejoice in the yield of the harvest.” On this special occasion it seemed most fitting for him to add: “We thank the Lord for these men and all the good which has come to the Church in the region at their hands”, but “in well-founded hope, we pray that the next 25 years will be even more fruitful to the greater honor and glory of God.” The Nuncio assured the seven men and the congregation that “Life for a priest only gets better as you enter deeper into the mystery of fulfilling God’s Will and of cooperating with the grace bestowed.”

Using the occasion to encourage a greater awareness of the value of local vocations, the Nuncio stated: “Fair or not, I think we priests, completed as we are by Him in whom we live and move and have our being, have even more reason to give thanks. Our gratitude, profound gratitude for the representational role bestowed upon us in union with Christ, is certainly mysterious but not esoteric. Believing folks have appreciation for what this means and h

ow important priesthood is both for the Church and for the life of the world. If parents of small children don’t dream about a son of theirs becoming a priest they don’t have the faith; they have somehow missed out on where joy lies this side of heaven.” And how infinitely true is this last sentence!

The Jubilee celebration served as a great occasion for what was a short reunion of clergy, religious and laity alike. Some were fellow students, present and past lecturers, and also friends, benefactors and well-wishers of the seminary.

After a sumptuous dinner, the former Rector, Fr. Henry Charles, under whose leadership all the jubilarians were formed, and Dr. Everard Johnston, who has been a lecturer in various subjects areas throughout the formation period of the ten men and still a member of the Seminary faculty, expressed their pride in the Class of 1985, and shared sentiments of joy for being part of that journey.

It was then the turn of each jubilarian to share some thoughts on his time spent at the Regional Seminary and his 25 years of priestly journey. These inputs were reminiscent of an enjoyable period of study and formation that was made possible by the many people who contributed to its success. The reflections featured not only the lecturers and formators, but also the many friends of the seminary, the individuals and families in Trinidad who opened their homes to the students, especially those from the various islands and the Guyanas, the kitchen and other ancillary staff who played a significant role in keeping them healthy, the many friends who cared for the well-being of the seminary, and the religious and lay students who brought an added dimension to the theological discourse. The jubilarians spoke of the comradry in the group, the prayer life, the social interaction, the engaging lecturers, the lively liturgies, etc, that characterized that period in their life.

After 25 years of ministry in the vineyard, we can only be thankful to Almighty God for calling us to share in the Priesthood of His Son Jesus Christ. As we proceed on the journey, may we continue to configure ourselves and our ministry more completely to that of the one who has called us to share in his plenty.

+ Gabriel Malzaire

From Tuesday, April 20 to Thursday 22, Judicial Vicars of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) and their associates, met in convention at the Regional Seminary at Mount St Benedict, to address matters dealing with marriage issues on which they are called upon to adjudicate in their various jurisdictions.

Discussions centered on issues like grounds for the nullity of marriages; the effects of culture on marriage validity; the machismo syndrome of the Caribbean male and the differences and benefits between diocesan and regional tribunals.

Following the convention, as is the norm, a full report on the deliberations was sent to the AEC.

Fr Joseph Harris, the judicial vicar (judge) of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, told the Catholic News the issue which generated the most animated discussion was the effects of the various local and varied cultures of the Caribbean, which impacted seriously on some unions, one of them being obeah.

He explained also how the way in which the law was written created a cultural disconnect, which in turn posed difficulty at times.

Fr Joe said, “The law is written in European category, which at times does not fit into the Caribbean category. While most of the judges, because of education, operate very easily within a technological mindset, the people whom they serve, very often do not operate in those areas.”

Providing an example, he added, “A technological mindset does not deal with obeah, so a skill the Judicial Vicars (judges) have to learn is how to translate what they hear into the categories given to them in the Code (Canon Law).”

While the convention was planned and executed by the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Professor Augustine Mendonca, Professor Emeritus of St Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, masterfully guided its deliberations over the three days.

Some two dozen judicial vicars and their associates attended the convention, but on the second day that number jumped to 40 plus when local persons involved in the marriage ministry were invited to participate in the discussions.

On the last day of the convention elections were held and Fr Joseph Harris was elected as the new president of the Canon Law Society replacing Monsignor Michael Lewis of Jamaica. In addition to Fr Harris most of the new executive is from the Archdiocese of Port of Spain – Cherryl Mohamed, Vice Chancellor of the Archdiocese is the vice president and Barbara Salazar and Bernadette Salandy of the Marriage Tribunal are treasurer and secretary respectively. Other members of the new executive are former president Msgr Michael Lewis and consultors Msgr Michael Palud of Jamaica and Dominic Jeremiah of Grenada. The latter is principal of Presentation College, St George’s. – Vernon Khelawan

Catholic News (Archdiocese of Port of Spain)
Sunday May 2nd, 2010

Nigel grew up in the city of Roseau. He attended the St Mary’s Primary and later the St Mary’s Academy; therefore at very young age he was schooled in the Catholic faith. Unlike many of the youths of his day, however, he opted for a path of spiritual enrichment rather than one of great material possession. Indeed he could easily have been swayed by the penchant for worldly riches, but given his resolve to conform to God’s will he was not prepared to allow anything to befuddle his better judgment.

Sitting in the congregation and listening to the priests time and time again tell of the need for more priests to fulfill Christ’s mission, Nigel as it were, could hear the promptings of Jesus pleading to him to come forward. Initially, he was very doubtful. In fact he was afraid, as he viewed himself unworthy to carry out such a task. But his struggles soon gave way to discernment and recognized that Christ was challenging him to follow his vocation. With encouragement from Monsignor John Lewis, Nigel enrolled in the Pre-Seminary Programme at the Roseau Presbytery, while he continued his employment at the Royal Bank of Canada.

In the year 2000 Nigel left for the Regional Seminary in Trinidad to pursue studies to the priesthood. His nine years of study has helped to deepen his understanding of the Church and establish an unswerving relationship with God and the people whom he has been called to serve. In February 2009 he was ordained a priest at the Roseau Cathedral with his parents Mr and Mrs Paul Karam and his two siblings in attendance.

Eight months later, Father Karam had the unenviable task of presiding at the funeral Mass of his brother, a duty which acutely highlights the everyday challenges of those who are called to the service of the Lord. It is just as well that they can take comfort from the teachings of the Master. Psalm 139, a favourite scripture reading of Father Karam helps to give him the spiritual fortitude and the reminder of the ever present God.

Father is also ever attentive to the words of Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given much is expected” and Pope Benedict VI that “Christ takes nothing from us, but indeed gives us everything”. Father has rejected a life of affluence and opted for a life of service to God and His people.

It was only after he had completed fourth form and had been confirmed in the Faith that the true love for Jesus started to evolve and assume a greater and deeper meaning. His mother, interestingly a Methodist, was key in ensuring the completion of his catechetical programme and the receiving of the Sacraments through the Catholic Church, and was a real source of devotional inspiration and strength. Indeed, he sees her as a tremendous model of faith and is herself a lay preacher at her church.

Conan’s call to follow Jesus became stronger as he progressed through the then Clifton Dupigny Community College and became more defined with the assistance of then Bishop Gilbert and Monsignor John Lewis, who had guided his early spiritual formation at the Diocesan Pre-Seminary programme, at the Roseau Presbytery.   After completing studies at the College, Conan worked as a laboratory technician and taught for a brief period at his alma mater, St. Marys Academy. He subsequently left for the Regional Seminary in Trinidad in August 2000 (Year of the Jubilee).

But even at this stage of his journey doubts and anxieties in his ability to persevere would tug at the fabric of his being. The nine years of seminary life at times appeared daunting but as he proceeded, he discovered grace and enlightenment and through constant prayer and devotion to God, he was able to surmount those early challenges. He speaks now of the inspiration and fulfillment he experienced at the seminary, and sees it as a beneficial experience for intellectual and spiritual formation.  Father Shillingford was ordained a priest at the Roseau Cathedral on 2nd February 2010, fittingly the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, with his proud parents, St. Havis and Rosemerlyn Shillingford in attendance.

Father Conan is blessed with special gifts of charisma, persuasion and fluency of speech and has the ability to easily bond with persons. This was very much evident at a Lenten Mission he conducted at the Parish of La Soie during the week of March 15, 2010. During the five nights of Mission he had hundreds of persons riveted to the Word of God as he expounded on the theme, “Disciples on Mission, Gifted and Called”. On one particular evening, at his behest, virtually all of the hundreds of persons who had come to listen to him processed with gifts of one kind or the other to lay at the Altar, to ultimately donate to persons in need, in the parish. It was indeed a marvelous sight and says much of the skills of so young an individual. But Father has taken it one step further. He has placed it all at the service of the Lord. Truly, he continues to be a Disciple on mission, gifted and called.

We, the Roman Catholic Bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference gathered for our fifty-fourth (54^th) Annual Plenary Meeting in St. George’s, Grenada (17-24 April 2010), greet you the faithful of the Church and all people of goodwill in the name of the Risen Lord. We invite you to reflect upon the joyful hope of the Resurrection of Jesus which occurred in the wake of a most cruel and horrific experience at Calvary.  It is this confident hope founded on the Resurrection that sustains all God’s people as they grapple with the socio-economic aspects of life and all other realities that put people’s faith to the test. Because Christ has risen, his disciples can face and transcend all of life’s difficulties.  During this Conference, the bishops discussed some of the realities that challenge Christian faith and hope.

Sexual Abuse of Minors

As Church leaders in the Caribbean Region in solidarity with the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI and the Church Universal, we, the bishops, view seriously and with sadness the various reports of clerical sexual abuse. We are ashamed of such regrettable incidents. We absolutely and unequivocally condemn the sexual abuse of minors by clergy and anyone else.

We identify with the Pope, who in a recent Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland said to the victims of abuse and their families:  “You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry. I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured.  Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated… In the name (of the Church) I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel … I ask you not to lose hope.”

In the same letter, addressing the priests and religious who have abused minors the Pope stated, “You have betrayed the trust that was placed in you by innocent young people and their parents, and must answer for it before Almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals.   You have forfeited the esteem of the people…and brought shame and dishonour upon your confreres…together with the immense harm you have done to victims, great damage has been done to the Church and to the public perception of the priesthood and religious life…Openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God’s mercy. “

We also take note of the Pope’s words to the Bishops, “It cannot be denied that some of you and your predecessors failed, at times grievously to apply the long-established norms of Canon Law to the crime of child abuse. Serious mistakes were made in responding to allegations…. it must be admitted that grave errors of judgement were made and failures of leadership occurred. All this has seriously undermined your credibility and effectiveness. I appreciate the efforts you have made to remedy past mistakes and to guarantee that they do not happen again.”

As your bishops, we have established policies for dealing with sexual abuse of minors. We concur with the directives of the Holy See to comply with civil law in reporting all cases of sexual abuse of minors.   We are also committed to do all within our power to facilitate the process of healing, and the protection of children.

Solidarity with Haiti

The Conference expresses its deepest appreciation and gratitude to the faithful of our region for the great generosity and fraternal concern shown toward their brothers and sisters of Haiti. In the wake of the devastating earthquake which took hundreds of thousands of lives you have donated over US$1.1 million as a symbol of your solidarity with your suffering brothers and sisters in their need.

Haitians will continue to need not only our financial support but also our prayers as they move into the future and embark upon the task of reconstruction and rebuilding lives with the hope that is characteristic of our faith in the Resurrected Jesus.

Seminary Formation in the Region

Due to the lack of vocations, the small number of seminarians, the difficulty in providing staff and mounting financial problems, the Regional Seminary Board took a decision in February this year to suspend seminary formation for a period of three years and to transfer its seminarians in philosophy to the Seminario of Santo Tomas in the Dominican Republic. Special provisions have been made for students completing their BA in Theology in Trinidad. Further to this, a decision was taken at this meeting in response to the recommendation of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples, that the Regional Seminary Board transfer full authority, responsibility and accountability for the Regional Seminary to the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain.

Concern for Vocations in the Region

Every diocese in the Region yearns for an increase in vocations in order to provide adequate pastoral care of all God’s people and to carry on the work of evangelization and mission.  We, the bishops, have established an ad hoc committee to co-ordinate vocation work in the Antilles Episcopal Conference.  The establishment of this committee is an indication of the priority which we continue to give to the ministry of vocations, and is also a response to the present crisis in vocations in our respective dioceses.  The committee will make its first report to the AEC Executive Committee in January 2011.

We call upon all Catholics in the region to continue to pray ceaselessly for vocations and create an ambience that celebrates the dignity of the call from God to serve His people and to ensure the resumption of seminary formation in Trinidad in three years.

Conclusion

As we have been reflecting we are reminded of the words of St. Paul to the Church in Corinth when he stated, “If one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it.  And if one part of the body is honoured, all the parts share its joy.” (I Cor. 12:26). For all of us, now is the time for discernment and healing. May God show us the way and may our Blessed Mother, Mary, with St. John Vianney intercede for the Church in our region.

St. George’s Grenada
24 April 2010