Archbishop's Easter Message

In The Risen Christ All Creation Rises To New Life

During this recently concluded Lenten Season, many people remarked how untypical was our dry season! Indeed, we expected the usual very sunny days, scorched lawns, brown grass, trees withered and shedding their leaves, and, of course, the accompanying bush fires. But lo and behold, heavy showers visited us as though we were back again in the rainy season. Hardly anyone was displeased, and we know for certain that the farmers were happy and the supply of water in our reservoirs replenished. Earlier than normal, trees began to put out new leaves and shoots. New life has sprung and that is what countries experience in the Spring. And that is what Easter brings … New Life in the Risen Christ. As believers we are invited to proclaim the amazing newness of the Gospel – a message of joy and hope to our society and the world steeped in sorrow and tears. How can we speak of peace when on every side we see people experiencing hardships, families under strain and lacking the basic necessities of life. The heavens are rent by the din of war when the whistles of shells are heard around people's homes, and the ravaging fire bombs consume towns and villages in so many parts of the world. That is why the comforting announcement of the Easter Message of the Resurrection of Christ is our hope, and we look with new eyes and strengthened hearts to every coming event in our future life. He is Risen. This is the heart of our Christian faith and it gives meaning to our life, because in Christ, death gives way to the life that dies no more. May this message of Easter Joy teach us to see and hear God speaking to us through the seasons of nature and the events of our daily lives so that we may come to appreciate God's gift of Peace, with which we can conquer every tide and tension, because nothing can resist the renewal brought about by the Risen Christ, our Peace. With prayerful best wishes to the Clergy Religious, lay faithful and all God's people. A Holy and Happy Easter. In Christ + Kelvin E. Felix Archbishop of Castries

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
FOR THE 41 st WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

2 nd MAY 2004 – 4 th SUNDAY OF EASTER

Theme : Prayer for Vocations Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate, Dear Brothers and Sisters, 1. “ Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest ” (Lk 10: 2).

With these words addressed to the Apostles, Jesus expressed the great love which the Good Shepherd always shows towards his sheep. He does everything so that “ they may have life, and have it abundantly ” (Jn 10: 10). After the Resurrection, the Lord entrusts to his disciples the responsibility to continue his own mission, so that the Gospel will be announced to all men of all times. There are many people who, with generosity, have answered and continue to answer his constant invitation: “ Follow me !” (Jn 21: 22). They are men and women who accept the invitation to place their existence at the total service of his Kingdom. On the occasion of the forty-first World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which usually is celebrated on the IV Sunday of Easter, all the faithful will unite in fervent prayer for vocations to the priesthood, to the consecrated life and to missionary service. It is, in fact, our first duty is to pray to the “ Lord of the harvest ” for those who are already following Christ more closely, in the priesthood and consecrated life, and for those whom He, in his mercy, does not stop calling for these important duties in the Church. 2. Let us pray for vocations !
In my Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte I observed that “it is noted in today's world, despite widespread secularization, there is a widespread demand for spirituality, a demand which expresses itself in large part as a renewed need for prayer ” (n. 33). “It is in this ‘need for prayer' that we place our united prayer to the Lord “ to send labourers into his harvest ”.
With joy I note that in many particular Churches, prayer groups for vocations are being formed. In major Seminaries and in houses of formation of Religious and missionary Institutes, meetings are being organized for this purpose. Numerous families become small upper rooms of prayer, thus helping young people to answer the call of the Divine Master with courage and generosity.
Yes. The vocation to the exclusive service of Christ in His Church is a most precious gift of divine goodness, a gift which has to be prayed insistently and with trusting humility. The Christian must always open himself to this gift and take care not to waste “the time of grace” and “the moment of visitation” (see Lk 19: 44).
Prayer has a particular value when it is linked to sacrifice and to suffering. When suffering is lived to complete “ what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church ” (Col 1: 24), it becomes a form of intercession which is most effective. Many sick people in all parts of the world unite their pains with the Cross of Jesus to ask for holy vocations. They spiritually accompany me, too, in the petrine ministry which God has entrusted to me, and they make a priceless contribution for the sake of the Gospel, even though many times it is a hidden one.
3. Let us pray for those who are called to the priesthood and to the consecrated life
I wish whole heartedly that people intensify their prayer for vocations more and more. Let this prayer be adoration of the mystery of God and thanksgiving for the “ great things ” which He has done and does not stop doing, notwithstanding the weakness of men. Let it be contemplative prayer, full of wonder and gratitude for the gift of vocations.
At the centre of all prayer initiatives there is the Eucharist. The sacrament of the altar has a decisive value for the birth of vocations and for their perseverance, because from the redeeming sacrifice of Christ those called can acquire the strength to dedicate themselves wholly to the proclamation of the Gospel. To the celebration of the Eucharist, it is good to add adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, thus extending in a certain way, the mystery of the Holy Mass. Contemplating Christ, present really and substantially under the species of bread and wine, can awaken in the heart of those called to the priesthood or to a particular mission in the Church the same enthusiasm that led Peter, on the mount of the Transfiguration, to exclaim: “ Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here !” (Mt 17: 4; see Mc 9: 5; Lk 9: 33). This is a privileged way of contemplating the face of Christ, with Mary and in the school of Mary, who, because of her interior attitude, can well be called “the woman of the Eucharist” (Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia , n. 53).
May all Christian communities become “ authentic schools of prayer ”, where people pray that there will be no lack of workers in the vast field of apostolic work. Moreover, it is necessary for the Church to accompany, with constant spiritual care, those whom God had already called, and who “ follow the Lamb wherever he goes ” (Rv 14: 4): I refer to priests, religious sisters and brothers, hermits, consecrated virgins, members of secular institutes - in summary, to all those who have received the gift of the vocation and carry “ this treasure in pots of earthenware ” (2 Cor 4: 7). In the mystical Body of Christ there is a great variety of ministries and charisms (see 1 Cor 12: 12), which all have the purpose to sanctify the Christian people. In this reciprocal care for holiness, which has to animate every member of the Church, it is indispensable to pray so that those “called” remain faithful to their vocation and reach the highest level possible of evangelical perfection.
4. Prayer of those called
In the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis I underlined that “a necessary requirement of this pastoral charity towards one's own particular Church and its future ministry is the concern which the priest should have to find, so to speak, someone to replace him in the priesthood” (n. 74). Knowing that God calls those whom He wants (see Mk 3: 13), every minister of Christ should take care to pray with perseverance for vocations. No one better than he can understand the urgency to make sure that there is a new generation of generous and holy persons to proclaim of the Gospel and to administer the Sacraments. It is in this perspective, that we see how it is more necessary than ever to have “the spiritual adhesion to the Lord and to one's own vocation and mission” ( Vita Consecrata , n. 63). The holiness of those called will condition the strength of their witness, enabling them to involve other persons and encourage them to entrust their own lives to Christ. This is the way to fight against the drop in the number of vocations to the consecrated life, which threatens the existence of many apostolic works, especially in mission countries.
Moreover, the prayer of those called, priests and consecrated persons, has a special value because it is inserted in the priestly prayer of Christ. In them He prays to the Father to sanctify and keep in his love those who, although they are in this world, do not belong to it (see Jn 17: 14-16).
May the Holy Spirit make the whole Church a praying people, who elevate their voice to the heavenly Father to implore holy vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. Let us pray so that those whom the Lord has chosen and called will be faithful and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, to which they consecrated their existence.
5. To You, Lord, we turn with trust !
Son of God,
sent from the Father to all men of all times in all parts of the world. We pray to You through the intercession of Mary, Your Mother and ours too: Let there be no lack of vocations in the Church, especially those of special dedication for your Kingdom.
Jesus, only Saviour of mankind ! We pray to You for our brothers and sisters
who have answered yes to Your call to the priesthood, to the consecrated life, and to the mission. Let their existences be renewed from day to day and become a living Gospel.
Merciful and holy Lord ,
continue to send new workers into the harvest of Your Kingdom. Help those whom you call to follow you in our times. In contemplating your face, let them respond with joy to the wonderful mission which You entrust to them for the good of Your People and of all men. You who are God and live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. From the Vatican 23 November 2003 JOHN PAUL II

Archbishop's Engagements

April 2004

Sunday 4 th PALM SUNDAY
7.30 am Blessing of Palms at Derek Walcott Square
followed by Pontifical Mass at the Cathedral
Wednesday 7 th
5.30pm Chrismal Mass at the Cathedral
Thursday 8 th Holy Thursday
6.00pm Holy Mass of the Last Supper and
Washing of the feet at the Cathedral
Friday 9 th GOOD FRIDAY
4.00am Public Way of the Cross to Calvary
3.00pm Commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord
at the Cathedral
Saturday 10 th Holy Saturday
10.30pm Vigil of Easter at the Cathedral
Midnight Easter Mass
Sunday 11 th EASTER SUNDAY
8.00am Holy Mass at Bexon
Monday 12 th Easter Monday
7.00am Holy Mass at the Marian Home
Tuesday 13 th 11.00am
10 th Anniversary of Religious Profession
Holy Mass at Church of the Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, Soufriere
Wednesday 14 th
Catholic Teachers' Conference - Mon Repos
10.30am Holy Mass at St. Ann's Church, Mon Repos
Friday 16 th
5.00pm Devotions and Holy Mass - Calvary
Sunday 18 th
Episcopal Ordination of Msgr. Michel Meranville, Martinique
Tuesday 20 th
6.00pmClass for Prospective Deacons at Pastoral Centre
Friday 23 rd
5.00pm Devotions and Holy Mass - Calvary
Saturday 24 th - Wednesday May 5th
Antilles Episcopal Conference Annual Meeting in Curacao
Attend Installation of Archbishops -Kingston, Jamaica and Nassau, Bahamas

May, 2004

Saturday 8 th
Caritas National Team Meeting at the Chancery
Sunday 9 th
8.00am Holy Mass - Bexon
Tuesday 11 th
6.00 pmClass for Prospective Deacons
Wednesday 12 th
9.15 am – 2.00pm Clergy Meeting at the Pastoral Centre
Friday 14 th
5.00pm Devotions and Holy Mass - Calvary
Sunday16 th
Missionary Childhood Rally
Saturday 22 nd
10.00am Caritas Co-ordinators and Parish Leaders
Meeting at the Chancery
7.00pm Confirmation at St. Benedict's Parish
Sunday 23 rd
7.30am Holy Mass at the Cathedral
Tuesday 25 th
Holy Family Children's Home Board Meeting
Thursday 27th – Saturday 29th
Attend Conference in Orlando, Florida On Haiti Issues
Sunday 30 th
8.00am Holy Mass at Bocage

Theo's Corner
by Msgr. Theophilus

Rastafarianism and the Roman Catholic Church
Joseph Owens writes:

“The Pope and the Vatican ¼ symbolize the whole panoply of white deceitfulness everywhere. But through lighting, earthquake and thunder we shall dismantle his chalice, because Vatican is fallen! And one blessed morning we all shall hear that it is sunk into the bottomless pit. The day is fast approaching when the Pope himself will have to admit that Rastaman was right after all ¼ ”
Can one conclude that the aggression which the Rastafarian feels against the Roman Catholic Church, always ends in violence against the church, even if in many of their very popular songs they seem to promote the burning of Rome and the Pope?
Did those songs justify what took place at the Cathedral? Let us look at one of the very popular songs composed and sung by Anthony B entitled ‘Fire Pon Rome':
“Black people don't get weary,
Dem tek off the shackles an face we,
Unno sing with the Startrail posse
Chorus
Fire pon Rome,
Fi Pope Paul an him scissors an comb, Black people waan go home
A Mount Zion a di righteous throne This is my question to Issa and the one Matalon
How unno get fi own so much black people land
After dem slave, achieve nutten inna hand Check out greater Protmore, Braeton
One room unno build a sell fi one million Dem dey studio house nuh worth a hundred gran
Thrue mi a lick out dem waa mi keep quiat But mi a bun fire fi di one Butch Stewart Who buy out di plane an all di pilot
Thrue mi nuh inna Jamaica, love fi tan
Mi haffi bun fire fi the one Naree Azan
Everybody know how downtown a fi di poor man
How dem claims it an sey a to dem it belong
No more bustling, dat mean no food inna hand
One help wi have is the Almighty One
Jamaicans help sing mi song

My Lord, don't talk jus listen,
Mi haffi bun fire fi P.J. Patterson
Him mek certain move an win uh too certain
How much black youth behind iron curtain

Thrue mi naw go trod inna Babylon order
Mi haffi bun fire fi one name Seaga
Everyday cost a living get more than buyer
Oh my Lord, what a pressure So many things politicians have stolen
Still them return with the one Bruce Golding
Saying a brand new party dem forming
But a part dem a part we with dem politics meeting
Out a politics poor people get then beaten
Look who dem have a tun metropolitan officer
Fi tek yuh hustling out a yuh hand
When yuh look pon dem face a yuh own black man
Fi look what a gwann and don't disagree
What is the benefit of GCT?
It benefit you but it never fit me.” One must not conclude from this song that Rastafarianism teaches only violence, the same way one ought not to read passages of the Old Testament and conclude that the early Israelites were a violent people because of the way they treated their enemies nor should one conclude that God formed his people into a nation of violent protest action in the face of their own Exodus experience, for generally Rastafarians are peace loving and always point to Haile Selassie as peaceful and loving even in the face of the Roman invasion of his country by the Army of Mussolini. Can one deduce from history that the Roman Catholic Church is a violent church because it was involved in the crusades and mercilessly killed and tortured the followers of Islam in the name of God? Can one deduce that the Africans in the Diaspora were violent when in their quest for freedom they called for armed rebellion against the forces of oppression and were willing to kill or be killed rather than suffer the depersonalization of slavery? The sporadic incidences by the Rastafarian against the Catholic Church in no way allows one to conclude that they are a violent people. Even their music and their chants especially their chant “Kill Pope Paul and a Babylon Fall,” does not make them preachers of violence since Pope Paul represents for them the western imperialistic powers of White Europe and White North America which has physically enslaved and continues to psychologically enslave the African in the Diaspora. Further the word “kill” does not refer to a physical murder but a Spiritual separation from all that “Pope Paul” stands for in their own philosophy of Life. i. My Association One still has to ask the question why did those young men think or believe that what they did, was done in the name of God? Perhaps it stems from their embedded theological perspective which led to a vision of church as uncaring about persons as persons especially those socially marginalized. Perhaps it stems from a lack of a Catechesis about how to live out the Christian life. Perhaps it seems from the focus of Church authorities on Sacramentalization rather than Evangelization. Perhaps it stems from the thought that after First Holy Communion and Confirmation, the church has nothing else to offer them, perhaps it stems from a lack of outreach by Catholics to the ghettos of St. Lucia. Perhaps they had a past association with ‘church' people which angered them to the extent that they felt the only way to avenge themselves was through destroying the ‘church' people. Yet my experience with Rastafarians was a very positive one. I need to add, that I have worked with Rastafarians in a Parish on the Western side of the Island. I knew that the vast majority were socialized and sacramentalized as Catholic. I knew that their homes were traditionally Catholic homes, and I perceived their social environment as the breeding ground of their seeming anti social behavior, especially their smoking of Marijuana which they refer to as their ‘sacrament' . I knew that the unspoken societal and Catholic Church position was fear, and alienation brought about by a lack of understanding, but I was willing to dialogue with them on their terms, for doing otherwise would lead to their rejection of society especially the political directorate which promised so much yet gave very little. I understood their material poverty and their negative reaction to the Catholic Church which they perceive as very rich yet doing precious little to alleviate their material poverty but marginalized them as social and religious outcasts. I had a true sense of compassion for those young men and women.

Saint of the Month

Saint Joseph Moscati
Director of Charity
Feast Day: March 12
By Sr. Theresa Corbie, S.J.C.

Joseph Moscati was born July 25, 1880 in Benevito, Italy, the seventh of nine children of Francis and Rosa Moscati. He was baptized six days later, receiving the names Joseph Mario Charles Alphonse. Francis Moscati was a lawyer and later, a judge. In spite of the anticlericalism of the time, and contempt for the Catholic faith, Francis faithfully upheld Catholic teaching and belief, and imbued in his family a deep love for their religion. The family attended Mass daily and had great filial devotion to Our Lady and deep love for God in the Holy Eucharist. In 1890, Joseph made his First Communion. His parents taught him at home until in 1889 he entered the Secondary and Grammar School of Victor Emmanuel. He obtained his grammar school diploma in 1894 at the age of fourteen. He continued his studies in the Lyceo and obtained a first-class Classical Diploma in 1897. Joseph's home was close to the

Canonization Cause approved at Public Consistory
Gianna Beratta Molla
Mother of a family - 1922 - 1962
Canonization 16th May 2004

GIANNA BERETTA was born in Magenta (Milan) October 4, 1922. Already as a youth she willingly accepted the gift of faith and the clearly Christian education that she received from her excellent parents. As a result, she experienced life as a marvelous gift from God, had a strong faith in Providence and was convinced of the ne- cessity and effectiveness of prayer . She diligently dedicated herself to studies during the years of her secondary and university education, while, at the same time, applying her faith through generous apostolic service among the youth of Catholic Action and charitable work among the elderly and needy as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society .After earning degrees in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Pa- via in 1949, she opened a medical clinic in Mesero (near Magenta) in 1950. She specialized in Pediatrics at the University of Milan in 1952 and thereafter gave special attention to mothers, babies, the elderly and poor . While working in the field of medicine--which she considered a "mission" and practiced as such-she increased her generous service to Catholic Action, especially among the "very young" and, at the same time, expressed her joie de vivre and love of creation through skiing and mountaineering. Through her prayers and those of others, she reflected upon her vocation, which she also considered a gift from God. Having chosen the vocation of marri- age, she embraced it with complete enthusiasm and wholly dedi- cated herself "to forming a truly Christian family". She became engaged to Pietro Molla and was radiant with joy and happiness during the time of their engagement, for which she thanked and praised the Lord. They were married on Septem- ber 24, 1955, in the Basilica of St. Martin in Magenta, and she became a happy wife. In November 1956, to her great joy, she became the mother of Pierluigi, in December 1957 of Mariolina; in July 1959 of Laura. With simplicity and equilibrium she harmon- ized the demands of mother, wife, doctor and her passion for life. In September 1961, towards the end of the second month of pregnancy, she was touched by suffering and the mystery of pain; she had developed a fibroma in her uterus. Before the required sur- gical operation, and conscious of the risk that her continued preg- nancy brought, she pleaded with the surgeon to save the life of the child she was caITying, and entrusted herself to prayer and Provi- dence. The life was saved, for which she thanked the Lord. She spent the seven months remaining until the birth of the child in in- comparable strength of spirit and unrelenting dedication to her tasks as mother and doctor. She worried that the baby in her womb might be born in pain, and she asked God to prevent that. A few days before the child was due, although trusting as always in Providence, she was ready to give her life in order to save that of her child: "If you must decided between me and the child, do not hesitate: choose the child-1 insist on it. Save him". On the morning of April 21, 1962, Gianna Emanuela was born. Despite all efforts and treatments to save both of them, on the morning of April 28, amid unspeakable pain and after repeated exclamations of "Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you", the mother died. She was 39 years old. Her funeral was an occasion of profound grief, faith and prayer. The Servant of God lies in the cemetery of Mesero (4 km from Magenta).

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