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The Archdiocesan Catechetical Rally was held on Sunday, 26th September in the Parish of La Ressource. The theme for the Rally was taken from Luke 9: 62. “Jesus said to his disciples: Once the hand is placed on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

The Rally began as always with songs of praise, followed by Morning Prayer led by the catechists of La Ressource.

The feature address was given by Mr. Baldwin Powell. He told the group that they should always count the cost before they make a commitment to God. He emphasized the need for discipline, that a disciple had to be disciplined. What does it take to be a disciple? Salvation experience and a call to conversion were the two main points to concentrate on when called to discipleship.

He pointed out that we must have faith in Jesus and get to know Him by building a close relationship with Him in prayer. Jesus always asks us to launch out into the deep and the road always seems difficult. When we follow Jesus what seems difficult or impossible becomes possible. If we are in love with Jesus we will never turn back from following Him. Three things come into focus: conversion, ministry and internship. We should never be afraid because of obstacles in our way, the obstacles disappear when we have faith. There will be suffering but the benefits far outweigh the suffering. God empowers us with the Holy Spirit. We just have to ask for the Holy Spirit and let ourselves go into God’s hands. In His hands we have no reason to fear.

As she thanked Mr. Powell for his stimulating address, Mrs. Petronilla Deterville, Chairperson of the Catechetical Commission, noted the support given to Mr. Powell by his wife. She emphasized how necessary it was for people to choose their spouses wisely as a good spouse will help you to walk where God wants you, while a bad spouse can only lead you astray. She asked the young people present to choose their friends carefully.
There were five workshops:

Back to basics in Catechetics was facilitated by Mrs. Theresa Peters and Ms Sylvia Charlery in place of Ms. Alcese Louisien who was unable to do so because of the death of her father. Matters discussed were:

(1) what it means to be a catechist, the importance of prayer and teaching as Jesus taught - using things familiar to children, explaining symbols and the seasons of the Church.

(2) Crafts in Catechetics was facilitated by Mrs. Lucia Emilaire and Ms. Julia Edwin. They showed the group how to make crucifixes, flames for Pentecost, rosaries, church calendars. They also showed how to make a craft items for each season of the Church.

(3) Conducting Assemblies was facilitated by Ms. Udra Chicot and Mrs. Celesta Aimable. They discussed assemblies, why they were held and how they should be run.

(4) Values Clarification in Catechetics was facilitated by Ms. Raymond Joseph, Coordinator, Catholic Education Board of Management. She helped the group to look at the values of the Church i.e. Respect for Human Dignity, Respect for Creation and the Environment, Love, Justice, Care and Compassion, Service, Forgiveness, Peace, Faithfulness and Honesty and to compare these with their own values.

(5) The fifth workshop on Programme Planning, 2005 was led by Mrs Petronila Deterville, Chairperson of the Catechetical Commission. The group consisted of Chief Catechists and they prepared the Catechetical Programme for 2005.

There was a break for lunch at 12.45 p.m. Following lunch there were presentations by Confirmation candidates from the parishes of Soufriere, Mon Repos, La Ressource, Bexon and Dennery They must be commended and thanked for putting on very good performances.

The day ended with the Celebration of the Eucharist. His Grace, Archbishop Kelvin Felix was the main Celebrant , assisted by Reverend Father Raymond Laurent.

We wish to thank His Grace Archbishop Kelvin Felix for his presence and encouragement. We also want to thank Reverend Father Raymond Laurent, Parish Priest, La Ressource, Mrs. Rita Henry, Principal of the La Ressource Combined School, Mrs. Patricia Herman, Chief Catechist, La Ressource, Sister Paula Andrew, SJC, Mr. Baldwin Powell, the Guest Speaker, all the workshop facilitators and all the catechists for their co-operation and assistance in making this Rally.a success.

It was Saturday, 11th September, five days after hurricane Ivan had devastated Grenada. “Sister, this is Ann”. Surprised, I enquired how she was, whether she had food. Five weeks ago Ann had graduated from the Basic Course of the Catechist Training Institute, (C.T.I.) here in St. Lucia.

“Where are you?” I asked. “I am sitting outside what’s left of my house. The roof has gone. I am eating the last bit of biscuits I have.” She went on to say that she had cooked and shared whatever she had. “We are like that here, whoever has, cooks and shares. We can’t see the children starve. They are not forgotten. We are like one family here.”

I felt a tug at my heart as I listened to Ann, the first to phone (by cellular) after the hurricane. I prayed with her. She told of the unbelievable calm and peace that she had experienced after having prayed repeatedly Psalm 144 during the harrowing hours of hurricane Ivan. She was grateful to Father Bernard Latus S.V.D. who had been presenter of the C.T.I. Course lectures on the Psalms. He had recommended Psalm 144 to be prayed in times of hurricane.

The following Sunday I had gone to Mass and had my meals as usual. I could not but think of the people of Grenada and other islands, struck by Hurricane Ivan. I telephoned Ann. Her story was a testimony of faith.

She had gathered a few persons around her. She still had her Sunday missal and knew it was the twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Together they sang hymns, read the readings and prayed their own Prayers of the Faithful. She had even given the homily. The service lasted two hours. At the end, a little child said to her, “Miss, church was nice this morning ! When will we have more?” She promised her that they would pray that evening.

I am certain there are countless stories like Ann’s. Stories of catechists, of lay-ministers, of simple people who, on their own initiative, had gathered for prayer - stories of “Church without walls”. The situation of havoc and disaster in some of our Carribean lands and elsewhere necessitated a compassionate response. That response from every sector of our society has been quick and generous and continues to this day.

In her wisdom and charity, the Church has different agencies ministering to the basic needs of God’s peop;e. Through CARITAS and FOOD FOR THE POOR, needs of food, clothing and shelter have been and are still being met. The rebuilding of proper places of worship will take some time yet.

With the onset of MISSION SUNDAY, 24TH October, the Church urges us to be extra generous towards our brothers and sisters. In Grenada, the greater number of Church buildings, churches, presbyteries, convents, college, secondary and primary schools have been either destroyed or severely damaged.

Let us give without counting the cost this MISSION SUNDAY, knowing that our donations towards the Pontifical Mission Societies* will go to the rebuilding of these institutions and ultimately to the renewal of the faith of our peoples in these islands. In Ann’s words, “We are one family.”

A group of catechists from St. Lucia set sail to Martinique for a week of prayer and study from August 8th to 15th. The Benedictine Monastery where we lived provided an atmosphere conducive to study and meditation.

Every day started with communal morning prayer followed by Holy Mass at the Benedictine Monastery and a visit to Our Lady’s shrine at the Convent.

There were two study sessions each day, one in the morning, the other in the afternoon after lunch. Study subjects were as follows:
Prayer, Lectio Divina, Eucharist, Charity, Centering Prayer and Humility. The presenters were Lucia Emilaire, Angel Felix, Margherita Alexander and Father Peter Caesar, Prior of the Benedictine Monastery in Martinique, who incidentally is a St. Lucian.

Lucia Emilaire,the presenter expounded on twelve forms of prayer: Conversing with God, reading scripture, and other spiritual books, communal prayer, e.g. the Eucharist and the Daily Office, thinking about God, Intercessory and Integrating prayer, Expressing prayer in song dance, art etc., Adoration and Confession when we experience God’s mercy and forgiveness, Thanksgiving, Supplication and Listening.

In Lectio Divina. we were guided to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, then to select a scripture passage, make sure that we understood the words in the passage and to break the passage down into Jesus’ words or story and to do our Lectio on one part. We were then to read the scripture passage slowly over and over until a word, phrase or verse gripped our attention and resonated within us. We were encouraged to stay with the passage until we found our story in the passage and discover what specific message is conveying to us. We were advised that a helpful way to do Lectio was to choose the following Sunday’s gospel for our Lectio and to stay with the passage throughout the week. Lectio Divina is a powerful prayer for living the scripture and experiencing conversion.

The Eucharist “as the source and summit of our Christian life” was brought home to us through the countless meals that Jesus participated in: - Luke 5: 28-39; Luke. 7: 36-50, Luke 9: 10-17, Luke 10: 38, Luke 11: 37 - 54, Luke 14; 1-24 to name just a few. The meals in the scripture passages reveal the Eucharist as essential in the experience of. Evangelization, Reconciliation, Mission, Community, Love, Purification, Humility, Recognition and Salvation.

In our talk on Charity it was emphasized that God who created us out of love also calls us to love, the fundamental vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is Himself love. (CCC 1604).

Participants were introduced to the practice of the Awareness Examen, an exercise which enables us to respond to the love of God.

The goal of the examen is to develop a heart with a discerning vision, to put us in touch with our real self before God, to hear God’s quiet and gentle invitation to draw closer to Him, to see God in everything not just during the time of the examen but throughout our whole day.
The five steps of the examen lead to this goal. They are 1. Thanksgiving, 2. Prayer for the light ofthe Spirit, 3. Examination of conscience 4. Contrition and Sorrow, 5. Resolution.
Father Peter Caesar gave the talk on Humility “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart.” (Matt. 11 :29).

“. . .. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be selfe-ffacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of the other people’s interest instead. In your mind you must be the same as Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2: 3-5).

“His state was divine yet He did not cling to his equality with God but emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave and become as men are.” (Phil. 2: 6-7).

Christ is humble in all aspects of his being, his words, acts, wounds etc., and it is he we should imitate in order to be humble.

Humility and meekness moderate the passion of anger and prepare us to accept everything in a peaceful manner. These virtues give peace even in turmoil and conflict.

Humility helps us to attain a balance in life and is a virtue of the will. It restrains the mind from aiming at things beyond our reach. Humility gives one a humble, honest esteem of one’s own capacity. It is humility that makes it possible for one to see that he/she cannot pursue happiness without God’s assistance, love and grace. Pride, the opposite of humility prevents one from acknowledging that all one’s talents come from God.

We note with joy, the spirit of prayer and community, and co-operation which was manifested among the catechists two of whom were male.

We thank God for a spirit-filled week and for the fact that three of the Benedictine monks are from St. Lucia: Father Peter Caesar, the Prior, Brother Sylvestre Laurencin and Brother Estephan. We sincerely appreciate the assistance which they gave to our group.

Missionary Childhood Association members are undertaking a project - ‘Christmas Cards, Carol Books and Crafts for Children of Grenada’.

For this they will need USED Christmas cards in good condition. Have you any to send us? Kindly cut off personal greetings and send the remaining portion to us. You may send us the entire cards if you wish.

Used Christmas cards may be sent to: Sr. Paula Andrew, SJC
St. Joseph’s Convent, Cedars, Castries
or to: The Chancery Offices
Opposite St. Mary’s College, Vigie
or to: the following MCA Leaders:
Ms. Cecilia Clovis- Soufriere Parish
Mrs. Celesta Aimable Laborie Parish
Mrs. Mary Henry Banse -Laborie Parish
Miss Theresa Lucien Micoud Parish
MissChakera Modeste Desruisseaux Parish
Ms. Helen Prospere Dennery Parish
Mr. Stephon Stephen Bexon Parish

Mrs. Letitia Anderson Ave Maria Girls’ R.C. Primary School
Ms. Nadia Hutchinson c/o St.Aloysius Boys’ R.C. Primary School
Thank you and God Bless You.

Winston Cenac QC, Prime Minister of St. Lucia (1981-82) died on 22 nd September. A distinguished lawyer, he served as Attorney-General in St. Lucia , St. Vincent and Grenada (1962-67); president of St. Lucia Bar (1989-1995) and OECS Bar Association (1989-1994). On the 18 th June 1981, as Prime Minister, he signed the Treaty of Basseterre on behalf of St. Lucia , which established the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States(OECS).

Hon. Julian R. Hunte and family after investiture as a Knight of the Grand Cross Pian Order by Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Secretary of State to the Holy See, on 19 th September, 2004. Mr. Hunte was recognized for his major role in the consensus adoption by the UN General Assembly of the resolution entitled “Participation of the Holy See in the work of the United Nation”. Mr. Hunte was President of the Fifty-Eighth Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Bishop Vincent Darius of Grenada made time to discuss hurricane Ivan with Archbishop Felix during a short private visit to St. Lucia . Trauma counsellors and exchange of pulpits were among the needs he identified

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Grenadian Students at SJC Principal of St. Joseph's Convent, Ms. Felicia McFarlane, with some of the 27 students from Grenada who have been accepted at St. Joseph's Convent, St. Lucia to date.	Road Match king 2004 “Alpha” at SJC fundraiser, going ‘ Dong De Road '!
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Caribbean Carmelite Tertiaries at Chicago convocation Sr. Adriana Noel, O. Carm, regional coordinator for Lay Carmelites and Rosemarie Cooper, local coordinator for St. Lucia , recently joined 600 Lay Carmelites from North America and the Caribbean in Chicago for four days of prayer and study of the Carmelite Rule of St. Albert.	Openness in the Church With a flowing crop of Rastafarian locks Bobby Lee Bans James of Dominica pronounced his first vows as a Redemptorist, at the Church of the Assumption, Vieux-Fort , St. Lucia , 19 th August, 2004. A lesson in openness within the Church!

George Odlum Grant for Creative Arts Poet John Robert Lee (r) of the Jubilee Trust Fund (JTF) with Modeste Downes, first recipient of the $1000 grant for Creative Arts established by the JTF.	Fund Raising for Grenada SJC Staff showing their stuff at Grenada Fundraiser

Church and Tourism Members of the Courtesy Taxi Co-operative of Pointe Seraphim prepare for the new cruise ship season with a day of pray and reflection at the Mount of Prayer, Coubaril.	Caritas Antilles Workshop, Aug.30-Sept. 3 rd Jorge Salamanca, corporation consultant with Caritas Spain addresses Caritas Antilles participants during strategic planning workshop, Castries , St. Lucia .

Saint Luke says Thanks After one year of free medical services to the poor and elderly Dr. Winston Parris (second from left ) founder of St. Luke Clinic and Archbishop Felix say thanks to staffers Mrs. Rosella Bushell, cardiologist Jeanice Stanley(extreme right) and nurse Diane Mangal	40 th Anniversary of Priesthood On 15 th September, clergy, religious and laity of the Archdiocese of Castries joined parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima Church, La Clery, to celebrate the 40 th ordination anniversary of their parish priest Msgr. Justin Barthelmy. He was ordained on 12 August, 1964.