Dr. Winston C. V. Parris Receives CMG Award
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His Royal Highness Prince Charles bestowed the Award on Dr. Winston C.V. Parris |
On Thursday, November 25th 2004, Dr. Winston C.V. Parris received the CMG (Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George) insignia at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. This award was made by Queen Elizabeth II and was bestowed on Dr. Parris by His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. Following the investiture, Mr. Tony Blair, Prime Minister of England, entertained the Parris family at 10 Downing Street. The palace reports that this award was given to Dr. Parris for his contributions to pain medicine in the United States, in particular and worldwide. The report states that Dr. Parris is recognized for his work in introducing pain medicine to the Caribbean and more recently for the formation of the St. Lucia Pain Institute based in his homeland, St. Lucia, The West Indies. Dr. Parris is further recognized for his work in treating underprivileged chronic pain patients in St. Lucia.
Dr. Parris is a founding member of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, past Secretary of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, past President of the American Board of Pain Medicine, past President of the World Society of Pain Clinicians, past President of the Tennessee Pain Society, past President of the Leukemia Society of America Tennessee Chapter, founder and past Medical Director of the Vanderbilt University Pain Control Center, Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology at University of South Florida in Tampa FL., Adjunct Professor of Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN and is the President and Medical Director of the St Lucia Pain Institute.
Dr Parris is a graduate of the University of the West Indies Medical School (Class of 1968) in Mona, Jamaica and he did his Internship at Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas. He did his Anesthesiology residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee and joined the Faculty rising through the ranks to become a full tenured Professor of Anesthesiology in 1989. After the passing of his first wife, Shirley, he moved to private practice in Florida where he was elected to be the CEO of Universal Anesthesia Care, the largest Anesthesia group in the Tampa Bay area; he was also made a Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Currently, Dr Parris describes himself as semi-retired serving as the director of Clinical Research at Anesthesia Pain Care Consultants, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale for 6 months while spending the remaining 6 months in hisnative homeland, St. Lucia where he serves as the President and Medical Director of the St Lucia Pain Institute. Major priorities in this phase of his life are to attempt to perfect his golf swing and lower his score.
Dr. Parris is the author of 3 chronic pain textbooks, 34 book chapters, 83 abstracts, 91 scientific publications and 154 abstracts. His most recent publication is entitled “Cancer Pain Management: Principles and Practice”. Dr. Parris is married to Nelita Parris and has three children, Wayne, Wendell and Sharon Parris.
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CTI – Fifteen years of Joyful Service
- Sr. Paula Andrew, SJC
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Group at the end of the Course |
August 2004 marked the completion of two three-year Courses of the Catechist Training Institute and fifteen (15) years of the Institute’s service to the catechists and people of the Province of Castries and other dioceses of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.
Throughout these fifteen years, the Institute’s personnel have seen catechists grow and develop in the faith, become more committed and mission-minded as they serve in the ministry of catechesis in their respective dioceses, thus realizing the purpose for which the Institute was founded in 1990 by Archbishop Kelvin Felix, Metropolitan of the Province of Castries.
As in previous years, Course participants came from the five (5) dioceses of the Province of Castries and the diocese of Bridgetown in the Province of Port-of-Spain.
Forty-three (43) of the fifty-six (56) participants of the combined Courses of 2002 – 2004 completed three consecutive years. Nine (9) participants are in their second year, while four (4) catechists from a previous three-year cycle returned to complete the required three years. This they did voluntarily, since scholarship awards and further study, job demands or ill health prevented these catechists from completing the Course in the given Cycle.
Over the years, participants have exhibited a high level of commitment to the Courses. This is very laudable, especially as they leave their families and island for two weeks during the hurricane season. We appreciate their faith and dedication.
Two Courses are offered annually during the months of July and August. Both are of two weeks’ duration for three consecutive years. The BASIC COURSE aims at the training of catechists in general, the NEW ADVANCED COURSE FOR FORMATORS is a development of the Advanced Course of 1993 through 1996. Those Courses of two weeks only were open to adult Catholics desirous of increasing their knowledge of the faith.
The New Advanced Course For Formators aims at the training of catechists who will assist local catechetical directresses and co-ordinators in the ministry of catechesis.
Course participants are offered a well-rounded foundation in scripture, doctrine, morality, spirituality, catechesis, church history, prayer, liturgy, social teachings of the church, pastoral care and educational skills. Topics are presented in a manner that stimulates inquiry and research at personal, local, Caribbean and global levels.
In general, CTI graduates continue to render dedicated service in their dioceses. CTI is grateful for the role these catechists continue to play in the faith development of our peoples. They do so in the face of many challenges. Yet, we look to the future with hope.
As we look back with gratitude, we thank Archbishop Kelvin Felix, the Institute’s founder, Bishops of the Region, especially those of the Province of Castries and the Diocese of Bridgetown. We extend thanks also to CTI’s former directresses, diocesan directresses and co-ordinators, past and present, tutors, graduates, their families and people of the related dioceses for their support. We express thanks to the directors and staffs of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre and the Pope John Paul II Seminary, St. Lucia and the Holy Redeemer Retreat House, Dominica - the former for hosting us through the years and the latter in 2001. Special thanks is due to our donors, significant among them are ADVENIAT - the German Bishops Foundation and Mater Ecclesiae, Italy for their assistance - the former for annual financial support; the latter for tutors for the Advanced Course.
Next year, the SIXTH three-year cycle of the BASIC COURSE begins at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, St. Lucia from Sunday, 17th to Saturday 30th July. This will be followed by CTI REUNION 2005. The Institute extends an invitation to all CTI graduates to REUNION 2005 from Wednesday 3rd - Wednesday 10th August 2005. A variety of events, inspirational, educational and recreational is being planned, as we continue joyfully serving the Lord and his people.
Sr. Paula Andrew, sjc is the Directress of the Catechist Training Institute, St. Lucia.
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Tribute To Mr Alfred Compton
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It was the third Sunday in November ,2003,and my neighbour was at my door with a companion explaining that Mr Compton was in the area, wanting to visit my mother. I said to her that my mother was not up to seeing any visitors to which she replied, “Mr Compton is not visiting, he is bringing communion to make your Mother’s body and soul better. That they had come to prepare her.”
I thought to my self such determined simplicity, as one look at my neighbour told me that she was not leaving without accomplishing her mission. I alerted my Mother of their intentions and when they were inside of the house I understood what they termed “preparing her”. A wooden bench was soon turned into a makeshift altar, and a candle was placed on it, as well as a drinking glass quarter-filled with water Next the companion said (the only time that she spoke) that “Mr Compton does not like to give people communion without them covering their heads.”
I “found” a piece of cloth and was happy that I did, because I knew I would be admonished if I could not “lay my hands” on one. That done they began to pray one decade of the Rosary. As if in perfect harmony as soon as they were finshed there was another knock on the door, this time I recognized another lady along with Mr Compton . The two that were there previously immediately said good-bye and left, which was surprising to me, but not for long.
As soon as the lady arrived in the room closely followed by Mr Compton she sang a “Communion Hymn” very loudly. Next Mr Compton read the readings for the day, followed by other prayers for the sick and then he gave my mother communion. When he reached to take the glass from the table so my mother could have a drink, I noticed that the candle had been lit. (I supposed they walked with their own matches). The lady who accompanied Mr Compton bellowed another song again…..”O Bread Of Heaven(1696-1787)tr. Edward Vaughan.
After a few moments of quiet Mr Compton did not ask, he just announced that he would be back every third Sunday as each Sunday he brought Communion to different areas accompanied by these ladies. Then he left. This ceremony lasted only a few minutes, but its importance was conveyed and the reverence and aura of the occasion receiving The Eucharist was preserved.
Mr Compton also managed to perform this by exhibiting a tradition that I had heard my granny describe years ago, when communion was taken to a sick person.
I watched Mr Compton leave,….. a very frail ,quiet and determined Eucharistic Minister. Everyone who had been to the Minor Basilica Of The Immaculate Conception at some point knew Mr Compton the church Sacristan par excellence who performed every task dutifully, peacefully and with the zeal of serving the Lord well over a decade.
I re-discovered him. He was into his eighties and would walk (accompanied or unaccompanied) anywhere to take communion to the sick He devised a scheme for the month those who received on First Friday’s ,First Sunday’s and those who received on either the first, second, third or fourth Sunday. Mr Compton took this task seriously and he explained to me that Mother church had designated this year (October 2003-2004) as the year Of The Eucharist.
It is well known that Mr Compton hardly if ever refused someone who came to call him for a sick who was seriously ill and he approached every communicant no matter what their status in life in the same manner.
This made me reflect on what I had read about Eucharist. Perhaps it was because he remembered that the Eucharist is one of seven sacraments instituted by Christ to give us a share in the life of God. It is one of the greatest of all seven sacraments, since it contains Christ Himself, the Divine Author of The Sacraments. The Eucharist is reserved in our churches to be a powerful help to prayer and the service of others. The Eucharist reserved is a continuing sign of Our Lord’s real presence among his people and spiritual food for the sick and the dying.
From the Eucharist the entire church (according to traditional stories) seemed to have drawn strength for courageous struggles and brilliant victories. The Eucharist is the center of all sacramental life because it is of the greatest importance for uniting and strengthening the church.
The word “Eucharist” from the Greek word means Thanksgiving, Mr Compton’s service to our church was a life of Thanksgiving, to God, little wonder he took all of his roles especially that of a Eucharistic Minister so seriously. He conveyed to all communicants what the Council of Trent declared “In the Most Holy Sacrament of The Eucharist there is contained really, and substantially, the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, together with His Soul and Divinity, indeed the whole Christ.”
May the example Of Mr Alfred Compton help us to ponder and appreciate the center of Catholic worship, the heart of Catholic faith in this the year of The Eucharist.
2nd Caritas Antilles Diocesan
Coordinators’ Meeting
August 30th to September 3rd 2004
Mount Of Prayer, Coubaril, St. Lucia
Prepared by Marcia Boxill
Caritas Antilles Coordinator
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From August 30th to September 3rd 2004, Caritas Diocesan Coordinators from the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Saint Lucia met in Saint Lucia, as part of their second meeting in Strategic Planning. The first was held in the month of February 2004.
Persons who attended included: His Grace Archbishop Kelvin E. Felix, President of Caritas Antilles, Marcia Boxill, Coordinator Caritas Antilles, Diane Jharriah – Assistant Coordinator, Mary-Rose Knight – Diocesan Coordinator, Caritas Antigua and Barbuda, Francis De Abreu, Antigua and Barbuda, Denise Defoe – Assistant Coordinator Caritas Dominica and members of the Caritas Saint Lucia National Team. The Diocesan Coordinators of Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were absent due to circumstances beyond their control. The meeting was facilitated by Mr. Jorge Salamanca, Cooperation Consultant of Caritas Spain.
One of the mandates of the Caritas February Planning Meeting was to go into the grassroots level to arrive at five main issues in the civil society and Church, which need to be addressed as well as three objectives per issue. Each Diocese presented those issues with a view to arriving at five common issues for all of the Dioceses. Some of the issues discussed included: Capacity Building, Vulnerability to Disasters, Sustainable Development, Delinquent Children and Youth, Crime, HIV/AIDS, National Policies for Older Persons, Drug use and Prison Ministry.
In order to determine the real issues Mr. Salamanca led the group into an Internal and External Analysis based on Caritas Antilles’ Mission and Vision, which were drawn up at the February meeting and have been approved by the Antilles Episcopal Conference A.E.C.
VISION
We look forward in hope to a region in which the values of equity, justice and peace will enable all individuals to realise their full potential. We wish to revitalise and create a functional organisation with a view to future expansion, to include all members of the Antilles Episcopal Conference through a provincial structure.
MISSION
Caritas Antilles is fully committed to the dignity of the human person and the promotion of active charity, social justice and solidarity. We believe in the integral development of every individual as a means of empowerment and greater self-reliance, especially for the poor, marginalised and excluded.
Mr. Salamanca then encouraged the Diocesan Coordinators to place reality into any projects that they would design in the future by always utilising what is termed a Logical Framework. This encompasses the types of attitudes encountered in the communities, focussing on the activities with the objective of achieving a greater and more positive impact on the zone of intervention and the development of an outline to address the issues.
Emphasis was also placed on Project Planning and identifying the needs of the various communities in which Caritas works and the socioeconomic factors that influence those needs.
Participants were subsequently given a case study on a fictitious community called Andagua, to discover root causes and address problems. This laid the basis for dealing with other such situations in their respective Dioceses. It was agreed that to arrive at the five main issues in each Diocese required a lot more attention; research and discussion than had been done initially, especially taking into account the use of the Logical Framework Tool.
The NEXT STEPS in the Strategic Planning Process for Caritas Antilles include:
Exchange of information and arrangement of meetings for establishment of teams and motivation in the respective Dioceses. (within 3 months)
Sharing of information with each Bishop and the appointment of a Diocesan Coordinator for those Dioceses currently without. (within 2 weeks)
Conducting of Internal and External Analyses for each Diocese in order to determine the five main issues. (6 months with periodical reviews).
The latter point of carrying out the analyses in each Diocese will be done within a period of six months, with a follow-up meeting in February 2005. Once this process is completed, Caritas Antilles hopes to formulate its Strategic Plan, which would encompass the main issues of all of the Dioceses with a view to drawing up one budget for the next five years, thus charting the way forward and subsequently soliciting financial support from the Caritas Global Network.
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