Caribbean Church
Trinidad and Tobago
Port-of –Spain
Sr. Columba Carty S.J.C
Passed On.
 |
Sr. Columba Carty, SJC |
Sr. Columba Carty of the Sisters of St. Joseph of cluny died peacefully at Lourdes House, Arouca, on Tuesday, August 3rd, after being anointed by Fr. Christian Chambers. She was 87 yrs. Sr. Columba was a former principal of St. Joseph’s Convent, Castries, St. Lucia from 1948 to 1956 where she was a pioneer in securing opportunities for Convent graduates to access higher education, including the Island Scholarship, and so qualify themselves in various professions.
Her funeral Mass was held on Saturday August 7th at the Convent Chapel, Abercromby St. in Port-of –Spain. At that Mass a stirring eulogy was delivered by Sr. Gabriella Mason, regional provincial of the Cluny Sisters. In it she described Sr. Columba as an extraordinary gifted person, a truly powerful and empowering lady who left an indelible imprint on the people and places where she served. She was an excellent teacher particularly in such subjects as Latin, Geography and Mathematics as well as a gifted teacher of music and the arts.
Sr. Columba’s contribution to education has been duly recognized both in Trinidad as well as in St. Lucia, having been inducted in the Hall of Excellence of the St. Joseph’s Convent of each territory. The Catholic Chronicle extends prayerful condolences to the Cluny Sisters and to the relatives of Sr. Columba. May her soul rest in peace.
Sister Columba Carthy was a commanding principal. She was an indomitable figure with great expectations for the institution under her care which she moved forward with rapidity but judiciously.
Under her tutelage the school curriculum was broadened; new subjects wee incorporated in an attempt to ensure that pupils of variable abilities were accommodated.
Included in her many achievements was the institution of a school leaving scholarship for girls which set them on par with their male counterparts.
A versatile teacher, she was particularly memorable for her outstanding achievements as choir mistress.
Sister Columba instituted prize giving ceremonies known as ‘speech nights’ which heightened pupil’ self-esteem and competitiveness.
Sister Columba has said that as principal she was challenged and met the challenge. By so doing she in turn challenged her students to be the best that they could be – she attempted to impower them.
Teachers’ Challenge- To Build a Peaceful World
“The test of our Church is not simply have we kept the faith, but have we shared the faith.” This was the challenge of Leela Ramdeen, attorney-at -law, in her keynote address at the start of the 19th Biennial Caribbean Association of Catholic Teachers (CACT) Conference held at Emmaus Centre, in Arima, Trinidad from July 26th to August 1st. The Conference had at its theme- Catholic Educators: Agents of Justice and Peace. Delegates and observers came from Catholic teachers Associations in Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica and host country Trinidad and Tobago.
The opening ceremony was chaired by George Imhoff, president of CACT and the invocation was led by Fr. Peter de la Bastide who implored God’s blessings on Catholic teachers and education systems throughout the Caribbean.
In her comprehensive and challenging keynote address, Ms. Ramdeen focused on a few of the many ways in which teachers can be agents if justice and peace:
1.By not being merely observers but actors, and so making a difference.
2.By their positive attitude and behaviour and by the high expectations they have of their students.
3.By the values they seek to inculcate through the teaching and learning process, always remembering they are ROLE MODELS to the students.
By the Catholic offering a radical alternative, which operates out of an educational philosophy, which sees the growth and development of the TOTAL PERSON as a priority.
Following the keynote address, the names of the founders of the association were recalled with honour. They are Bishop Charles Gachet (St. Lucia), Br. Paul Mc Niven (Antigua and Barbuda), Fr. Louis Grenier S.J. and Archbishop Samuel E. Carter (Jamaica), Simon Jude Alexander (Trinidad and Tobago) and Reginald Palmer (Grenada).
At the closing Mass on Sunday, August 1st, Archbishop Edward Gilbert installed the new executives of CACT which will serve for the ensuing two-year term.
Antigua - St. John’s
Fr. George Williams- Editor ‘Diocesan News and Views’
Fr. George Williams, recently ordained priest for the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre was appointed editor of Diocesan News and Views, the quarterly newspaper of the Leeward Islands diocese a few months prior to his ordination. In addition, Fr. George will focus on the media and communications as well as a Catholic radio station for the seven islands diocese. Most Rev.Donald J. Reece, Bishop of St. John’s –Basseterre has also appointed Fr. George, Director of Vocations for the diocese. In that role, Fr. George will be responsible for encouraging and nurturing vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
A week after being ordained, the St.Lucian-born priest confidently said: “I made the right decision. I have no regrets.” He noted: “The priesthood is not yours, it’s given to you. And one has to simply embrace it with humility and go along one’s way, doing what a priest is supposed to do.” Though he never thought he would be working in the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre, he acknowledged that he was there because of God’s providence.
Fr. George says that he would like to “assist in bringing to the fore a Catholic identity”, because a lot of Catholics “don’t know what it means to be Catholic. It is different from being a member of any other Church.”
Described as a person of sound faith and character, Fr. George’s dedication to the Church is well known to many throughout the region.
Dominica - Roseau
Evangelization of the Carib Territory Hailed a Success
“Rediscovering Our Faith” was the theme for two weeks of evangelization in the Carib Territory of Dominica. The June28th to July 9th evangelization, arrived at reviving the Church in the Carib Territory, took the form of open-air Church Services with the preaching of the Good News in six hamlets throughout the district.
During the first week the preachers included Seminarians and lay people together with Fr. Vincent Esprit and Fr. Herman Sharplis. It became clear during this week that the church was better able to meet the people in their respective communities as hundreds turned out each evening to praise, worship and hear God’s word.
The second week the people were gathered in the churches of Salybia and Mahaut River and the Bataca Community Centre. They were instructed on the following topics: Baptism, the Eucharist, Sabbath, Repentance and Confirmation. The preachers were Bishop Gabriel Malzaire, Sr. Lorraine Royer, Msgr. William John-Lewis among others. The people showed great interest throughout the two weeks, despite the campaigning which was going on for the Carib Chief elections. They admitted that their faith was enriched and thanked everyone for the special attention given to them during the two weeks.
The curtain came down on this event on Sunday, 11th July with an open-air Mass at which Bishop Malzaire was the main celebrant and homilist assisted by Fr. Herman Sharplis and Fr. George Guillet.
Jamaica - Montego Bay
Montego Bay Diocese Ministers to Haitian Migrants.
In February of this year the first batch of 62 Haitian refugees arrived by boat and landed in the parish of Portland in Eastern Jamaica. They were fleeing from the chaos which ensued prior to the departure of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. In March the Jamaica government decided to transfer these migrants to the district of Montpelier, in the parish of St. James in Western Jamaica, and in so doing they sought the assistance of the Catholic Church.
Very Rev. Charles H. Dufour, Bishop of Montego Bay, immediately appointed Monsignor Herbert Panton as Coordinator of Haitian activities, and he in turn organized a small team to assist him in rehabilitating theRefugee Camp and in ministering to the social, educational and spiritual needs of the Haitians.
The Justice and Peace Commission of The Kingston Archdiocese volunteered the sum of $100, 000.00 from Catholic Relief Services to assist with the project. The donors, however, made some specific recommendations for the use of the funds: the teaching of English to the Haitians, facilitating Liturgy for them, obtaining implements and tools for making the camp self-supporting, and looking at long term facilitation should that become applicable. The population of the camp has since grown to 342 Haitians.
The pastoral team has so far responded to the need for Liturgy. Mass is celebrated every Sunday. Sr. Emily, a Haitian Marist Postulant based in Jamaica, prepares the Haitian for the service, providing Haitian hymns and training the animators. Monsignor Panton celebrates in halting Creole while Sr. Emily and others take turns in translating his homily. He is building up to preaching in Kreyol, albeit haltingly, in the very near future.
Sr. Emily gives a basic course in the speaking of English by going to the camp three days per week. So far she teaches 60 or more Haitians between the ages of 12 and 20. Provision is soon to be made for teaching and training the adults through the Heart Academy- a government- sponsored adult education programme.
A gardening project for the production of vegetables and legumes as well as a chicken rearing project has recently been started. The building of the coops have been completed and the Haitians have been supplied with their first batch if chickens.
Recently, a process has begun for repatriating those Haitians who wish to return home. To date 60 have returned home out of the almost 500 Haitians who had come as refugees to Jamaica.
World Church
Worship Leaders On Retreat In Jamaica- II
by Pamela Cadet
 |
Some of the Workshop Leaders in Song |
Sometime ago a “world-wise” personality asked the question on national television “Why should the Church have so much influence on people’s lives? As I pondered the question, I found myself responding “Thank You Lord that the Church You have created, has such an impact on my life!”
And it is in that same mindset that I go on further to say “Thank You Lord that you have raised persons in the Roman Catholic Church who allows the wisdom, knowledge and counsel of the Holy Spirit to dominate their lives to such an extent as to have a vision for retreats such as what we experienced at Mount Calvary in Mandeville, Jamaica.
The Retreat, which was coined “The Heart of Worship is Life”, was indeed one of the most beautiful experiences in my Christian walk. In an article penned by Judy Rene, she focused on the workshops and reflections that formed the major segment of the retreat, whilst I will however concentrate on the lighter side – to give you a view of the social.
One of the beautiful things about this retreat is that it brought home the point that God is just too big to be accommodated only in our Church life. He is big enough to fit in our social activities – in fact He is just the right size to fit in all aspects of our life.
This became more and more apparent to me in the following events of the retreat:
The pure joy of gathering morning by morning for prayer and Celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
The oneness of heart and mind, which existed throughout that week together. The effortless loving, caring camaraderie that kept us at the table at meal times until we had to be reminded that the next Workshop or Reflection just had to start in the next five minutes.
And of course it cannot be left unsaid – the meals, which came to that table from the cuisine of Mount Calvary was obviously blessed by God, seasoned and served with love.
The After workshop “limes” on evenings. Bota’s antiques and Father Goodman’s contagious laughter as the two contrived to spook the game of Chinese Whispers initiated by Baldwin. The game of Charades turned out to be a real charade as one by one a segment of the group, selected to imitate what they thought was being displayed, came sauntering confidently into the room ready to take charge of their task. Trying to conceal laughter, which was readily bubbling up our throats was an absolute waste of time, for some of us were literally leaping off our chairs in unrestrained mirth.
 |
Workshop Leaders in discussion |
The walk down the streets of Mandeville just to walk off the pounds after “Little Ochie” at lunchtime and the hearty and much relished dinner which followed some hours later.
The boat ride, on the Black River seemingly friendly crocodile, which swam up to the boat upon our calling. The tour to YS Falls, which reminded us of God’s awesome and ceaseless power and dominion.
Indeed the blessings which poured from the flood gates of Heaven was tri-dimensional – making it, for all 18 participants a spiritual, delightful and happy experience.
As we left Jamaica “…the whole group of believers was united in heart and soul… (Acts 4:32). In spirit and in truth we knew without a doubt that worship just had to be a way of life!
Children's Page
Share Your Smile with Others
The holidays are over and its back to school. Hope you had a good long rest. Some of you went overseas and some went to spend time with relatives and friends in other parishes. Hope you had an exciting time.
When you go back to school, you must share with your teachers and friends.
Fun time is over and work begins. Here’s wishing everyone a productive school year where you will work hard to produce better results than the past year.
Remember you are going to a new class and the work will be more challenging so my words of encouragement are: Work hard; pray hard.
Here’s a new sung you can learn. It is sung to the tune of “my Bonnie lies over the Ocean”
Our classroom is where we will learn and
Our classroom is the place to be
Our classroom has friends and a teacher.
This classroom is perfect for me
CHORUS
I’m at school now
To play and to learn things each day, each day I’m at school now
To hear what the teacher will say
2. I brought all my pencils and crayons and markers I bought at the store I’ve got some new clothes and a back pack And I know what all this is for
CHORUS
I’m at school now
To play and to learn things each day, each day
I'm at school now
To hear what the teacher will say
Prayer
Heavenly Father we thank you for a wonderful summer vacation.
As we return to School, we ask you to guide and protect us and Help us to work together during this coming school year.
Bless our teachers and all the teachers in the world and help them to teach wisely for the common good of all. Amen
A few questions for you to answer
1. How many seconds are there in a year?
2. How many T’s are there in a week?
3. What is another name for God?
Imagine
by Fr. Kevin MacDonald CSSR
Imagine staying home in September when everybody else returns to school. You would not have to worry about your school uniform. You could continue to do all the fun things that you did all summer. You could sleep late everyday, watch TV whenever you felt like it, and never have to put on another pair of shoes for the rest of your life.
That was the thinking of a young boy from Mon Repos. He decided that he was having so much fun in the summer holidays that he would not return to the classroom in September. When he told his parents about his plans, they asked him what he would do all day? He told them that he would continue to climb trees, explore the forest, swim in the river, and walk the beach. He didn’t see the sense in going to school when there was so much to do and see outside of the classroom.
His parents surprised him with their answer. He thought they would say: “You crazy? Everyone has to go to school and you will, too!” Instead, they said he could stay back, but with one condition. He would have to keep up with his subjects at home in case he changed his mind and wanted to return. Well, that was fine. He knew that he would neveexams, and crowded lunchrooms. He told them he would do his subjects in the morning and then he would have the rest of the day to play.
The first week was great. He never put on shoes. He dressed in the same play clothes everyday. He swam in the river. He explored the forest. He did his lessons, but had plenty of time for TV and hanging out. He especially liked to call out to his friends walking to school and tell them what they were missing.
The second week was just OK. He had to admit, he was getting a little bored. When he climbed a tree to find some ripe sea grapes, there was no one to share them with. When he found something interesting on his walks in the forest, he didn’t have his friends around to share the discovery. Even his lessons, which he did faithfully every morning, did not have the attraction of being able to raise your hand and give a correct answer.
By the third week, he was tired. He even started hanging out by the schoolyard to hear the noises a school full of children make. He missed his friends. He missed the routine of moving from one class to another. He even missed passing in his homework and getting it back with corrections. It was time to talk to his parents. As if they expected it, his parents told him that he could return to school the next day.
r want to return to the boring assemblies, the stomach cramping This was a made up story about the boy from Mon Repos. You might remember another boy that came from Mon Repos That boy, Gabriel Malzaire, is now the Bishop of Dominica. He probably liked to swim and walk in the forest, but he learned most by being part of a community. Everybody needs to come together at certain times. That is one of the reasons why we go to church every week. If we decided to worship God by ourselves, we would soon grow tired and bored. We need each other. The gifts that God gave us are not for us alone. These gifts, which can be as simple as a smile, can only grow when we share them with others.
The boy from Mon Repos learned an important lesson. It is only when we unite ourselves with one another that we can fully reach our full potential. I hope your school shoes are comfortable!
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
Archbishop | Caritas Antilles | Calendar | Catholic Chronicle
Chancery Departments | Education | Events | History | Institutions
Links | Mass and other Services | Monastery | Parishes
Seminary | Schools | Suffragans | The Bible | The Holy Mass
Home
Copyright ©2004 Archdiocese of Castries
|
