Saint Lucia
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April 2004 |
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The thought of someone living through three centuries is simply mind-boggling; but such is the case. Fenelon Henry Smith was born on 21 March 1894. It means he saw the end of the nineteenth Century, the whole of the twentieth century and thus far four years of the twenty-first century. As he says many times: “I've seen and heard so many things through these many, many years.” He attributes his longevity of life to “ a deep faith in God and living well with everyone. I've never had enemies in my life.” He is the only surviving child of his parents, his father having married three times; he is the first child of his father's first marriage. He's been a widower for several years now, having himself fathered ten (10) children. He has a total of 164 grand children, 310 great-grand children, 14 great-great children and 3 great-great-great-grands. What a life! What is most remarkable about this man is that most of his hair is still black and he has lost very few of his teeth. Although impaired by blindness and difficulty in hearing, his mind is lucid. He's a man of history – name it and he'll be able to fill you in. The most remarkable aspect is his laughter. When he laughs, the neighbourhood hears. This great sense of humour must be one of the contributing factors that has added to his longevity coupled with an occasional whiskey, the only alcoholic beverage that he drinks, and please - no ice, never any ice. His has been a very simple life. He's done practically all the trades of his time, from the ordinary farmer to road-worker and finally a butcher. This may account for his long life, having feasted on the cow heel soups the “tet bef” and the fresh fruits and vegetables and no doubt the fresh mountain air. The Saltibus community is proud to celebrate with possibly the oldest man in St. Lucia. Many turned out for the Mass celebrated by Fr. Michel Francis, a cousin of the Jubilarian on Sunday 21 March 2004 at the St. Theresa's Church, Saltibus. He was not able to attend the Mass, but Holy Communion was brought to him at home. In the company of his family and many well wishes, he expressed his gratitude to God for is life. He does not believe that he has lived too long as many jubilarians often say. He's simply grateful for life and he celebrates it everyday. Of course he raised his glass of whiskey to accept a toast from the family, the community and well wishers. May God grant him length of days. Fr. Michel Francis Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny Celebrate 150 th Anniversary The significant milestone of one hundred and fifty years' service to the Church and people of St. Lucia by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny occasioned a host of activities around March 19 th , the Feast of the Congregation's Patron, St. Joseph. Representing the Superior General, Sr. Morag Collins, was Sr. Clair Houareau, General Councillor, resident in France. A couple days after her arrival, Sr. Clair paid courtesy calls on Archbishop Kelvin Felix and Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony. On Friday, 2 nd April, a courtesy call will be paid on the Governor General, Dame Pearlette Louisy, who was then out of State. Special functions were held as Sister Clair visited St. Joseph's Convent Secondary School and Pre-School and the Ave Maria Infant and Primary Schools. The Micoud Street location of the Ave Maria school is the original site of the St. Joseph of Cluny Convent. It is from there that the Congregation's first mission in education began in 1855 and spread later to Soufriere, Vieux Fort and Gros Islet. The Castries community is now the sole community in St. Lucia. Over the one hundred and fifty years, Sisters from Europe (mainly France and Ireland) and the Caribbean have been involved locally in education, catechetics, pastoral care and more recently nursing. Through their endeavours, thousands of women have made and continue to make a valuable contribution to the St. Lucian society. So there is much to be thankful for! March 19 th was indeed a day of festivity and thanksgiving – celebrating God's goodness at the Eucharistic Celebration presided by His Grace, Archbishop Kelvin Felix. Among the large congregation of students, teachers, past pupils and well-wishers were the Hon. Mario Michel, Minister of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports and Permanent Secretary in the same ministry, Dr. Didacus Jules. After the Mass, hundreds of worshippers, sporting commemorative tee-shirts, took to the streets in a March for Peace around the Derek Walcott Square. Later that evening a festive dinner was held at the Benedictine Monastery, Coubaril attended by clerical and civil dignitaries, past pupils and friends of the Sisters. Sr. Paula Andrew, Community Leader, expressed gratitude to God for the blessings over the years. “Ours is not the glory,” she said. “It is all God's glory. We are simply instruments in His hands.” Notwithstanding this, Sister Paula, on behalf of the Sisters, asked forgiveness for any way in which anyone might have been hurt by the human weakness of Sisters. Sr. Claire Houareau read the congratulatory message from Sr. Morag Collins, Superior General, and Sr. Paula Andrew that from Sr. Gabrielle Mason, Provincial Superior of the English-speaking SJC Province of the West Indies. Coordination of the evening's proceedings was excellently handled by Mrs. Charmaine Gardner. A day of joyful renewal had come to an end. The 150 th anniversary continues through July. While they entrust the future to the Lord, the Sisters pray for the grace to be in our time and in the years ahead courageous and faithful daughters of their foundress, Anne Marie Javouhey, as their pioneers have been. GOSPEL CONCERT I have attended many musical productions both nationally and internationally and can confidently say that I was both spiritually moved and visually enthralled at the Gospel Fest held at the St. Joseph's Convent Secondary School (SJC) on March, 7 2004. The SJC Choir masterfully demonstrated that spirituality can be expressed through drama, dance and song. As the legacy continues at the school, it has also been enhanced with creativity, style and modernity. At the Gospel concert, I was reminded of Alvin Alley's dance productions when the students danced with flowing skirts of vivid colours and heads tied with sashes of yellow, blue, orange and green. The hallowed walls came alive with clapping, singing and dancing and then the walls were soothed and calmed by the harmonious voices of the choir. The varied repertoire of songs from Negro Spirituals to … was both refreshing and tasteful. The choreography of movements that accompanied the songs was esthetically pleasing, organized and well executed. The set design and lighting created an ambiance of spiritual upliftment both for the believer and the non-believer. Traditional praise and worship were transformed that evening into a Broadway musical that should not be missed by anyone who loves gospel music and the performing arts. The SJC Gospel Fest was the perfect combination. VISIT OF SR CLAIRE HOUAREAU TO On March 18 th and 19 th Sister Claire Houareau, a member of the General Council of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny and delegate of the Superior General of that congregation, visited St Lucia. Sr Claire, originally from Seychelles and currently residing at the Mother House in Paris, visited St Lucia to join in the celebration of the 150 th Anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny in St Lucia. Sr Claire, who is fluent in English, French and French Creole, added much to the important anniversary events during her visit. On the first day of her visit Sr Claire came to the school where she was greeted with a programme of song, dance and steel band music from SJC Steel. At the end of the show she spoke to the students about Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey's vision and the mission of the Cluny sisters. As a token of appreciation for her visit she was given some local handicrafts. She told the students that the gifts would be placed in the Heritage Room at the Mother House in Paris. After the show Sr Claire met with SJC Staff. She mingled with them, exchanging brief anecdotes and comparing the St Lucian kweyol to the creole spoken at her home in Seychelles. Sr Claire seemed down-to-earth and she related to the staff easily. His Grace, Archbishop Kelvin Felix arrived later the same morning to celebrate the blessing of the recently constructed grotto of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Sr Claire attended the service as part of her visit. The short service, held outdoors in breezy weather, marked the dedication of the grotto to the Cluny sisters in gratitude for their long service to St Lucia. Sr Claire's presence added meaning to the blessing since she represented the head of the congregation. The following day was the Feast of St Joseph was the Feast of St Joseph. The annual St Joseph's Day Mass was held at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Once again, Sr Claire attended as representative of the Superior General. The celebratory mass had a powerful blend of song and music from the SJC choir and SJC Steel. Sr Claire spoke to all in attendance and delivering a message of congratulations and encouragement about the Cluny Sisters' legacy and its promise of hope. One could not help but realize how heartfelt her message truly was. Sr. Claire's Visit
The mistress of ceremony, Mrs. Leticia Anderson, then called upon Sr. Paula to introduce Sr. Claire. At this point, Sr. Claire was treated to a musical rendition by the school's choir, under the direction of Miss Adeltrude Jn. Charles and a short skit by the members of the Missionary Childhood Association (M.C.A.) enacting the story of the formation of the M.C.A. Our Principal, Miss Rebecca Megahy, then gave a brief history of the Ave Maria School showing the involvement of the Sisters of Cluny in running the school. Sr. Claire was invited to the podium where she gave background information about herself and her work. She left a message with the students. She said that they should dream of what they would like to become. The ceremony came to a close with an exchange of gifts. Sister Claire said that she had been quite happy to be there and that she had enjoyed every moment of the short ceremony. SISTER CLAIRE HOUAREAU, SJC Sr. Claire Houareau is a native of the island of Mahe in the Seychelles Archipelago. She speaks English, French and Kweyol. Persons with whom she conversed in Kweyol were delighted; with them she observed similarities and differences in the language. A nurse by profession, Sister Clair headed the Maternity Department of the Government General Hospital in the Seychelles. This she did for twenty-two of her twenty-five years (1975-2000) in the Nursing Profession. Sister was elected General Councillor at the Congregational Chapter of 2000. Since then she has resided in Paris. Click below to view St. Lucians Celebrate La Rose in cold Toronto
It's the last thing one would expect on a cold March afternoon in Toronto; a 70 year old ‘baha' player from Vieux-Fort throbbing his improvised PVC instrument – he came to play for La Rose, but forgot his ‘baha' at home -- and a retinue of Toronto-based Lucians in regal finery shouting “Viv La Rose!” But such was the scene at the Caribbean Centre in Toronto on the 6 th March 2004. The occasion was the special Kweyol La Rose Mass to mark the 25 th Anniversary of Saint Lucia's Independence. Lucians poured in from all over Toronto crowding both the lower and upper levels of the chapel at the Caribbean Centre. There were other Caribbean nationals too, who worship regular at the Centre. They came to show solidarity. Principal celebrant for the occasion was Msgr. Patrick Anthony, who had flown in from New York, where he had presented the 2004 Derek Walcott Nobel Laureate Week lecture first delivered in St. Lucia on January 21 st . Msgr. Anthony was assisted at the Mass by the Centre's chaplain Fr. Dermot C.SS.P. and St. Lucian-born deacon Eustace Beausoleil. The idea of a La Rose Mass had come from Mrs. Christine Joshua, wife of St. Lucia's Consul General in Toronto, Winhall Joshua. For several months Mrs. Joshua had mobilized interested St. Lucians in Toronto and gained widespread support for the project. Then came the tough work of choosing a king and queen of the roses, princes, princesses, magistrates, lawyers, doctors, nurses, police and soldiers, all essential roles in any La Rose court. There was also the question of suitable La Rose and other Kweyol songs appropriate for the liturgy. Help was sought from Msgr. Anthony who sent up recordings and words of songs to the choir. It was not long before the buzz was out on Toronto's plans, and the St. Lucians in Ottawa became determined not to be left out. They too wanted something, even if not a La Rose Mass but at least a Kweyol Mass. And so it was that on Sunday 29 th February, a cold Ottawa afternoon, St. Lucians gathered in downtown Ottawa for the celebration of their country's 25 th anniversary of Independence. Kweyol Mass in Ottawa The venue was St. Augustine Parish Church, 1050 Baseline Road, Ottawa. The parish priest, Rev. Dr. Vincent Pereira was warm and hospitable. He was looking forward to the experience, he told Msgr. Patrick Anthony, and would concelebrate. Msgr. Anthony was to be the chief celebrant at this first-ever Kweyol Mass in Ottawa. Rev. Pereira himself had started a multi-cultural Mass in the parish for the feast of Pentecost, and he was looking forward to future St. Lucian “Kweyol inputs” into that Mass. The lady behind the whole affair was Mrs. Theodora Morgan known to all and sundry as “ADO.” Ado was the one who got in touch with Msgr. Anthony when she heard he was going to Toronto for a La Rose Mass and pressed him to come to Ottawa to do something in Kweyol. She was the one who galvanized the Ottawa-St. Lucia Association to plan the 25 th Anniversary Mass and the gala dinner that followed the Mass. She was there too singing full-voiced in the impromptu Lucian choir all decked in their ‘wob dwiyette' and ‘madras.' Most parts of the Mass, except the Eucharistic Prayer, were either entirely in Kweyol or bi-lingual. From the Lacomet entrance hymn “Tou sa nou ni se Bondye ki ban nou'y” ( All that we have come from God) to the recessional “Mwen ja deside pou mwen swiv Jezi” (I have decided to follow Jesus). The Scripture readings were in Kweyol but the Gospel and sermon bi-lingual. It did no take long for Fr. Pereira and the non-Lucian parishioners to pick up such catchy tunes as the popular offertory hymn “Nou ka Ofe” or the Hosanna “Papa Bondye ou Sen.” By the time the congregation filed to the basement hall for the gala dinner, the air was thick with nostalgia. For those who had not been back to St. Lucia in twenty or thirty years, it was as if they had just savoured a piece of their culture and heritage, a precious slice of memory. They vowed to do it again. The Mass in Toronto was very special in many ways. The commentator was Tony Ishmael, who was returning to a leadership role at the Centre for the first time since his near fatal accident several months ago. He was warmly greeted. The entrance song was the popular La Rose anthem “La glwa, la glwa, la glwa, nou Woz nou gloriye.” The entrance procession was led by La Woz (La Rose) police and soldiers followed by the royal entourage, officiating ministers and the celebrant. Musical accompaniment included guitars, bele drums, shac shac and baha. The hymns, first and second readings, and prayers of the faithful were all done in Kweyol. The gospel and sermon were bilingual. In his homily Msgr. Anthony used the Kweyol parable of the three brothers, ‘Go Bouden'(big belly), ‘Pat Finn'(thin legs), and ‘Gwan Jol'(big mouth) to warn against greed and selfishness. He invited St. Lucians in the Toronto diaspora to make their mark in Canada, and make their country proud as had Dr. Winston Parris (world renowned pain specialist) and Senator Julian Hunte (current president of the 54 th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations). Both Dr. Parris and Senator Hunte had addressed them the week before at the St. Lucia-Toronto Association's gala banquet in celebration of the 25 th anniversary of Independence. It was after the Mass that Lucians began to ‘bwiye La Woz.' Moving from the chapel to the basement hall for the banquet was like trying to get around during a ‘séance' at a La Woz hall! It was a sea of people moving La Woz style. The hall had been beautifully decked in the colours of the St. Lucian flag, blue, yellow, white and black, with matching napkins on tables named after places in St. Lucia such as Fon Assau, Kat Chimen, Plateau. These were all creative ideas that had come from Mrs. Joshua and her hardworking team. But the ‘jewel in the crown' was the head table prepared for the king and queen of the La Woz, as well as the prince and princess. It was the traditional throne to be found in any La Woz hall in St. Lucia on the 30 th August ( fet La Woz). The St. Lucia Consulate in Toronto, Mr. Joshua, his wife Christine, Mrs. Diane Parris and all their collaborators deserve the highest praise for a fine Eucharistic celebration and a wonderful banquet. Special gratitude is due to Mrs. Joshua for the sterling voluntary contribution she is making to the St. Lucian community in Toronto. The Independence treat she arranged at her house for the elderly and shut-ins, is another example of such community service. It was again through her initiative that the visit by Msgr. Anthony to a St. Lucian centenarian, Mrs. Flood, living in Toronto was arranged. The St. Lucian community in Toronto can feel justifiably proud of their 25 th anniversary of Independence celebrations. The Derek Walcott 2004 Nobel Laureate Lecture in New York
St. Lucians in New York celebrated the 25th anniversary of Saint Lucia's Independence with a number of highly publicized events. Msgr. Theophilus Joseph launched the series of activites with a special anniversary Mass at St. Ignatius Church, 267 Rogers Avenue, Brooklyn on Sunday 22 and February.
Thursday 26 th was the date scheduled for the New York presentation of Msgr. Patrick Anthony's 2004 Derek Walcott Nobel Laureate lecture. He had delivered this lecture entitled “The Influence of Derek Walcott and His Generation on the Artistic, Cultural and Spiritual Development of Saint Lucian Society” in St. Lucia as part of the Nobel Laureate week 2004. Ambassador Anthony B. Severin, St. Lucia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, felt it would be an enrichment to the 25 th anniversary of Independence celebrations in New York to have the lecture included in programme of activities for the ‘Big Apple.'Thus it was that Msgr. Anthony, accompanied by poet John Robert Lee and poet/director Kendel Hippolyte, found themselves repeating in New York the multi-media presentation which had been so well-received in St. Lucia. The lecture was delivered at the St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church Hall, the regular venue for activities by the St. Lucian community in Brooklyn. The New York audience was deeply appreciative; some visibly touched by the madonnas and mural of Dunstan St. Omer, and the rarely seen photographs of Leo ‘Spa' St. Helen. Among those attending were Senator Julian Hunte, Ambassador Anthony Severin, Consul General Mrs. Christine Bartlett-Josie, Professor John Van Sickle of NYU and a cross-section of St. Lucians of all works of life. Many persons commented that there should be much more of that kind of intellectual and cultural exchange between St. Lucia and nationals living abroad. The following day, 27 th February, the Jubilee Trust Fund launched the book “ Roseau Valley and Other Poems for Brother George Odlum,” a collection of 50 poems by regional and local poets in celebration of the life of the late George Odlum. The event took place at the same venue, as part of an appreciation ceremony organized by the St. Lucian Consulate in New York to honour outstanding individuals from the various St. Lucia associations in. For the launching of Roseau Valley , Msgr. Anthony gave a brief history of the Fund, John Robert Lee who edited the collection spoke on the genesis of the project, and along with Kendel Hippolyte, read selected poems from the collection. Many copies of the book were autographed and sold that evening. Anthony, Lee and Hippolyte have one poem each published in the collection.
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