News
Five
New Deacons Ordained
Friends,
loved ones and members of the community of the Archdeaconry
of St Vincent and the Grenadines gathered on Wednesday,
January 25, to witness the rite of ordination of five
men and women to the Diaconate, at the St George’s
Cathedral, Kingstown. Shermin Rosemarie Alleyne, Verbina
Coroletha Gonsalves, Lennox Lancelot John, Kenwyck Elliot
Lewis and Inglis Flemming John O’Garro professed
their final rites which will see them serve as non-stipendiary
Deacons in the Anglican Church.
It is not up to man alone to become transformed, but
by God’s Grace, and according to Reverend Canon
Wayne Isaacs, in his sermon, it was the responsibility
of the ministry to bring God’s people so that they
can transform their lives. As in the story of the woman
at the well, he explained, Christ offered the woman the
water of life and so, too, the clergy must assist in this
aspect of the lay community.“Those ordained must
see ministry as one with a relationship with the lay people,”
he said.“We must work side by side as we carry out
our ministry,” he continued. This, he said, was
to ensure that the ordained look at their functions within
the church on the same level as that of the lay people.“Ordination
does not make you superior to those you serve,”
Rev. Isaacs said, adding that the only difference between
the clergy and the people was their function. He warned
the five, saying that if they were to look at their new
appointments as positions of power, then that will cause
conflict. “It is not my parish, or your parish.
It is God’s parish, and we are His servants.”
At the same time, the lay people have a responsibility
to cooperate with the ministers in carrying out the Word
of God, and they must learn to accept the difference in
function. Very often parishes experience problems, and
these, he reasoned, can be avoided once mutual respect
existed.“Ordained ministers must not rely on strength,
but must be faithful ministers of the Gospel of life.”
Rev. Isaacs further contended that there was the mistaken
notion that the only aspect of the ministry is to preach.
However, this was a false concept, he said, but rather
for the ministers to address the needs of the people.“Make
sure what you do as a deacon is to bring hope.”
The five bring a wealth of knowledge and experience,
and Rev. Isaacs encouraged them to ensure that they bring
these skills to their new challenge. Alleyne is a retired
Deputy Headteacher of the Kingstown Anglican School. She
is the Mother’s Union Diocesan Presidents and has
served as a Lay Reader at the St. George’s Cathedral
and for many years as Diocesan and Provincial Synod representative.
Gonsalves served as a teacher prior to her migration
to Canada, where she worked at Sunlife Assurance Company
of Canada for 35 years. Upon retirement in 2000, she returned
to SVG and has been serving as a Lay Reader and Eucharistic
Assistant in the Parish of St. Paul, Calliaqua.
John is renowned Educator and Sports Administrator, former
principal of Bishop’s College Kingstown and headmaster
of the St Vincent Grammar School. He has served as Lay
Minister in the Cathedral Church for over 20 years and
as a representative to Diocesan synod. John has participated
in the life and governance of the Church for as many years.
Lewis is a retired senior civil servant in charge of
the Information Technology Service Division. He was involved
in athletics and played football and cricket. He is a
past president of the Men’s Fellowship and Anglican
Youth Movement. Lewis served as an acolyte at the Cathedral
Church from 1957 to 1976, when he migrated to pursue studies
abroad, and upon his return continued to be quite involved
in the life and governance of the Church and has also
served as a Lay Reader.
O’Garro has worked at Barclays Bank since he left
school in 1987 and is now a Sales Specialist at the Bank,
now renamed- CIBC First Caribbean. He has ten years of
ministry as a Lay Reader in the St. Mathews Parish.It
is expected that the newly ordained Deacons will assist
the Bishop and priests in public worship and in the carrying
out of God’s Word and sacraments.
The rite of ordination was performed by Bishop of the
Windward Islands C. Leopold Friday.
Top Photo - (l-r) Shermin Rosemarie Alleyne,
Verbina Coroletha Gonsalves, Lennox John, Kenwyck Lewis
and Inglis Flemming John O'Garro
(Used with permision from Searchlight Newspaper)
Ordination
and Consecration of Rev. Kari Xavier Marcelle
Tue, Oct 04, 2011
"26-year-old
Bahamian, Kari Xavier Marcelle was ordained and consecrated
priest on Thursday, September 29.
The ordination, which took place at the St. George’s
Cathedral in Kingtown, was presided over by the Lord Bishop
of the Windward Islands, the Right Reverend C. Leopold
Friday.
Marcelle’s welcome to the priesthood was witnessed
by his mother, and visiting clergy: The Venerable Ivan
R. Browne of the Diocese of the Bahamas, Reverend Father
Gregory Gibson of the Diocese of Barbados, Rev. Fr. Von
Watson, also of the Diocese of Barbados, Father Christopher
Kelly of the Diocese of Huron, Canada and Reverened Andrew
Hoyte of the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago.
Delivering the sermon, Reverend Canon Ashton M. Francis,
Rector of the St Joseph’s Parish Church, Mesopotamia,
urged Marcelle to interact with not only Anglicans, but
persons of all faiths and demoninations. “Interact
not only with friends, but the foes as well...It will
be foolish of you to befriend all, but it will be considered
wise if you just be friendly to all...,” Francis
stated.
He further beseeched the young priest to interact with
people of God, taking no note of colour, creed, class
or age. Doing this, Francis said, will enable Marcelle
to become a better minister.
“Proclaim the word of God by practising what you
preach. Preach the word of God as it will be revealed
to you, even when you stand condemned by it...,”
Reverend Francis encouraged.
In ‘thank you’ notes posted in the order
of service, Marcelle thanked those closest to him. He
thanked his mother for providing him with encouragement
and support from the very beginning. “Never once
did you tell me I could not be a priest, but always did
your best to make sure my vocation and dreams became a
reality...,” Marcelle wrote.
He also thanked God, family members and Godparents, Canon
Otis Nichols and his parish family of St Paul’s
Parish Church and all of his friends, those in St. Vincent,
as well as those who travelled all the way from Bahamas,
Barbados, Canada and the United States to witness and
celebrate his holy occasion." (KW, Searchlight
Newspaper)
Appointments
The Rev’d Canon Christian Glasgow has been appointed
Archdeacon of Grenada with effect from 1st December, 2010.
Recognition Service is scheduled for St. Patrick’s
Parish Church, Sauteurs, Grenada , Sunday 16th January,
2011.
The Rev’d Fr. Clive Thomas has been appointed Rector
of the Parish of St. Matthew, Biabou, with St. Sylvan,
Stubbs and St. Mark, Greggs with effect from 1st December,
2010, and as a Canon in the stall of St. Anselm, in the
Cathedral of St. George, Kingstown, St. Vincent &
the Grenadines, with effect from 15th December, 2010 and
Archdeacon of St. Vincent & the Grenadines with effect
from 1st January, 2011. Institution and Induction and
Recognition Service is scheduled for Thursday 24th February,
2011, 5:00pm.
The Rev’d Fr. O Samuel Nichols has been appointed
as Rector of the Parish of St. Paul, Calliaqua with St.
John, Belair with effect from 1st December, 2010. Institution
and Induction Service is scheduled for Thursday 24th February,
2011, 5:00pm.
Provincial Year
of The Family
Due to the following the Church in the Province of the
West Indies has declared the year 2011 as the Provincial
year of the Family:
Family life in the region seems to be under serious threat
from changing values brought about by globalization, HIV/AIDS,
drugs and fluctuating economic fortunes.
The breakdown in family and other societal structures
across the region which created an environment where spiritual
values and respect for human life were nurtured and which
has facilitated the emergence of a culture of materialism.
The breakdown in family values and family life and the
existence of significant social inequalities in the region
have led to the emergence of a pool of alienated marginalized
young people who become vulnerable to the recruitment
efforts of organized crime and many of these young people
become enmeshed in gangs and associated activities.
Since the CPWI affirms its commitment to the family as
the foundation on which the society is built and the role
our religious beliefs play in sustaining healthy family
life. The CPWI declares the year 2011 as the Provincial
year of the family with the theme; “BUILDING STRONG
CHRISTIAN FAMILIES.”
The purpose:
To promote an increased awareness in both the church
and the community of the importance of the traditional
Christian family as a means of building family life for
the well being of society, and in pursuance thereof to
foster an intentional environment for inter-generational
dialogue and fellowship among family members of all ages.
Further it is to emphasize the importance of family life
in the context of Christian living to support and promote
family centered activities.
Each diocese is expected to develop a programme of activities
for the year and also every parish in the diocese. Please
ensure that you know what is happening in your parish
and Archdeaconry and diocese.
The CONCEPT ADOPTED BY THE PROVINCE RE- FAMILY
LIFE
In Caribbean societies the family is characterized by
various forms and structures: the nuclear family, the
extended family, the blended family; households headed
by single women, single men, grandparents and siblings.
The Church should play the leading role in affirming and
upholding the dignity of all persons. The Church advocates
the Christian ideal of one man and one woman legally and
sacramentally joined in matrimony; such persons who have
been married according to the laws of the are encouraged
to seek the blessing of the Church. The Church. The Church
therefore, should actively encourage and promote the Christian
Family through education and practice.
The date for launching of the Provincial year of the
family will be January 23rd, 2011. Each Parish is encouraged
to hold a single service/parish mass on that Sunday and
to focus on the family during that Service you are also
encouraged to have an activity after the service. We hope
to receive a message from the Archbishop of the West Indies
to be read at the service in each parish. Parishes are
encouraged to take pictures and to make notes for the
Provincial Magazine which will be produced later in the
year.
I encourage you to promote the year of the family.
Bishop C. Leopold Friday
Elected Members
of The PCC
ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE PARISH CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE
YEAR 2011
Jeanette Morgan
Nigel Weekes
Nina Maloney
Rosemary Dopwell
Vincent DaSilva
Colin Williams
Kenyatta Alleyne
Gillian Griffith
Cheryl Durrant
Elvis Dublin
Norma Greaves
Karen Burgin
THREE (3) SYNOD REPRESENTATIVES
Jennifer Glasgow-Browne
Rosemarie Alleyne
Steve Francis
Restoration
Project
The St. George’s Cathedral is in need of urgent
restorative work.
When worshipers turned up for mass at the Anglican church
in Kingstown on Sunday, May 24th, 2009, they were greeted
by the sight of yellow caution tape cordoning off certain
areas of the church and only half the usual number of
pews in place downstairs.
Dean of the Cathedral Patrick McIntosh told Searchlight
that the entire gallery on the upper floor, including
the choir loft is now out of bounds because of a bad case
of termite infestation. The Dean said that the strength
of the beams and rafters supporting the upper floor has
been compromised, and on the advice of a structural engineer,
the precautionary measure was taken. All areas on the
ground floor underneath the balconies are also out of
bounds. The church has therefore had its seating capacity
reduced by two-thirds.
Dean McIntosh said that an emergency meeting of the Parish
Church Council was held on Monday, May 25th, followed
by a meeting of the Cathedral Chapter on Wednesday, and
a decision was taken that a recommendation would be made
to Bishop Leopold Friday that an entire restoration of
the church be undertaken, not just a repair of the termite
infested areas.
“We have a tremendous task,” the Dean told
Searchlight, indicating that all the windows, the tower,
both wings of the church and the roof would have to be
worked on.
The 189-year-old church, which is the largest in the
country, was dedicated on 1st September 1820, having been
built at a cost of 47,000 pounds sterling. This is a far
cry from the millions of dollars Dean McIntosh estimates
the restoration work will cost.
He said that a committee will soon be set up to begin
the work of letting people all over the world know what
is happening and to raise funds.
Addressing the congregation after mass on Sunday, the
Dean told the congregation “Nothing is impossible
with God.” He advised members that the restoration
project would call for church members to put their hands
in their pockets and “dig deep”. In the style
of the President of the United States Barack Obama, Dean
McIntosh asked the congregation if they thought they could
make it. He led them in their reply of: “Yes we
can, yes we will!”
The Dean said until a final report is received from the
structural engineer, church services will continue as
usual at the Cathedral, however, the wooden balconies
may have to be removed so that they do not pose a danger
to persons entering the church. (SEARCHLIGHT,
May 29, 2009)
Anglican Church
Meeting for 34th Triennial Synod
Searchlight, Oct 19 2010
Sixty delegates comprising clergy and lay people from
Grenada, Carriacou, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the
Grenadines are this week meeting for the 34th triennial
Synod of the Diocese of the Windward Islands.
The Synod, which is being chaired by Bishop of the Windward
Islands, the Right Reverend C. Leopold Friday, began with
the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the St. George's
Cathedral in Kingstown on Sunday, October 17 at 5:00 p.m.
The Synod is being held under the theme “Equipping
the Saints for Mission and Ministry in a Changing Caribbean”.
Sunday afternoon's mass was preceded by a short procession
from the former Kingstown Anglican School grounds on Higginson
Street, to the Cathedral.
Basing his sermon on John 21: 15-17, the Bishop reminded
the congregation of the call to care for God's sheep.
“It is Jesus who calls us, and it is others who
are to benefit,” he said, emphasizing that the sheep
remain God's.
Bishop Friday said the nurturing of the sheep is important
so that the flock can deepen their relationship with Jesus
and grow in their knowledge, understanding, commitment
and service of Him in their daily lives.He encouraged
the faithful not to be preoccupied by numbers, as they
participate in God's ministry.
“Jesus never asked us to count sheep, He asked
us to feed the sheep” Friday said, quoting the first
female Bishop in the Anglican Communion, the Right Reverend
Barbara Harris. The church should therefore be faithful
to what it has been called to do, he said.
The Bishop reminded the congregation that as they seek
to equip the saints for ministry in a changing Caribbean,
there are several forces including the drug culture, the
sex culture, the dot com culture, the e-culture and the
me culture which work against the Christian culture. “There
is a constant fight and struggle for the minds, hearts,
souls of our people, and we are commanded to fight the
good fight of faith with all our might,” he said,
quoting Anglican professor the Reverend Dr. Kortright
Davis.
To better equip the saints for the fight for the minds,
hearts, souls of the people of the Caribbean, Bishop Friday
mentioned the need for pastoral care to be extended beyond
the traditional family.
“While we endeavour to uphold the ideals of marriage,
let us extend pastoral care to those in other relationships,”
he said.
He also spoke of the importance of using the idioms,
metaphors and dialect of our Caribbean people to enhance
communication.
Today, Tuesday, October 19 is the second day of the business
session, which is being held at the Girl Guides Headquarters,
Level Garden, Kingstown.
The Synod, which comes to an end on Thursday, October
21, 2010, is the highest decision making body of the Diocese
of the Windward Islands. (Searchlight, Oct 19 2010)
Anglican Provincial
Youth Gathering
SEARCHLIGHT – July 31 2009
Having returned from the 2009 Anglican Provincial Youth
Gathering (PYG) in Jamaica and having been exposed to
creative ways of worshipping, fifteen enthusiastic young
persons are ready to inject some of that creativity into
their various churches.
On a visit to SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday, the delegates
were only too happy to share the experience gained while
abroad. The young people, who represented various Anglican
parishes in St Vincent and the Grenadines, said that they
were quite astonished by the various ways in which praise
could be offered to the Lord. They said that Bible study
and scripture readings were all done in the form of small
skits and dances, something that they do not experience
at their churches here.
Held at the Starfish Resort in Trelawny from the July
18-25, the gathering was held under the theme: “Anglican
Youth: Co-Workers with Christ, called to be disciples”.
While in Jamaica, the young people also engaged in workshops
on crime and violence and abstinence. They were also involved
in outreach programs in which several of them journeyed
to the different communities across Jamaica and sang to
children there.
One of the delegates’ wishes is for the church
to shift from its traditional modes of worship and let
the creative minds of young people go to work. They said
oftentimes young people are tentative about bringing their
ideas to the forefront because of fear of offending the
older members of the church. “We don’t want
to do this... all we want is to have something where everyone
can enjoy at the same time while having worship.”
Seemingly even more excited than the youngsters, Chaperone
Maxine Browne described the gathering in Jamaica as an
unforgettable and transforming experience. She said the
gathering has helped some of the delegates to discover
their talents. “This has truly been wonderful and
it was just great to see the creative talents on display,”
Browne noted.
As for her immediate plans, Browne said she is working
on reviving the Anglican Youth Movement (AYM) and will
incorporate some the things learnt in Jamaica into its
activities.
Browne thanked the Bishop of the Windward Islands, C.
Leopold Friday, Dean Patrick McIntosh and the Rectors
and parish priests from the other parishes in St Vincent
and the Grenadines.
Attending the workshop, which is held every three years
were young people from the eight Dioceses that make up
the Church in the Province of the West Indies: The Diocese
of Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, Diocese of Barbados,
Diocese of Belize, Diocese of Guyana, Diocese of Trinidad
and Tobago, Diocese of Jamaica and Cayman Islands, Diocese
of North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba and Diocese of the
Windward Islands. (SEARCHLIGHT – KW, July 31 2009)
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