Thank God
Saint Lucia spared the ravages of Ivan
St. Lucians breathed a sigh of relief and thanked God that minimal damage was done to the island by Hurricane Ivan which passed through the Windward Islands on Wednesday 7th September. Packing winds of 120 mph, the category 3 hurricane caused extensive damage in Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
Grenada felt the full brunt ofthe storm with the eye split in half over the island according to press reports. The consequences were devastating. More than 1000 rushed to shelters. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) reported at least three deaths, the destruction of the residence of Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell and incalculable damage elsewhere. All efforts by the Catholic Chronicle to reach Bishop Vincent Darius or Vicar General Msgr. Cyril Lamontagne the morning after the storm had failed. All means of communication had been shut down.
Earlier, Ivan had caused millions of dollars damage in Tobago, destroyed at least 176 homes in Barbados, left 600 persons seeking shelter and 45 houses damaged in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A half dozen houses lost roofs in St. Lucia.
At press time Ivan had swelled into an extrtemely damgerous Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale, with maximum sustained winds near 160 m.p.h., heading north of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, towards Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba.
The Summer of 2004
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Workshop Session, School of Litury 2004 |
For the Catholic Church in St. Lucia, the summer of 2004 was a moment of tremendous energy, enthusiasm and activity as the archdiocese gears towards the Jubilee Year 2006.Archbishop Kelvin Felix had encouraged parishes to plan bible schools and other vacation programmes for
the children and young people. Several parishes responded with a variety of catechetical and other programmes. Our major seminarians, Emmanuel Osmond and Jason Biscette, for example, organized bible schools in Laborie and Dennery.
Following upon the success of last year’s programme at the Cathedral, MS.Deborah Bushell once again this year planned a two-week programme of activities for 100 children and youths. A team of 14 from the community “People of Praise” in Trinidad led by well-known composer, Winston Garcia, worked with Ms. Bushell and her local team during the first week. They set the young people “on fire” with zeal. The second week, the children and youths followed the School of Liturgy programme.
While bible schools and summer programmes were going on in the parishes at the Pastoral Centre 37 participants from all the dioceses of the Province of Castries were attending the annual Catechists Training Institute (CTI). The basic course ran from 25th July until August 7th (see article on page..). The advanced course was from August 8th - 21st, with 27 participants.
School of Liturgy 2004 (SOL) brought together some 200 participants from all parishes ofthe archdiocese between August 3rd - 7th. It was held at St. Joseph’s convent because of the large number of participants and the space required for workshops. The theme for School of Liturgy 2004 was Stewardship for Jubilee: Revitalization of Parish Life. Each day there were two sessions in the morning, one by Fr. Leslie Lett on the theme and the second by Msgr. Patrick Anthony on “Planning for Home Visitation”.
In the afternoon there were a number of workshops: Drama ( Gloria Severin), Music Composition (Cuthbert Anselm), Animation (Fr. Michel Francis), Liturgical Dance (Anthony Jn Baptiste), Young Jubilee Ambassadors (Sr. Rose Leon SJC), HIV/AIDS (Remy Taupier, Marcia Boxill, Diane Jharriah), Kweyol Liturgy( Msgr. Anthony), Voice Techniques( Sr. Rufina), and Home Visitation (Frs. Gerald Bernier, Cecil Goodman, Deacon Winston Taylor, Srs. Velorna Gervais SSM, Sr. Marie Therese Clement OP, and candidates for the permanent deaconate Jeremy Joseph, Andrew Edward, Jeffrey Gabriel and Errol Frederick. There were also a number of specific children’s workshops including Crafts (Shirley Edward) and Steel Pan (Ivan Smith).
One of the principle objectives of SOL 2004 was the preparation of parishes for the national home visitation campaign to be launched in November in preparation for the Great Jubilee Mission in January 2005. During the morning sessions as well as afternoon workshops on home visitation, teams of participants from each parish were trained as trainers in the art of home visitation. Out of these sessions participants produced a Manual which will now be used throughout the archdiocese to prepare teams of home visitors. These visitors will then attempt to reach every Catholic home in the country.
The archdiocese is grateful to the principal of St. Joseph’s Convent who gave permission for use the school for SOL 2004. Very special thanks to Sr. Rufina Donat, the vice principal, who coordinated all the logistical arrangements with the pastoral centre staff of Mrs. Marlene Anthony, Alifa Calderon and Bill & Andrea McIntyre. Sr. Rufina put together a great team which handled the secretariat and meal arrangements professionally. Thanks also to all workshop coordinators, facilitators and assistants.
St. Joseph's Convent shines
In a year when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny are celebrating the 150th anniversary of their arrival in St. Lucia, the students of St. Joseph’s Convent maintain the proud legacy of academic excellence fostered by the Sisters. In the just released results of the May/June 2004 CXC Examinations St. Joseph’s Convent registered an overall pass rate of 96.17 per cent, the highest among the secondary schools of the island. The only other Catholic secondary school, St. Mary’s College, was the second highest with 91.05 per cent.
Five girls from St. Joseph’s Convent and one boy from St. Mary’s College topped the honours list. Skeeta Carasco achieved nine Grade One passes and a Grade Two, while Lisa Mohammed, Phylicia Joseph, Huana French and Hecca Cox all scored nine Grade Ones. Kelvin Cenac of St. Mary’s College also scored nine Grade Ones.
Meanwhile, in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, and the sterling contribution of St. Joseph’s Convent to the ministry of the Church and to education in St. Lucia, the Holy Father has honoured three stalwart of the school, Sr. Theresa Corbie SJC, Justice Suzie D’Auvergne and Ms. Felicia McFarlane. On Sunday 5th September during a pontifical Mass at the Minor Basilica, they will all receive the Papal Medal, Bene Merenti. Sr. Theresa Corbie was chairperson of the school’s board of management for a number of years, representing the Cluny Sisters on the board. Ms. McFarlane has taught at the school for 39 years and has been the principal since 1999. Justice Suzie D’Auvergne is an outstanding past pupil of the school who also served on the board of management.
Photo Gallery
Prayers for
Fr. Michel deVerteuil C.S.Sp
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Friends of Fr. Michel de Verteuil from all over the world, have been praying earnestly for his recovery, after he suffered a severe heart attack on August 11 th. He was at the times visiting with his fellow Spiritan, Fr. Dermot Doran of the Caribbean Chaplaincy in Toronto. Fr. Michel who has previously suffered two strokes remains in a critical condition at the Cardiac Care Unit of St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto. In Trinidad, friends and associates have been holding regular prayer vigils on his behalf.
A former rector of the Regional Seminary in Trinidad, he did his secular and philosophical studies in Ireland and his theological studies at the Catholic University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He was ordained in 1959 and assigned to Nigeria where he served for four years, returning to Trinidad to become rector of the seminary.
In 1979 he founded the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre. He was provincial superior of the Trinidad Province of the Holy Ghost Fathers from 1979 to 1991 and from 1991 until his retirement last year, editor of the Archdiocesan Weekly, the Catholic News. He was one of the three founders of the annual Catholic Conference on Caribbean Theology and one of the principal promoters of the Antilles Catholic Press Association.
However, Fr. De Verteuil is perhaps best known regionally and internationally as the leading Caribbean exponent of lectio divina, the ancient method of Bible reading. For the last twenty years he has been teaching lectio all over the world. He has written several books on the subject.
In Your Word is a Light for my Steps: Lectio Divina (1996) he outlines the background and application of lectio divina and provides an easily followed step-by-step guide to its practice. Let all the Peoples Praise Him: The Psalms and Lectio Divina (2000) applies the method to the psalms revealing them as a school of spirituality which invites us to pray with the imagination. In Eucharist as Word (2001) he develops two basic principles (1) that the Eucharist is not merely a source of grace, but, through its symbols, a living lesson in Christian living and (2) that we spontaneously approach the Eucharist in this way when we make Bible reading the source and summit of our meditation.
Catholic theology in the Caribbean today is deeply indebted to the pioneering work of Fr. Michel de Verteuil. We at the Catholic Chronicle will keep him in our prayers.
Mass of First Profession
Church of Our lady of the Assumption, Vieux Fort
19th August
Thursday 19"’ August was indeed a proud day for the Redemptorists of the Caribbean region. On that day, four young men from that geographical area “formally and canonically entered the religious state as Redemptorist by the public profession of the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience”.
Surrounded by several confreres, family members, friends, Seminarians as well as hundreds of parishioners, Simond Wayne Antoine from Grenada, Bobby Lee Bans James from Dominica, Clive Robert James Webster from St Kitts and our very own Octave Sylvester Biscette from Monchy (the first St.Lucian to profess vows as a Redemptorist) embarked on a journey of discernment, one which would cause them to genuinely and prayerfully seek God’s will for their lives.
The ceremony which took place at a packed church was presided over by Fr. Kevin Moley, C.Ss.R Provincial Superior. His Grace Archbishop Kelvin Felix was also present along with Frs. Arnold Francis and Cecil Goodman from Antigua and St.Lucia respectively.
Fr Kevin Fraher C.Ss.R, Associate Novice Director, called the candidates individually with each responding, “I am ready and willing”. Fr. Kevin Moley then asked, “What do you ask from God and His Holy church?” Each candidate stated that after having studied the rule and lived among them as bothers for a time of probation, they now asked to be allowed to dedicate themselves to God and His Kingdom by making profession in the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
A fitting and stirring homily was delivered by Fr.Jerome Moody C.Ss.R Regional Superior. He began by telling the candidates that they had come to seal the desire of their hearts, that deep desire to make Jesus their all. He went on to say that during this time of discernment their formators would be looking for three specific characteristics in them.
Firstly, they would be observed to ascertain whether they were men of deep prayer. Fr. Moody’s words resounded as he said, “It is only through deep prayer will you survive”. He exhorted them to place their entire lives at the foot of the cross in order to effectively preach the gospel to the poor and most abandoned. They were challenged not to become good social workers but rather men who preached the gospel in love and compassion. Secondly, they would be examined on the dedication to community life. They were told to treasure community life and to be men who are warm, caring, generous and affirming. Most of all, they were encouraged to be men of peace and reconciliation who would never be too proud to acknowledge and make amends for their mistakes.
Thirdly their formators would be expecting them to be men who love the work of the apostolate. Men with a fervent zeal for the poor and for the preaching of the gospel. Fr. Moody candidly asked the candidates,” What are you motives”? He explained to them that they should genuinely love the apostolate, and to do all for God’s glory and for love of the church, as there was no room for suspect or misplaced motives.
Finally Fr. Moody asked the confreres to love and support the young men regardless of the duration of the stay in the congregation.
The Profession of Vows followed the homily as one by one the candidates read the formula of profession. They were received by Fr.Kevin Moley. The newly professed were then warmly welcomed into the congregation by their confreres. The congregation added its own welcome with a rousing round of applause. The newly professed were then presented with the Insignia of Religious Profession, namely the Habit Crucifix and the Constitution and Statutes. Next came the signing of the document of Religious Profession. The Mass followed its regular order from there on. During the period of meditation everyone was treated to a beautifully choreographed liturgical dance by the members of the Vieux Fort Catholic Youth group and the melodious rendition of the song “I Love the Christian Life” by a trio from Monchy, all of whom members of Sylvester’s family. Fr Moody graciously thanked all those present as well as everyone who contributed to the day’s success. We wish Bros. Simond, Clive, Sylvester and Bobby God’s richest blessings and we pray like St.Paul, that Our Lord will bring to completion the good work which He has started in them.
Sr. Elizabeth Jn Panel O.P.
Editorial
The reopening of school for the academic year 2004/2005 has been marred by controversy. On the morning of September 1st when children were supposed to have been greeted by a highly motivated staff in what would be a new environment for many, there was chaos and confusion. Some school plants never opened, as parents drove up to find gates locked. At other schools half the number of enrolled students or less, turned up. Many teachers turned up to school at the appointed time, but then left for a highly publicized meeting of the Teachers’ Union at the National Cultural Centre.
In the end, we were all losers. It was a victory for intransigence, but our children were left behind. Blame is being apportioned left, right and centre dependent upon personal bias: pro or anti-teachers, pro or anti-Ministry of Education, pro or anti-’ Mario’ (Mario Michel being the Minister of Education), pro or anti-government. Many have offered a very simple and straightforward analysis. Some claim that the Ministry of Education and the Minister in particular are just downright arrogant, while others passionately believe that Urban Dolor, the Teachers’ Union president has virtually opened his as yet unannounced political campaign! In between there are innumerable shades and variations of opinions/explanations. Whatever the truth buried beneath the rubble of confusion, our children are the victims. Our community suffers.
A caller to one of the many talk shows made a cogent observation. Here is a dispute between what is supposedly the two most enlightened sectors of society, and in fact, the very ones responsible for the education and enlightenment of the nation. Yet they are incapable of reasoned dialogue. Once again, the temptation is to assign blame. However, conflicts are always two-sided. The tragedy of the whole situation is the absence of the very basic life-skills which has left our society prey to anger, hatred, violence and partisanship. We seem incapable of dialogue, conflict resolution and the ability to agree to disagree amicably. It must always degenerate into ‘roro,’ name-calling, or oneupmanship!
Is the matter as simple as an announced change of date for the re-opening of school by the Ministry of Education? Is it just a question of the manner in which it was done, allegedly without proper consultation with all stakeholders? Are there more fundamental issues and grievances which have caused this matter to become a flash point? Is it that teachers feel their hard work, personal efforts and sacrifices are not being appreciated? Is there more cooking in the pot than meets the eye!
There are many lessons to be learnt from our current situation. The wave of criminality and indiscipline plaguing our communities will only swell if those who should know better continue to provide poor leadership and example. Our children will never have respect for authority, be it Ministry officials, principals, teachers or parents, if these have no respect for themselves. Those in authority must show respect to those in authority over them, as well as those over whom they have authority. Jesus has taught the world how to handle that problem and we in St. Lucia can learn from Him.
Authority, he taught, is about service, not power. It is about humble service. Those in authority must not lord it over others. Instead, they must be the servant of others. The greater the authority, not the greater the power. On the contrary, the greater the authority, the humbler the service should be. That requires, though, a change of attitude, a conversion of ways. If this beautiful attitude or beatitude would be exhibited by the Ministry of Education, the Teachers’ Union, principals, teachers, parents, then we would not have the situation we are facing today, and our children would not be the victims. Fortunately, the new academic year has just began and there is still time for healing and reconciliation. Please, let us not leave our children behind. Over to all concerned!
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