"25. Thus St. Jerome is in complete agreement with St. Augustine, who sums up the general belief of Christian antiquity when he says:
Holy Scripture is invested with supreme authority by reason of its sure and momentous teachings regarding the faith. Whatever, then, it tells us of Enoch, Elias and Moses - that we believe. We do not, for instance, believe that God's Son was born of the Virgin Mary simply because He could not otherwise have appeared in the flesh and 'walked amongst men' - as Faustus would have it - but we believe it simply because it is written in Scripture; and unless we believe in Scripture we can neither be Christians nor be saved. "
Taken from:
SPIRITUS PARACLITUS
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE BENEDICT XV
ON ST. JEROME
TO ALL THE PATRIARCHS, PRIMATES, ARCHBISHOPS, BISHOPS, AND ORDINARIES
IN UNION WITH THE APOSTOLIC SEE.
Given at St. Peter's, Rome, September 15, 1920,
the seventh year of our Pontificate, Benedict XV
Saturday, 30 July 2011
The Bollywood Catholic becomes the Hollywood Catholic
Recently I found out that Frieda Pinto is a Catholic. Who is Frieda Pinto, you say? Well you would have seen her in Slumdog Millionarie, where she won several awards worldwide (as did the movie). To date she has acted in five movies:
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. You will meet a tall dark Stranger: written and directed by Woody Allen. It features Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Gemma Jones, Freida Pinto, Lucy Punch and Naomi Watts.
3. Miral
4. Immortals: an upcoming 2011 fantasy-action film directed by Tarsem Singh and starring Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto, and Mickey Rourke. The film was previously named Dawn of War and War of the Gods before being officially named Immortals and is loosely based on the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur and the Titanomachy.
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Freida worked in modeling, tv adds, hosted a tv show, and took acting lessons all before she appeared in slumdog millionaire. She was born in Mumbai, India, in 1984 to a Mangalorean Catholic family.
Now you may ask, What is a Mangalorean Catholic. Well, its a Catholic from Mangalore... oh, that's in India too. Here's what Wiki says about them:
Mangalorean Catholics are an ethno-religious community of Roman Catholics and their descendants, from the Mangalore Diocese on the southwestern coast of India. They are an Konkani community and speak the Konkani language.
Contemporary Mangalorean Catholics are descended mainly from Goan Catholic settlers who migrated to South Canara from Goa, a state north of Canara, between 1560 and 1763 throughout the course of the Goa Inquisition, Portuguese–Adil Shahi wars, and the Portuguese–Maratha wars. Gradually they learned the languages of South Canara but retained Konkani as their mother tongue and preserved their lifestyle. Their 15-year captivity at Seringapatam imposed by Tipu Sultan, the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, from 24 February 1784 to 4 May 1799 led to the near extinction of the community. After the defeat of Tipu Sultan the community resettled in South Canara, and gradually prospered under the British.
Although early assertions of a distinct Mangalorean Catholic identity date from the migration period, a developed Mangalorean Catholic cultural identity only emerged following the captivity. The culture of Mangalorean Catholics is a blend of Mangalorean and Goan cultures. After migration, they adopted some aspects of the local Mangalorean culture but retained many of their Goan customs and traditions. The Mangalorean Catholic diaspora is globally concentrated in the Persian Gulf Arab states and the Anglosphere (english language countries).
Now, in some places in India, Catholics and other Christians are not liked. Every so often there is a rise in violence against them by Hindu extremists. Let us hope that her family does not suffer for their faith. I think its a great thing that Freida has gone from Bollywood to Hollywood, however, I hope she keeps her Catholic Identity.
The Vision statement off the website of her high school says:
Carmel of St. Joseph is committed to offer a life-oriented education that is humanizing and liberating, enabling the students to be socially conscious and justice-oriented. Empowerment of the poor and the marginalized will be a priority, and respect for God’s creation will be fostered. The thrust is in the light of a ‘civilization of love’ – the Kingdom of God as envisaged and promoted by the Foundress, Mother Teresa of St. Rose of Lima.
In an April 1st 2011 interview with Jane Gordon Feida speaks about her role in the Film Miral and mentions her Catholic upbringing and her perception of the Holy Land:
Miral tells the story of the Dar al-Tifl orphanage in Jerusalem – and was shot on location in Israel. Freida plays a 17-year-old Palestinian orphan who falls in love with a political activist and is drawn into the conflict.
‘I was brought up as a Catholic in India, and as a child I read all these stories about the birthplace of Jesus. You read stories about the Mount of Olives and you build up this image in your head that the Holy Land is going to be a certain way. When you get there all you see are walls and checkpoints. It was a bit of a surprise but, if you can ignore all that, it is such a beautiful place you want to do something to restore the peace,’ she says.
God Bless you Freida! Hold the Cross High for all the Catholics out there, so that we may have a world with peace!
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Are they all yours.. and other fun questions from people who don't like families with more than three kids
I came across this and thought it was so funny. The Twelve days of a large family Christmas. Even if we are in august, we can still enjoy.
No kids allowed
The article on yahoo really concerns me. It was written by Piper Weis on Shine (wed 27 July 2011)- NO-KIDS-ALLOWED MOVEMENT IS SPREADING.
My argument is that there are few fast food restaurants that cater to my six member family. Oh yes, there are six seaters at Ruby Tuesday and TGI Fridays, but the KFC, Burger King, Rituals coffee shops, etc don't accomodate. While I think people without kids should have their space. I think it is sad that there are more and more places in the US that are being "child free" areas. Piper Weis identifies the cause of the movement:
and it is becoming more popular (again Piper Weis):
Now compared to past generations my family is not large. Of the 8 grandparents of my wife and I, 5 were from families of 8 or more kids. My wifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife is one of 4 and I am 1 of 6. So, how do we class the size of our family? Are families with over four no considered large as they are more rare? BabyCenter.com in a 2006 article says that big families never went out of style in the US:
I would think that religious people or people without much education would be having larger families, but it is not necessarily so. Again Babycenter.com:
So I've decided that having four kids is not having a large family. Despite the comments of people who think that it is. I've decided to call my family size "LARGER THAN SMALL" since I cannot find any organization that gives family sizes.
Despite the woes of having a larger than small family, I still love being a father and parent, and we parents will find place for our kids and ourselves. No matter what. Annie from SIX RING CIRCUS relates her crossing the street with just three kids. It's funny, and it's true, and it's a blessing:
My argument is that there are few fast food restaurants that cater to my six member family. Oh yes, there are six seaters at Ruby Tuesday and TGI Fridays, but the KFC, Burger King, Rituals coffee shops, etc don't accomodate. While I think people without kids should have their space. I think it is sad that there are more and more places in the US that are being "child free" areas. Piper Weis identifies the cause of the movement:
When did kids become the equivalent of second-hand smoke? Blame a wave of childless adults with money to spare. "Empty nesters continue to wield a huge swath of discretionary spending dollars, and population dips in first-world countries mean more childless couples than ever," writes AdWeek's Klara.
and it is becoming more popular (again Piper Weis):
Earlier this month, McDain's, a Pittsburgh area restaurant that banned kids under 6 became a mascot for the no-kids-zone movement. According to a Pittsburgh local news poll, more than half of area residents were in favor of the ban. And now big business is paying attention.
Now compared to past generations my family is not large. Of the 8 grandparents of my wife and I, 5 were from families of 8 or more kids. My wifhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gife is one of 4 and I am 1 of 6. So, how do we class the size of our family? Are families with over four no considered large as they are more rare? BabyCenter.com in a 2006 article says that big families never went out of style in the US:
Steve Martin, a sociologist at the University of Maryland crunched the numbers from a 2004 US government survey — the most recent available — he found that 28 percent of women age 35 to 44, who are winding up their childbearing years, have three kids or more. Ten years ago, it was 29 percent. The numbers for younger women haven't budged much, either.
Martin says it's not so much that big families are back, that they never disappeared in the first place. "Large families have consistently been common," he points out. "Two is the norm, but for every 34 mothers who stop at two, there are 28 who have three, four, or more."
I would think that religious people or people without much education would be having larger families, but it is not necessarily so. Again Babycenter.com:
While the percentage of moms having Brady Bunch-sized broods has held steady, the women who make up their ranks have changed somewhat. These days, professional and wealthy moms are having bigger families — traditionally more common among certain religious groups and poorer women with less education, according to government surveys.
Professional moms have twice as many kids at home, on average, than their high-powered counterparts did back in 1977, according to a 2002 report from the Families and Work Institute. And in a 2000 study, sociologist Martin found that college-educated women who put off motherhood until their 30s are suddenly having families almost as big as everyone else's. "That's historically unprecedented," he says.
So I've decided that having four kids is not having a large family. Despite the comments of people who think that it is. I've decided to call my family size "LARGER THAN SMALL" since I cannot find any organization that gives family sizes.
Despite the woes of having a larger than small family, I still love being a father and parent, and we parents will find place for our kids and ourselves. No matter what. Annie from SIX RING CIRCUS relates her crossing the street with just three kids. It's funny, and it's true, and it's a blessing:
Pay attention! Look for cars, did you see that car? You need to stay with me. Hurry up. Come on. Grab your brother, let’s GOOOO. Hustle, hustle, hustle! Move it! Geesh. Stay by mommy…car’s can’t see your short little body. Did you hear me? Are you listening to Mommy? Can’t you walk faster? You don’t need to jump in every puddle. Now your socks are soaked. Get in the van. You two older ones could be more helpful.
Monday, 25 July 2011
POPE PIUS XII saved 11000 jews
There are many who hate the Catholic Church and choose to malign our former Pope, Pius the twelfth. Th article below was published on July 22nd on Zenith News by Jesus Colina: Documents Reveal Pius XII Saved 11,000 Roman Jews
The direct action of Pope Pius XII saved the lives of more than 11,000 Jews in Rome during the Second World War, according to documentation recently discovered by historians.
Pave the Way Foundation representative for Germany, historian and investigative researcher Michael Hesemann, discovered a number of very important original documents in his research of the open archives of Santa Maria dell Anima Church, which is the National Church of Germany in Rome.
The U.S.-based foundation, founded by Jew Gary Krupp, announced the findings in a statement sent to ZENIT.
"Many have criticized Pius XII for remaining silent during the arrest and when trains left Rome containing 1,007 Jews who were sent to the death camp Auschwitz," Krupp stated. "The critics also do not acknowledge Pius XII's direct intervention to end the arrests of Oct. 16, 1943."
"New discoveries prove that Pius XII acted directly behind the scenes to end the arrests at 2:00 p.m., on the very day they began, but who was powerless to stop the ill-fated train," he added.
According to a recent study by researcher Deacon Dominiek Oversteyns, there were 12,428 Jews in Rome on Oct. 16, 1943.
"Pope Pius XII's direct action saved the lives of over 11,400 Jews," Krupp explained. "On the morning of Oct. 16, 1943, when the Pope learned of the arrests of the Jews, he immediately ordered an official Vatican protest with the German ambassador, which he knew would no doubt be fruitless.
"The Pope then sent his nephew, Prince Carlo Pacelli, to meet with Austrian Bishop Alois Hudal. Bishop Hudal, head of the National Church of Germany in Rome, was by some accounts, sympathetic to the Nazi's and had good relations with them. Prince Carlo Pacelli told Hudal that he was sent by the Pope, and that Hudal must write a letter to the German Governor of Rome, General Rainier Stahel, to demand that the arrests stop."
Bishop Hudal's letter to General Stahel stated: "Just now, a high Vatican source [...] reported to me that this morning, the arrest of the Jews of Italian nationality has started. In the interest of a peaceful dialogue between the Vatican and the German military command, I ask you with urgency to give order to immediately stop these arrests in Rome and the surrounding area. The German reputation in foreign countries requires such a measure and also the danger that the Pope would openly protest against it."
The letter was then hand-delivered to General Stahel by a close confidant to Pope Pius XII, German Father Pancratius Pfeiffer, superior general of the Society of the Divine Savior, who personally knew General Stahel.
The following morning, General Stahel responded by telephone: "I forwarded the affair immediately to the local Gestapo and to Himmler personally, Himmler ordered that, concerning the special status of Rome, these arrests are to be stopped immediately."
These events are further confirmed by the testimony obtained during the investigation of relator (high Judge) to the cause of Pius XII, Jesuit Priest Father Peter Gumpel.
Father Gumpel stated that he personally spoke to General Dietrich Beelitz, who was then liaison officer between Kesselring's office and Hitler's command. General Beelitz listened in to the Stahel-Himmler telephone conversation and confirmed that General Stahel used a threat of military failure to Himmler if the arrests were to continue.
Exemptions
An additional document titled "The direct actions to save innumerable persons of the Hebrew nation" states that Bishop Hudal managed -- through his contacts with Stahel and Colonel Baron von Veltheim -- to get "550 religious colleges and institutions to be exempt from inspections and visitations of the German military Police."
Just in one of these places, the Institute of St. Joseph, 80 Jews were being hidden.
The note also mentions the involvement "for a great part" of Prince Carlo Pacelli, the nephew of Pius XII. "The German soldiers were very disciplined and respected the signature of a high German official ... Thousands of local Jews in Rome, Assisi, Loreto, Padua etc. were saved due to this declaration."
Michael Hesemann stated that it is obvious that any public protest by the Pope when the train departed could have triggered the resumption of the arrests.
In addition, Hesemann explains that Pave the Way has on its Web site the original SS order to arrest 8,000 Roman Jews, who were to be sent to the work camp at Mauthausen -- to be held as hostages -- not the death camp in Auschwitz. One may speculate that the Vatican may have felt they could negotiate their release.
We have learned that it was also Bishop Hudal who was acknowledged by the Vatican as actively participating in helping some Nazis war criminals escape arrest after the war's end.
Because of his political position, Bishop Hudal was persona-non-grata at the Vatican and in fact, was chastised in writing by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini (later Pope Paul VI), for even suggesting that Vatican help any Nazi escape arrest.
Gary Krupp, President of Pave the Way, further commented that "Pave the Way has devoted vast resources in order to obtain and post publicly all of this information for historians and scholars. Curiously, none of the most outspoken critics of Pope Pius XII, has bothered to either come to the open Vatican Archives (completely opened since 2006 up to 1939) for original study, or even accessed our restricted free Web site, according to sign in sheets in Rome and our registration records."
Krupp further commented that he has the sincere hope that the scholarly representatives of the Roman Jewish community, research original materials only steps from their homes.
"I believe they will find that the very existence today of what Pope Pius XII called 'this vibrant community' is because of the secret efforts of Pope Pius XII to save every life," said Krupp. "Pius XII did what he could, while under the threat of invasion, death, surrounded by hostile forces and infiltrated by spies."
Elliot Hershberg, chairman of Pave the Way Foundation, added: "In the service of our mission, we are committed to try to bring some resolution to this controversy, which affects over 1 billion people.
"We have used our international connections and trust to obtain and post on our free restricted Web site over 46,000 pages of original documents, original news articles, video eyewitness, and scholarly interviews in order to spoon-feed this documentation to the historians and scholars.
"The international publicity from this project has yielded new documentation almost weekly, which show how we have moved to eliminate the academic logjam that has existed since 1963."
Friday, 22 July 2011
The Catholic Church is doing great
Great news for the Catholic Church. So says Bill Donahue from the Catholic League. He quotes the findings of the "Emerging Models of Pastoral Leahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifdership" project, a collaborative effort with Georgetown University's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.
Well that is in the US. I wonder what the figures are for the Caribbean?
For more info you can check out emergingmodels.org
In the last 40 years, the Catholic population has increased by 75 percent; it has grown by 50 percent since 1990. More important, Catholic attendance at Mass is up 15 percent since 2000. And in the last five years, contributions have increased by 14 percent. It is also important to note that there has been a 40 percent increase in Latinos in the Church over the past five years.
Well that is in the US. I wonder what the figures are for the Caribbean?
For more info you can check out emergingmodels.org
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Picture of Archbishop of Port of Spain
This is a repost of a post from Tuesday May 18th 2010
On the Wall in the Cathedral there are some pictures. I took a photo of these pictures. They are images of our former Archbishops.
* Richard Patrick Smith (1844–1852) - Top left
* Vincent Spaccapietra (1855–1859) - bottom, second from left
* Ferdinand English (1860–1862) - Top, second from left
* Joachim-Hyacinthe Gonin, O.P. (1863–1889)- Top right
* Patrick Vincent Flood, O.P. (1889–1907)- bottom left
* John Pius Dowling, O.P. (1909–1940)- bottom, third from left
* Patrick Finbar Ryan, O.P. (1940–1966)- Top, third from left
* Gordon Anthony Pantin, C.S.Sp. (1967–2000)- Bottom right
Archbishop Edward Joseph Gilbert, C.SS.R. (2001–present) is not shown on this wall.
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Otto Von Habsburg - a great Catholic
Who is this man that the Holy See should award him honours on two separate occasions: one with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, and another time with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Sylvester? Who is this man that when he died his heart was buried in a Benedictine Arch Abbey in Pannonhalma, Hungary on July 17th 2011 (sunday gone)?
Well according to Archabbot Asztrik Varszegi, Otto Habsburg was a confessing Catholic Christian, a cultured European politician, “a wonderful person who felt with a Hungarian heart” and a good father. During an official visit to the abbey in 2002, Habsburg signed the guest book as “Benedictine student”.His heart was interred in a ceremony with vespers, in Latin, and an ecumenical prayer. But Otto was much much more....
Wikipedia states the following:
Otto was born in 1912 in Austria-Hungary and baptised Franz Joseph Otto Robert Maria Anton Karl Max Heinrich Sixtus Xavier Felix Renatus Ludwig Gaetan Pius Ignatius (what a name... and I thought Tico from the good, the bad and the ugly had a long name)by the Prince-Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Franz Xaver Nagl. His godfather was the Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, his godmother was his grandmother Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal.
In 1916, Otto became Crown Prince when his father, Archduke Charles, ascended to the throne. A realm which comprised modern-day Austria, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and parts of Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. However, in 1918, at the end of the First World War, the monarchies were abolished, the Republics of Austria and Hungary founded instead, and the family was forced into exile. Hungary did become a kingdom again, but Charles was never to reascend the throne. Instead, Miklós Horthy ruled as regent until 1944, in a kingdom without a king.
In 1922 the title he held was : By the Grace of God Emperor of Austria; King of Hungary and Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia and Lodomeria; King of Jerusalem etc.; Archduke of Austria; Grand Duke of Tuscany and Cracow; Duke of Lorraine, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola and Bukowina; Grand Prince of Transylvania, Margrave of Moravia; Duke of Silesia, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Guastalla, Oświęcim and Zator, Teschen, Friaul, Dubrovnik and Zadar; Princely Count of Habsburg and Tyrol, of Kyburg, Gorizia and Gradisca; Prince of Trento and Brixen; Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia and Istria; Count of Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenburg etc.; Lord of Trieste, Kotor and Windic March, Grand Voivod of the Voivodeship of Serbia etc,etc.
Special Note: From 1099-1324 there have been European rulers of Jerusalem. Over the years, many European rulers claimed to be the rightful heirs to one of these claims. None of these claimants, however, has actually ruled over any part of the Kingdom.
Otto's devout Catholic mother raised him according to the old curriculum of Austria-Hungary, preparing him to become a Catholic monarch. In 1951 he married. The couple had seven children, 23 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren He spoke German, Hungarian, Croatian, English, Spanish, French and Latin fluently.
Otto was active on the Austrian and European political stage from the 1930s, both by promoting the cause of Habsburg restoration as well as an early proponent of European integration—being thoroughly disgusted with nationalism—and a fierce opponent of Nazism and communism.
Otto von Habsburg was Vice President (1957–1973) and President (1973–2004) of the International Paneuropean Union, and served as a Member of the European Parliament for the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) 1979–1999. In 1961, Francisco Franco offered him the crown of Spain, but he declined on account of the Habsburg dynasty's long absence from the Spanish throne, and recommended Juan Carlos. A noted intellectual, he has published several books on historical and political affairs. Otto has been described as one of the "architects of the European idea and of European integration" together with Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, and Alcide De Gasperi.
Over the years he has been awarded:
10 dynastic orders such as "The Grand Cross of the Royal Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen",
21 governmental orders (from many countries including the two from the holy See) such as "Commander with Star of the Order of Hilal Quaid Azam" (1993) from Pakistan
4 non governmental orders such as "Honorary Knight of the Teutonic Order", and
23 academic awards including 15 honorary doctorates from universities and academic groups throughout the world.
The news service noted that at his funeral, "three times the master of ceremonies knocked on the crypt's doors and twice the coffin was denied entry — first when Habsburg was named as emperor and holder of dozens of other royal titles, then when his academic and political achievements and other accomplishments were listed.
"We do not know him!" was the response from the Capuchin friars within. The doors only opened onto the sun-filled afternoon and into the gloomy half-light of the chapel above the crypt after Habsburg was described as "Otto — a mortal and a sinner."
What a man. What a life. If he had lived another 18 months he would have been 100 years old. He truly lived in interesting times, and still he was a great Catholic.
Well according to Archabbot Asztrik Varszegi, Otto Habsburg was a confessing Catholic Christian, a cultured European politician, “a wonderful person who felt with a Hungarian heart” and a good father. During an official visit to the abbey in 2002, Habsburg signed the guest book as “Benedictine student”.His heart was interred in a ceremony with vespers, in Latin, and an ecumenical prayer. But Otto was much much more....
Wikipedia states the following:
Otto was born in 1912 in Austria-Hungary and baptised Franz Joseph Otto Robert Maria Anton Karl Max Heinrich Sixtus Xavier Felix Renatus Ludwig Gaetan Pius Ignatius (what a name... and I thought Tico from the good, the bad and the ugly had a long name)by the Prince-Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Franz Xaver Nagl. His godfather was the Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, his godmother was his grandmother Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal.
In 1916, Otto became Crown Prince when his father, Archduke Charles, ascended to the throne. A realm which comprised modern-day Austria, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and parts of Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. However, in 1918, at the end of the First World War, the monarchies were abolished, the Republics of Austria and Hungary founded instead, and the family was forced into exile. Hungary did become a kingdom again, but Charles was never to reascend the throne. Instead, Miklós Horthy ruled as regent until 1944, in a kingdom without a king.
In 1922 the title he held was : By the Grace of God Emperor of Austria; King of Hungary and Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia and Lodomeria; King of Jerusalem etc.; Archduke of Austria; Grand Duke of Tuscany and Cracow; Duke of Lorraine, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola and Bukowina; Grand Prince of Transylvania, Margrave of Moravia; Duke of Silesia, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Guastalla, Oświęcim and Zator, Teschen, Friaul, Dubrovnik and Zadar; Princely Count of Habsburg and Tyrol, of Kyburg, Gorizia and Gradisca; Prince of Trento and Brixen; Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia and Istria; Count of Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenburg etc.; Lord of Trieste, Kotor and Windic March, Grand Voivod of the Voivodeship of Serbia etc,etc.
Special Note: From 1099-1324 there have been European rulers of Jerusalem. Over the years, many European rulers claimed to be the rightful heirs to one of these claims. None of these claimants, however, has actually ruled over any part of the Kingdom.
Otto's devout Catholic mother raised him according to the old curriculum of Austria-Hungary, preparing him to become a Catholic monarch. In 1951 he married. The couple had seven children, 23 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren He spoke German, Hungarian, Croatian, English, Spanish, French and Latin fluently.
Otto was active on the Austrian and European political stage from the 1930s, both by promoting the cause of Habsburg restoration as well as an early proponent of European integration—being thoroughly disgusted with nationalism—and a fierce opponent of Nazism and communism.
Otto von Habsburg was Vice President (1957–1973) and President (1973–2004) of the International Paneuropean Union, and served as a Member of the European Parliament for the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) 1979–1999. In 1961, Francisco Franco offered him the crown of Spain, but he declined on account of the Habsburg dynasty's long absence from the Spanish throne, and recommended Juan Carlos. A noted intellectual, he has published several books on historical and political affairs. Otto has been described as one of the "architects of the European idea and of European integration" together with Robert Schuman, Konrad Adenauer, and Alcide De Gasperi.
Over the years he has been awarded:
10 dynastic orders such as "The Grand Cross of the Royal Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen",
21 governmental orders (from many countries including the two from the holy See) such as "Commander with Star of the Order of Hilal Quaid Azam" (1993) from Pakistan
4 non governmental orders such as "Honorary Knight of the Teutonic Order", and
23 academic awards including 15 honorary doctorates from universities and academic groups throughout the world.
The news service noted that at his funeral, "three times the master of ceremonies knocked on the crypt's doors and twice the coffin was denied entry — first when Habsburg was named as emperor and holder of dozens of other royal titles, then when his academic and political achievements and other accomplishments were listed.
"We do not know him!" was the response from the Capuchin friars within. The doors only opened onto the sun-filled afternoon and into the gloomy half-light of the chapel above the crypt after Habsburg was described as "Otto — a mortal and a sinner."
What a man. What a life. If he had lived another 18 months he would have been 100 years old. He truly lived in interesting times, and still he was a great Catholic.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Dr Leslie Rogers
There have been some haters from Dr Leslie Rogers church who have decided to reply to posts on my Blog with quite a but of hate. I deleted those hateful notes. I have no problem with people who do not share my opinions or beliefs. I still allow their notes to be shown. The letter below is to those haters who have sent abusive or insulting notes (NOT those who have a difference of opinions on my post of Saturday, February 26, 2011 - Earthquake Prophecy for Trinidad... sigh!)
Dear Hatefilled followers of Dr Leslie Rogers,
You need to practice love and get away from the hate. You and your behaviour reflect your church. While you may think that your Pastor is a great man, you need to understand that if he is indeed a prophet that he is no more than a bucket or a shovel: a tool used by God. AVOID PASTOR WORSHIP! He is not God.
Your actions are your fruit and if you don't know what God says about your actions or fruit I have taken the liberty to remind you:
Mathew Chapter 7
15 'Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves.
16 You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17 In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit.
18 A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit.
19 Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire.
20 I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.
21 'It is not anyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.
22 When the day comes many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?"
23 Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, all evil doers!
24 'Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock.
25 Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock.
26 But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand.
27 Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!'
Dear Hatefilled followers of Dr Leslie Rogers,
You need to practice love and get away from the hate. You and your behaviour reflect your church. While you may think that your Pastor is a great man, you need to understand that if he is indeed a prophet that he is no more than a bucket or a shovel: a tool used by God. AVOID PASTOR WORSHIP! He is not God.
Your actions are your fruit and if you don't know what God says about your actions or fruit I have taken the liberty to remind you:
Mathew Chapter 7
15 'Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves.
16 You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17 In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit.
18 A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit.
19 Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire.
20 I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.
21 'It is not anyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.
22 When the day comes many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?"
23 Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, all evil doers!
24 'Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock.
25 Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock.
26 But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand.
27 Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!'
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Jesus Explsion IX
The Jesus Explosion 2011 is happening now at the Preysal Secondary School, Preysal Trinidad. This is the 9th such gathering begun by the Preysal Prayer Group.
Here is a video highlight from last years gathering:
Here is a video highlight from last years gathering:
My family Joins the Conversation
Based on my posting of Monday, June 27, 2011 where Caribbean Catholics specific to the Archdiocese of Port of Spain were asked to Join the Conversation and answer several questions which would answer the second Pastoral Priority questions from our last Synod: How do we see ourselves? What forms our identity as Catholics? What is specific to Catholic culture?
Based on the release from the SIT (Synod Implementation team) we have chosen to submit answers for two FAMILY groups Under 30's which make up 3 kids from 8-14, and 42-45 which makes up 2 parents.
GROUP 1 - Under 30 year olds- (3 kids 8-14)
1. What things or practices do you most associate with being Catholic?
2. What beliefs do you most associate with being Catholic?
3a. What real life behaviours should we most associate with being Catholic?
3b. How does this differ from reality?
4. How do your practices, beliefs differ from those of other age groups?
5. What in your list is specific to Catholics in Trinidad and Tobago?
GROUP 2 - 31-45 year olds (2 parents)
1. What things or practices do you most associate with being Catholic?
2. What beliefs do you most associate with being Catholic?
3a. What real life behaviours should we most associate with being Catholic?
3b. How does this differ from reality?
4. How do your practices, beliefs differ from those of other age groups?
5. What in your list is specific to Catholics in Trinidad and Tobago?
Based on the release from the SIT (Synod Implementation team) we have chosen to submit answers for two FAMILY groups Under 30's which make up 3 kids from 8-14, and 42-45 which makes up 2 parents.
The conversation will be carried out among families, all parishes, all groups in the Church and will also further engage groups along lines of age to generate specific information from each group.
GROUP 1 - Under 30 year olds- (3 kids 8-14)
1. What things or practices do you most associate with being Catholic?
Going to Church
Praying to God/Jesus
Thinking of Jesus and doing what is right
The Bible and its messages
Saints
The Pope, priests, monks and nuns.
The Holy Spirit
The sign of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross
The Rosary
Compassion
Giving and Sharing with others
2. What beliefs do you most associate with being Catholic?
God created the Universe
The Bible is true
One God in three persons
God sent His Son to save us from Sin
The Virgin Mary and her Immaculate conception
Good people go to heaven
Purgatory
That Saint Michael protect the church from Satan
Jesus is present in the Eucharist
The One Church
3a. What real life behaviours should we most associate with being Catholic?
Truth, honesty, compassion, modesty, respect for God, kindness, patience, love, faith, sharing. Helpfulness,
3b. How does this differ from reality?
Most people have at least one of these behaviours.
4. How do your practices, beliefs differ from those of other age groups?
They do not differ, because catholics from other age groups should practice and believe the same thing.
Some catholics who are older would have knowledge of more Catholic practices, beliefs and prayers.
5. What in your list is specific to Catholics in Trinidad and Tobago?
Nothing.
GROUP 2 - 31-45 year olds (2 parents)
1. What things or practices do you most associate with being Catholic?
Going to MASS
Confession
Rosary
Requesting Intercession from the saints
Veneration of the Holy Eucharist
Celebration of Corpus Christi
Receiving Ashes on Ash Wednesday
Stations of the Cross for Lent
Easter triduum
2. What beliefs do you most associate with being Catholic?
Transubstantiation
Mary as Co-redemptor
Mary as mother of God
St Michael as protector of the Church
3a. What real life behaviours should we most associate with being Catholic?
Expressions of faith, hope, charity,
Going to church
Spreading the faith
Love and tolerance for each other
Love the sinner, hate the sin
Seeing Christ in everyone
Humilty before God - Confession
3b. How does this differ from reality?
Too many catholics do not go to church or confession, and are silent on matters of faith. It is easy to love the lovable and those who we find a challenge to love get ignored.
4. How do your practices, beliefs differ from those of other age groups?
Older people (over 65) tend to take things on faith and younger people (under 30) tend to look for reasons and explainations for our practices and beliefs.
5. What in your list is specific to Catholics in Trinidad and Tobago?
Not on the list, Siparia and Santa Rosa have festivals specific to Trinidad and Tobago.
Thursday, 14 July 2011
New Christian newspapers in Trinidad
So I came across two new Christian newspapers at the "Tru Value" Supermarket last week. They were free.
The Eastern Times seems to be better put together.
* For me, there is alot of good reading.
* There were many bright and colourful images. Well printed, and Vibrant.
* it really does seem to be a newspaper about the eastern part of Trinidad - what goes on there and who live there and how it all impacts on the Nation.
* It seems to be a Christian Newspaper, although it doesn't say it.
* The photo of KK Bachew printed large on the front page makes me believe that the faith of the team is pentecostal or full gospel or some small christian church.
* I found nothing derogatory of any faith, chistian or non christian.
* The sales team has done well to sell advertising space... and for those interested, there is an ad for a sales representative on page 18. I wonder how much they pay?
* The main writers seem to be Carla Cupid (I wonder if that is the chick who came up with the "Heaven drink") and Kisha Marcoviche. There are one or two other contributers but these girls seems to do all the work.. and good job to you girls.
I do have some concerns about it. Maybe I couldn't find the following and they are there....but I couldn't find them.
* There is no registered address noted on the newspaper. Bad business!
* The two contact phone numbers are cell phone numbers.
* There is no notation of WHO puts out the newspaper.
* The email contact is just sharon@.... who is Sharon?
* There is no website reference like the Christian Times.
* There is no sequence number... I don't know if the magazine I got is the 1st issue or the 25th.
* Which printery printed this paper?
I believe in time these girls will get it together. If the advertising is lucrative enough they will be able to make a good living doing a great job. May God bless them in their venture.
The Christian Times released it's "Vol 1 Issue 4" for June 2011 and subtitled it "Wedding Edition". Now, bear in mind that I am not a woman and i am not gettign married so I may not be the best person to review this magazine, or maybe the edition is not a true reflection of what was put out... still.. I am going to critique it.
The Good:
* The magazine was well put together.
* There was vibrant colour.
* it is a Christian Magazine... but it does not identify it's denomination.
* There is a date and sequence number
* There is a facebook page and a website
* Page 22b has a photo that seems to be a of a married couple in front of a Catholic Church. Hopefully this reflects diversity. You know how dem pentecostals love to hate catholics.
* There is a variety of contributers... even though Shelly-Ann Lovell-Williams seems to be the major writer. Out of 12 articles, she did 4, 4 were unnamed and 4 other individuals contributed including a Pastor.
The Bad:
* It was not interesting reading for me... but that's probably because of the edition being the "Wedding Edition".
* 16 Ads can't pay for a free magazine... or can it? I think they need more advertising.
* Is Pastor Grace Philip a local Pastor? Where can I hear her preach? There should be a notation on such an esteemed person. After all she is giving Marriage advice.
* There is no registered address noted on the newspaper as in the Eastern Times... again Bad business!
* The are no phone contacts.
* There is no notation of WHO puts out the newspaper.
* Which printery printed this paper?
Good luck whoever you are.. putting out your magazine/newspaper.
I would pick up these newspapers again if I saw new editions. After all they are free!
The Eastern Times seems to be better put together.
* For me, there is alot of good reading.
* There were many bright and colourful images. Well printed, and Vibrant.
* it really does seem to be a newspaper about the eastern part of Trinidad - what goes on there and who live there and how it all impacts on the Nation.
* It seems to be a Christian Newspaper, although it doesn't say it.
* The photo of KK Bachew printed large on the front page makes me believe that the faith of the team is pentecostal or full gospel or some small christian church.
* I found nothing derogatory of any faith, chistian or non christian.
* The sales team has done well to sell advertising space... and for those interested, there is an ad for a sales representative on page 18. I wonder how much they pay?
* The main writers seem to be Carla Cupid (I wonder if that is the chick who came up with the "Heaven drink") and Kisha Marcoviche. There are one or two other contributers but these girls seems to do all the work.. and good job to you girls.
I do have some concerns about it. Maybe I couldn't find the following and they are there....but I couldn't find them.
* There is no registered address noted on the newspaper. Bad business!
* The two contact phone numbers are cell phone numbers.
* There is no notation of WHO puts out the newspaper.
* The email contact is just sharon@.... who is Sharon?
* There is no website reference like the Christian Times.
* There is no sequence number... I don't know if the magazine I got is the 1st issue or the 25th.
* Which printery printed this paper?
I believe in time these girls will get it together. If the advertising is lucrative enough they will be able to make a good living doing a great job. May God bless them in their venture.
The Christian Times released it's "Vol 1 Issue 4" for June 2011 and subtitled it "Wedding Edition". Now, bear in mind that I am not a woman and i am not gettign married so I may not be the best person to review this magazine, or maybe the edition is not a true reflection of what was put out... still.. I am going to critique it.
The Good:
* The magazine was well put together.
* There was vibrant colour.
* it is a Christian Magazine... but it does not identify it's denomination.
* There is a date and sequence number
* There is a facebook page and a website
* Page 22b has a photo that seems to be a of a married couple in front of a Catholic Church. Hopefully this reflects diversity. You know how dem pentecostals love to hate catholics.
* There is a variety of contributers... even though Shelly-Ann Lovell-Williams seems to be the major writer. Out of 12 articles, she did 4, 4 were unnamed and 4 other individuals contributed including a Pastor.
The Bad:
* It was not interesting reading for me... but that's probably because of the edition being the "Wedding Edition".
* 16 Ads can't pay for a free magazine... or can it? I think they need more advertising.
* Is Pastor Grace Philip a local Pastor? Where can I hear her preach? There should be a notation on such an esteemed person. After all she is giving Marriage advice.
* There is no registered address noted on the newspaper as in the Eastern Times... again Bad business!
* The are no phone contacts.
* There is no notation of WHO puts out the newspaper.
* Which printery printed this paper?
Good luck whoever you are.. putting out your magazine/newspaper.
I would pick up these newspapers again if I saw new editions. After all they are free!
Friday, 8 July 2011
Archbishops of Port of Spain from 1850 - 1966
In my previous post I listed the Archbishops. Here I list their works as noted by Dr Bernard Tappin in his website: http://www.hccaalumni.com/a_brief_history_of_the_archdioce.htm
The year 1851 can be regarded as an “annus mirabilis” for the young archdiocese. It was also a jubilee year of the Universal Church . On 9th February 1851, Smith was installed as first Archbishop of Port-of-Spain with a moving ceremony at his cathedral. He publicly discharged his new authority on 16th February 1851, when he consecrated his Vicar-General, Michael Monaghan as Bishop of Roseau. On Friday 19th February, Smith began three days of liturgical celebrations marking the consecration of the cathedral; its foundation stone had been previously laid by Governor Woodford on 25th March 1816. The Cathedral enjoyed the privileges of a Minor Basilica.
Later that year, special jubilee functions were held, culminating with the erection of a cross at Laventille on 15th August. Smith used these occasions to demonstrate the Catholic Church’s new status. The church remained a leading institution in British colonial Trinidad .
When the Archdiocese was created in 1850, Trinidad was becoming an even more complex colonial society, with the arrival of varying numbers of migrants from neighbouring West Indian islands and Venezuela , Africa, Madeira and China . The Indian Immigration scheme was becoming entrenched, adding a totally new religious dimension to the colony, as these migrants were Hindus and followers of Islam. There was need for the British to stamp their authority, institutions, language and religion on the colony - the anglicisation policy was in its hey-day.
The Catholic Church was often regarded in official government circles as being a “foreign church”; the church was very French in character. It drew its staunchest support from the influential French Creole elite; many adherents also came from the French Patois-speaking ex-slaves. Moreover, many priests were French, who as a rule preached in the language. The years following the creation of the Archdiocese continued to witness antagonisms between the colonial government and the Catholic Church.
SPACCAPIETRA
Tensions between the church and the colonial government came to a head with the appointment of Vincent Spaccapietra in 1855 as Archbishop. There was difficulty in finding a successor to Smith who died suddenly in 1852. Spaccapietra was Apostolic Delegate to the West Indies touring the islands when he was directed by Rome to assume control of the Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain. He was the first non - British subject to head the church in Trinidad ; Spaccapietra was an Italian from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The manner of his appointment aggravated the relations between himself and the Governor, Charles Elliot. The colonial office in London had not been informed by Rome of the appointment of Spaccapietra. Prior to the creation of the Archdiocese, there was always a ready flow of correspondence between the church and London . Once the archdiocese was formed, it was the opinion of Rome that there was no longer any need to communicate with the colonial authorities. Rome dealt directly with the archdiocese. Governor Elliot refused to recognise the new archbishop. Leaders among the Catholic party sprang to the defence of their church and archbishop. Rome sent Monsignor Talbot to diffuse the situation in December 1855 and to assure the Governor that no slight was intended to the colonial government. Given the continued strained relations, it was no surprise that Spaccapietra resigned as Archbishop, assuming a new post in 1859 as Archbishop of Smyrna.
During his short term in office, Spaccapietra carved for himself a monumental role among the archbishops of Port-of-Spain. He effectively established the church’s social out-reach to the less fortunate. Spaccapietra arrived in Trinidad after the dreaded out-break of a cholera epidemic, which also plagued other West Indian islands. There was an immediate need to care for the poor. He therefore established the Les Amantes de Jesus Society, the St. Vincent de Paul Society (1857) and the L’hospice Spaccapietra (1858). These organisations have all stood the test of time and exist even today.
ENGLISH
There was need for the church to mend its fences with the colonial authorities. The new archbishop was an Englishman, aptly named Ferdinand English, a canon from the Diocese of Clifton. Rome reported his appointment to London in good time. English arrived in Trinidad in 1861; in September 1862 he died during a pastoral visit to Grenada . Archbishop English will be remembered for his initial efforts in bringing the Holy Ghost Fathers to Trinidad to establish St. Mary’s College. This was important for the church. The “old” Catholic St. George’s College had failed and the Protestant English elite had their needs met with the establishment in 1857 of the Queen’s Collegiate School , sponsored by the colonial regime. English was the founder of the Catholic Press with the establishment of the Catholic newspaper, the Star of the West, in 1862.
GONIN
The appointment of Louis Joachim Gonin, O.P. as 4th Archbishop of Port-of-Spain ushered in a period of growth and consolidation. His tenure lasted twenty-six years (1863-1889). His appointment satisfied the wishes of the contending power brokers in colonial Trinidad . Born in France , he grew up in Mauritius , a British colony in the Indian Ocean . French in culture, Gonin was above all a British subject. He was also a Religious, a Dominican Father. Gonin’s arrival in 1864 with a party of six young Dominicans was a critical development for the church in Trinidad . The church would now be assured of an adequate supply of clergy to man the increasing number of parishes. The Dominican Order was further entrenched with the arrival in 1868 of sisters of the Congregation of St. Catherine of Siena of Etrepagny, France, who came to take charge of the leprosarium at Cocorite. The Order’s presence was completed in May 1874, with the coming of the contemplative nuns from Venezuela . They fled their Dominican Monastery in Caracas during the persecutions of the President, Guzman Blanco.
The archdiocese was not only a stronghold of the Dominican Order. The Holy Ghost fathers arrived in 1863 to administer St. Mary’s College. The Cluny Sisters were also in an expansionist mood during Gonin’s time. In 1866, Providence was established. Convents were founded in St Joseph (1870), San Fernando (1882) and Arima (1885). The Good Shepherd Sisters of Angers arrived in 1890. Richard Rawle, first Anglican Bishop of Trinidad (1872) commented: “The Roman Church has Dominicans and sisters and all kinds of organised help”.
During Gonin’s episcopacy, there was a “rapprochement” between the church and the colonial officials. Governor Arthur Gordon nurtured the easing of tensions as colonial policy. The once vexing issue of the primacy of the Anglican Church was resolved by its dis-establishment in 1872. The church won an even more significant battle for it’s continuing role in education when the Keenan Report (1869) recommended that church schools be granted state aid under certain conditions. The dual system of primary education subsequently came into effect (1870). The colonial government sought the church’s help in furthering its work in education and welfare. In 1868, Gordon got Gonin to bring the Dominican sisters to care for the lepers. His successor, Henry Turner Irving in 1878 offered Gonin government funding if the church undertook the responsibility of finding a suitable religious order to run a reformatory. In 1890 the Girls Reformatory was opened, run by the Good Shepherd Sisters of Angers.
FLOOD
Gonin was succeeded in 1889 by his co-adjutor, Patrick Vincent Flood, O.P. He was the first of the Irish Dominicans to govern the see of Port-of-Spain. His appointment signaled a new era. In 1897, the Irish Dominican fathers replaced those from the Province of Lyons, France in staffing the archdiocese, following the departure of the Superior , Fr. Hilaire Arnaud. The long-standing battle between the French and English elements in the society was abating. The church could no longer continue to allow itself to be viewed as “foreign”.
Archbishop Flood’s episcopacy stands out for his unflinching support for Catholic education at the primary school level. In 1890, discussions were renewed concerning the dual system. There was again widespread support for a secular system of education. Flood was adamant about his church’s position. He won the day. A new ordinance was passed giving church primary schools increased financial support from the government. The dual system was maintained, with the government very generous with its support.
By 1903, the Catholic Church ran the largest number of schools, 72, with a student population of 11,286. The government had 51 schools with 8,731 pupils, the Anglicans ran 48 primary schools and 8,831 pupils and the Presbyterians 50 schools with 5,200 on roll. The long battle for church schools had borne fruit; the church treasured its schools established throughout the colony.
Before Flood died in 1907, he moved into the Archbishop’s House, built in 1904 in St. Clair. Flood himself designed the residence. Previously, the archbishops lived in a residence on the grounds of St. Joseph ’s Convent.
DOWLING
Flood’s successor was John Pius Dowling, O.P., who ran the archdiocese for 31 years from 1909 to 1940. He nurtured an increase in the number of religious orders to serve Trinidad . He welcomed Spanish Augustinians - the Recollect Hermits of St Augustine - who were placed in charge of a number of rural parishes where there were many Spanish speakers. In 1911, Dom Mayeul de Caigny, O.S.B., sought entry into the Archdiocese in the light of political pressures in Bahia , Brazil . A year later the first monks arrived to found the Abbey of Our Lady in Exile at Mt. St Benedict. In 1919, Dowling welcomed from England to the Archdiocese, the newly established Corpus Christi Carmelites. They were destined to do critical social work for the local church in the years to follow.
Dowling’s most difficult moments as archbishop were during the years 1926 to 1932 when he fought tenaciously but unsuccessfully against the introduction of Divorce legislation into the colony. In 1931, he presented yet another Solemn Protest to the Governor, Claud Hollis, signed also by the Anglican Bishop, Arthur Anstey, the Kazi of the Islamic faith and many Hindu pundits. On 22nd March 1931, Dowling addressed a mass protest rally at the Savannah along with Anglican, Hindu and Labour Leaders. The church was painted as being reactionary; divorce was seen as a “progressive” bit of social legislation. The government won the day. The King reigned.
RYAN
Dowling was ably succeeded by his co-adjuctor, Finbar Ryan, O.P in 1940. When he assumed office, Ryan already had a long and distinguished career in the church in Ireland . He was not a young archbishop, but he was destined to govern the church during 26 exciting years in the country’s and church’s history. Ryan witnessed Trinidad ’s political emergence as an independent country and he had the honour of being the first religious leader to bless the nation, minutes after the National Flag was raised on the first Independence Day 31st August 1962. The Archbishop was also present at the sessions of Vatican Council II in Rome (1963-1965).
As Archbishop of Port-of-Spain, he saw the church grow in the Caribbean. He celebrated the centenary of the Archdiocese in December 1950, with days of celebrations. In 1956, St Lucia and Grenada became separate dioceses. On 10th December 1957, the Antilles Episcopal Conference was born, one of the first in the church worldwide. The vast majority were only established in the wake of Vatican II. In December 1958, Ryan consecrated his Vicar-General, William Michael Fitzgerald O.P., as his auxiliary.
Ryan will forever be remembered as the founder of the Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs. As early as 1819, Rome proposed the foundation of a seminary, but it was on 19th January 1943, that Ryan blessed the seminary building then housed within the monastic compound of Mt St Benedict. The monks assumed responsibility for the seminary. In 1961, the seminary was transferred to its present site. Ryan also stands out for his determined advancement of Catholic education. Not only were primary schools built and renovated, Ryan was responsible for the rapid growth of Catholic secondary education in Trinidad . He invited to Trinidad the Presentation Brothers (1946) and the Holy Faith Sisters (1947) with this in mind. He encouraged the Holy Ghost Fathers to open Fatima College (1945). His own Dominican Fathers opened Holy Cross College in 1957. The parishes of St Joseph and Tunapuna had their own colleges, St. Joseph ’s College and St. Charles . The Dominican Sisters opened St. Dominic’s in Barataria. The church was the effective pioneer in the spread of secondary education in the years after World War II. Above all, Ryan sought to make his church strong and he stood ready to defend against all-comers.
When Finbar Ryan resigned in 1966, it was anticipated that a son of the soil would be his successor. The time was ripe for change and the man of the moment was Gordon Anthony Pantin, C.S.Sp. He was merely thirty-eight years old. He followed in a line of solid church leaders.
The year 1851 can be regarded as an “annus mirabilis” for the young archdiocese. It was also a jubilee year of the Universal Church . On 9th February 1851, Smith was installed as first Archbishop of Port-of-Spain with a moving ceremony at his cathedral. He publicly discharged his new authority on 16th February 1851, when he consecrated his Vicar-General, Michael Monaghan as Bishop of Roseau. On Friday 19th February, Smith began three days of liturgical celebrations marking the consecration of the cathedral; its foundation stone had been previously laid by Governor Woodford on 25th March 1816. The Cathedral enjoyed the privileges of a Minor Basilica.
Later that year, special jubilee functions were held, culminating with the erection of a cross at Laventille on 15th August. Smith used these occasions to demonstrate the Catholic Church’s new status. The church remained a leading institution in British colonial Trinidad .
When the Archdiocese was created in 1850, Trinidad was becoming an even more complex colonial society, with the arrival of varying numbers of migrants from neighbouring West Indian islands and Venezuela , Africa, Madeira and China . The Indian Immigration scheme was becoming entrenched, adding a totally new religious dimension to the colony, as these migrants were Hindus and followers of Islam. There was need for the British to stamp their authority, institutions, language and religion on the colony - the anglicisation policy was in its hey-day.
The Catholic Church was often regarded in official government circles as being a “foreign church”; the church was very French in character. It drew its staunchest support from the influential French Creole elite; many adherents also came from the French Patois-speaking ex-slaves. Moreover, many priests were French, who as a rule preached in the language. The years following the creation of the Archdiocese continued to witness antagonisms between the colonial government and the Catholic Church.
SPACCAPIETRA
Tensions between the church and the colonial government came to a head with the appointment of Vincent Spaccapietra in 1855 as Archbishop. There was difficulty in finding a successor to Smith who died suddenly in 1852. Spaccapietra was Apostolic Delegate to the West Indies touring the islands when he was directed by Rome to assume control of the Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain. He was the first non - British subject to head the church in Trinidad ; Spaccapietra was an Italian from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The manner of his appointment aggravated the relations between himself and the Governor, Charles Elliot. The colonial office in London had not been informed by Rome of the appointment of Spaccapietra. Prior to the creation of the Archdiocese, there was always a ready flow of correspondence between the church and London . Once the archdiocese was formed, it was the opinion of Rome that there was no longer any need to communicate with the colonial authorities. Rome dealt directly with the archdiocese. Governor Elliot refused to recognise the new archbishop. Leaders among the Catholic party sprang to the defence of their church and archbishop. Rome sent Monsignor Talbot to diffuse the situation in December 1855 and to assure the Governor that no slight was intended to the colonial government. Given the continued strained relations, it was no surprise that Spaccapietra resigned as Archbishop, assuming a new post in 1859 as Archbishop of Smyrna.
During his short term in office, Spaccapietra carved for himself a monumental role among the archbishops of Port-of-Spain. He effectively established the church’s social out-reach to the less fortunate. Spaccapietra arrived in Trinidad after the dreaded out-break of a cholera epidemic, which also plagued other West Indian islands. There was an immediate need to care for the poor. He therefore established the Les Amantes de Jesus Society, the St. Vincent de Paul Society (1857) and the L’hospice Spaccapietra (1858). These organisations have all stood the test of time and exist even today.
ENGLISH
There was need for the church to mend its fences with the colonial authorities. The new archbishop was an Englishman, aptly named Ferdinand English, a canon from the Diocese of Clifton. Rome reported his appointment to London in good time. English arrived in Trinidad in 1861; in September 1862 he died during a pastoral visit to Grenada . Archbishop English will be remembered for his initial efforts in bringing the Holy Ghost Fathers to Trinidad to establish St. Mary’s College. This was important for the church. The “old” Catholic St. George’s College had failed and the Protestant English elite had their needs met with the establishment in 1857 of the Queen’s Collegiate School , sponsored by the colonial regime. English was the founder of the Catholic Press with the establishment of the Catholic newspaper, the Star of the West, in 1862.
GONIN
The appointment of Louis Joachim Gonin, O.P. as 4th Archbishop of Port-of-Spain ushered in a period of growth and consolidation. His tenure lasted twenty-six years (1863-1889). His appointment satisfied the wishes of the contending power brokers in colonial Trinidad . Born in France , he grew up in Mauritius , a British colony in the Indian Ocean . French in culture, Gonin was above all a British subject. He was also a Religious, a Dominican Father. Gonin’s arrival in 1864 with a party of six young Dominicans was a critical development for the church in Trinidad . The church would now be assured of an adequate supply of clergy to man the increasing number of parishes. The Dominican Order was further entrenched with the arrival in 1868 of sisters of the Congregation of St. Catherine of Siena of Etrepagny, France, who came to take charge of the leprosarium at Cocorite. The Order’s presence was completed in May 1874, with the coming of the contemplative nuns from Venezuela . They fled their Dominican Monastery in Caracas during the persecutions of the President, Guzman Blanco.
The archdiocese was not only a stronghold of the Dominican Order. The Holy Ghost fathers arrived in 1863 to administer St. Mary’s College. The Cluny Sisters were also in an expansionist mood during Gonin’s time. In 1866, Providence was established. Convents were founded in St Joseph (1870), San Fernando (1882) and Arima (1885). The Good Shepherd Sisters of Angers arrived in 1890. Richard Rawle, first Anglican Bishop of Trinidad (1872) commented: “The Roman Church has Dominicans and sisters and all kinds of organised help”.
During Gonin’s episcopacy, there was a “rapprochement” between the church and the colonial officials. Governor Arthur Gordon nurtured the easing of tensions as colonial policy. The once vexing issue of the primacy of the Anglican Church was resolved by its dis-establishment in 1872. The church won an even more significant battle for it’s continuing role in education when the Keenan Report (1869) recommended that church schools be granted state aid under certain conditions. The dual system of primary education subsequently came into effect (1870). The colonial government sought the church’s help in furthering its work in education and welfare. In 1868, Gordon got Gonin to bring the Dominican sisters to care for the lepers. His successor, Henry Turner Irving in 1878 offered Gonin government funding if the church undertook the responsibility of finding a suitable religious order to run a reformatory. In 1890 the Girls Reformatory was opened, run by the Good Shepherd Sisters of Angers.
FLOOD
Gonin was succeeded in 1889 by his co-adjutor, Patrick Vincent Flood, O.P. He was the first of the Irish Dominicans to govern the see of Port-of-Spain. His appointment signaled a new era. In 1897, the Irish Dominican fathers replaced those from the Province of Lyons, France in staffing the archdiocese, following the departure of the Superior , Fr. Hilaire Arnaud. The long-standing battle between the French and English elements in the society was abating. The church could no longer continue to allow itself to be viewed as “foreign”.
Archbishop Flood’s episcopacy stands out for his unflinching support for Catholic education at the primary school level. In 1890, discussions were renewed concerning the dual system. There was again widespread support for a secular system of education. Flood was adamant about his church’s position. He won the day. A new ordinance was passed giving church primary schools increased financial support from the government. The dual system was maintained, with the government very generous with its support.
By 1903, the Catholic Church ran the largest number of schools, 72, with a student population of 11,286. The government had 51 schools with 8,731 pupils, the Anglicans ran 48 primary schools and 8,831 pupils and the Presbyterians 50 schools with 5,200 on roll. The long battle for church schools had borne fruit; the church treasured its schools established throughout the colony.
Before Flood died in 1907, he moved into the Archbishop’s House, built in 1904 in St. Clair. Flood himself designed the residence. Previously, the archbishops lived in a residence on the grounds of St. Joseph ’s Convent.
DOWLING
Flood’s successor was John Pius Dowling, O.P., who ran the archdiocese for 31 years from 1909 to 1940. He nurtured an increase in the number of religious orders to serve Trinidad . He welcomed Spanish Augustinians - the Recollect Hermits of St Augustine - who were placed in charge of a number of rural parishes where there were many Spanish speakers. In 1911, Dom Mayeul de Caigny, O.S.B., sought entry into the Archdiocese in the light of political pressures in Bahia , Brazil . A year later the first monks arrived to found the Abbey of Our Lady in Exile at Mt. St Benedict. In 1919, Dowling welcomed from England to the Archdiocese, the newly established Corpus Christi Carmelites. They were destined to do critical social work for the local church in the years to follow.
Dowling’s most difficult moments as archbishop were during the years 1926 to 1932 when he fought tenaciously but unsuccessfully against the introduction of Divorce legislation into the colony. In 1931, he presented yet another Solemn Protest to the Governor, Claud Hollis, signed also by the Anglican Bishop, Arthur Anstey, the Kazi of the Islamic faith and many Hindu pundits. On 22nd March 1931, Dowling addressed a mass protest rally at the Savannah along with Anglican, Hindu and Labour Leaders. The church was painted as being reactionary; divorce was seen as a “progressive” bit of social legislation. The government won the day. The King reigned.
RYAN
Dowling was ably succeeded by his co-adjuctor, Finbar Ryan, O.P in 1940. When he assumed office, Ryan already had a long and distinguished career in the church in Ireland . He was not a young archbishop, but he was destined to govern the church during 26 exciting years in the country’s and church’s history. Ryan witnessed Trinidad ’s political emergence as an independent country and he had the honour of being the first religious leader to bless the nation, minutes after the National Flag was raised on the first Independence Day 31st August 1962. The Archbishop was also present at the sessions of Vatican Council II in Rome (1963-1965).
As Archbishop of Port-of-Spain, he saw the church grow in the Caribbean. He celebrated the centenary of the Archdiocese in December 1950, with days of celebrations. In 1956, St Lucia and Grenada became separate dioceses. On 10th December 1957, the Antilles Episcopal Conference was born, one of the first in the church worldwide. The vast majority were only established in the wake of Vatican II. In December 1958, Ryan consecrated his Vicar-General, William Michael Fitzgerald O.P., as his auxiliary.
Ryan will forever be remembered as the founder of the Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs. As early as 1819, Rome proposed the foundation of a seminary, but it was on 19th January 1943, that Ryan blessed the seminary building then housed within the monastic compound of Mt St Benedict. The monks assumed responsibility for the seminary. In 1961, the seminary was transferred to its present site. Ryan also stands out for his determined advancement of Catholic education. Not only were primary schools built and renovated, Ryan was responsible for the rapid growth of Catholic secondary education in Trinidad . He invited to Trinidad the Presentation Brothers (1946) and the Holy Faith Sisters (1947) with this in mind. He encouraged the Holy Ghost Fathers to open Fatima College (1945). His own Dominican Fathers opened Holy Cross College in 1957. The parishes of St Joseph and Tunapuna had their own colleges, St. Joseph ’s College and St. Charles . The Dominican Sisters opened St. Dominic’s in Barataria. The church was the effective pioneer in the spread of secondary education in the years after World War II. Above all, Ryan sought to make his church strong and he stood ready to defend against all-comers.
When Finbar Ryan resigned in 1966, it was anticipated that a son of the soil would be his successor. The time was ripe for change and the man of the moment was Gordon Anthony Pantin, C.S.Sp. He was merely thirty-eight years old. He followed in a line of solid church leaders.
Previous Archbishops of The Archdiocese of Port of Spain
VICARIATE APOSTOLIC ERECTED 23rd February 1818
The following were appointed Vicar Apostolic
James Buckley †
(6 Mar 1819 Appointed - 26 Mar 1828 Died)
Daniel McDonnell †
(23 Dec 1828 Appointed - 26 Oct 1844 Died)
ARCHDIOCESE ERECTED 20th April 1850
The following are/were the Archbishops-
Richard Patrick Smith †
( 1844 Appointed - 1852 Died)
Vincent Spaccapietra, C.M. † Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians or Lazarites)
(18 Apr 1855 Appointed - 12 Sep 1859 Resigned)
Ferdinand English † (Diocean Priest)
(28 Sep 1860 Appointed - 19 Sep 1862 Died)
Joachim-Hyacinthe Gonin, O.P. † (Order of Preachers - Dominicans)
(21 Dec 1863 Appointed - 13 Mar 1889 Died)
Patrick Vincent Flood, O.P. † (Dominican)
(8 Mar 1889 Succeeded - 17 May 1907 Died)
John Pius Dowling, O.P. † (Dominican)
(9 Mar 1909 Appointed - 6 Jun 1940 Died)
Patrick Finbar Ryan, O.P. † (Dominican)
(6 Jun 1940 Succeeded - 24 May 1966 Retired)
Gordon Anthony Pantin, C.S.Sp. †
Belonged to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, or in Latin, Congregatio Sancti Spiritus sub tutela Immaculati Cordis Beatissimae Virginis Mariae, Also known as The Holy Ghost Fathers or Spiritans.(29 Nov 1967 Appointed - 11 Mar 2000 Died)
Edward Joseph Gilbert, C.SS.R.
Belongs to the Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris also known as Redemptorist.
(21 Mar 2001 Appointed - expects to resign on December 26th 2011 when he turns 75.
and now...
Father Joe Harris. Another Local boy!
and another Spiritan.
Dr Bernard Tappin gives an excellent brief History of the Archdiocese on the following website: http://www.hccaalumni.com/a_brief_history_of_the_archdioce.htm
The following were appointed Vicar Apostolic
James Buckley †
(6 Mar 1819 Appointed - 26 Mar 1828 Died)
Daniel McDonnell †
(23 Dec 1828 Appointed - 26 Oct 1844 Died)
ARCHDIOCESE ERECTED 20th April 1850
The following are/were the Archbishops-
Richard Patrick Smith †
( 1844 Appointed - 1852 Died)
Vincent Spaccapietra, C.M. † Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians or Lazarites)
(18 Apr 1855 Appointed - 12 Sep 1859 Resigned)
Ferdinand English † (Diocean Priest)
(28 Sep 1860 Appointed - 19 Sep 1862 Died)
Joachim-Hyacinthe Gonin, O.P. † (Order of Preachers - Dominicans)
(21 Dec 1863 Appointed - 13 Mar 1889 Died)
Patrick Vincent Flood, O.P. † (Dominican)
(8 Mar 1889 Succeeded - 17 May 1907 Died)
John Pius Dowling, O.P. † (Dominican)
(9 Mar 1909 Appointed - 6 Jun 1940 Died)
Patrick Finbar Ryan, O.P. † (Dominican)
(6 Jun 1940 Succeeded - 24 May 1966 Retired)
Gordon Anthony Pantin, C.S.Sp. †
Belonged to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, or in Latin, Congregatio Sancti Spiritus sub tutela Immaculati Cordis Beatissimae Virginis Mariae, Also known as The Holy Ghost Fathers or Spiritans.(29 Nov 1967 Appointed - 11 Mar 2000 Died)
Edward Joseph Gilbert, C.SS.R.
Belongs to the Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris also known as Redemptorist.
(21 Mar 2001 Appointed - expects to resign on December 26th 2011 when he turns 75.
and now...
Father Joe Harris. Another Local boy!
and another Spiritan.
Dr Bernard Tappin gives an excellent brief History of the Archdiocese on the following website: http://www.hccaalumni.com/a_brief_history_of_the_archdioce.htm
The Catholic Church was introduced to Trinidad with the coming of Columbus in 1498 and the subsequent Spanish settlement and establishment of the Parish and Church of St. Joseph by Antonio de Berrio in 1592. The church was further assured of its continuity after the island was lost to the British as Article Eleven of the Capitulation of 1797 guaranteed the inhabitants, most of whom were Catholic, freedom to practice their religion. Trinidad was then under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Guyana based at San Tome de Angostura ( Venezuela ) which was erected in 1790. The island was previously part of the Diocese of Puerto Rico, founded in 1532.
When the British assumed ownership of Trinidad at the Peace of Amiens in 1802, there was need for new administrative arrangements concerning the Church. It was only in 1819 that a Vicariate Apostolic was established giving James Buckley jurisdiction over the church in Trinidad as well as the other British and Danish colonies in the West Indies . Buckley had responsibility for a vast vicariate.
The Vicars Apostolic Buckley (1820-1828) James Mc Donnell (1829-1844) and Richard Patrick Smith (1844-1850) faced many daunting problems. Not only was there always a chronic shortage of priests, the church in Trinidad was faced with a bitter schism (1825-1841) led by a coloured priest, Francis de Ridder. He was born in British Guiana ( Guyana ) and he was determined to advance the cause of his own coloured people. The church also had to get its house in order with the Abolition of Slavery in 1834, as the other Christian churches were also seeking to win converts from among the newly freed Africans. The Vicariate had to face yet another crisis in 1844 when the Anglican Church - the religion of the minority in Trinidad was Established. The Catholic Church was relegated officially and legally to a position of secondary importance.
A new era dawned for the church on 30th April, 1850 when Pope Pius IX transformed the Vicariate into the Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain with jurisdiction over St. Lucia , St. Vincent , Grenada and Tobago and with Roseau , Dominica as its suffragan see. In 1850, the catholic population of Trinidad stood at 44,000 out of a total of 70,000 persons. There were sixteen parishes served by twenty resident priests, with thirteen primary schools along with St. Joseph ’s Convent, Port-of-Spain (1836) and St. George’s College (1838). The church’s new status was of added significance as it was made months before the hierarchy was restored in England on 24th September 1850. Indeed the Church of Port-of-Spain lays claim to be one of the oldest in the English-speaking world.
Note to the New Archbishop of Port of Spain - Please appoint an Exorcist
When I was in Toronto in 2008 the news there was about the appointment of 2 Exorcists in Ottowa (the Capital of Canada). They were appointed by the Bishop.
A News report By The Ottawa Citizen, April 5, 2008 stated:
So Archbishop Gilbert of Port of Spain did not himself appoint an official Exorcist, even if we have a priest or two in the Archdiocese who conducts exorcisms. I hope that the new Archbishop will appoint one.
The church cannot tell me to believe the bible that mentions demons and hell and tell me about the battle against principalities, powers and dominions and not have a chief priest to fight these creatures.
There is a theology in the church that negates the devil. Some people call it superstition. Please Father Joe. Let us have an official exorcist.
A News report By The Ottawa Citizen, April 5, 2008 stated:
The archdiocese doesn't receive any more than seven or eight calls a year. Nor are the callers any more likely to be possessed -- in the past 15 years, Ottawa clergy say they have had only one case of demonic possession.
But exorcism has always been part of the Catholic ministry, even if it has fallen by the wayside in the last generation.
Under Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor, John Paul II, talk of Satan and his minions has made a comeback. In the past two decades, Italy alone has increased the ranks of its exorcists from 20 to 350. Just before Christmas, Rome's chief exorcist, Gabriel Amorth, indicated the Pope wanted an exorcist in every diocese in the world.
The Vatican press office later toned down Father Amorth's statement, saying the Pope had no intention of "ordering local bishops to bring in garrisons of exorcists."
But the Pope clearly supports their work, and an Ash Wednesday homily from Vatican City reminded the faithful that Satan still stalks our world, whatever modern rationalism may say.
So Archbishop Gilbert of Port of Spain did not himself appoint an official Exorcist, even if we have a priest or two in the Archdiocese who conducts exorcisms. I hope that the new Archbishop will appoint one.
The church cannot tell me to believe the bible that mentions demons and hell and tell me about the battle against principalities, powers and dominions and not have a chief priest to fight these creatures.
There is a theology in the church that negates the devil. Some people call it superstition. Please Father Joe. Let us have an official exorcist.
Father Jason Gordon appointed bishop of Bridgetown and Kingston by the Pope
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI transferred the Diocese of Kingstown, in S. Vincent and the Grenadines, from the ecclesiastical Province of Castries to the Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago on July 8, 2011.
The Holy Father appointed Bishop for the two Dioceses of Bridgetown (Barbados) and Kingstown (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), Rev. Mgr. Charles Jason Gordon, of the clergy of Port of Spain, moderator of the Archdiocesan Curia.
The Rev. Mgr. Charles Jason Gordon, was born in Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago, on March 17, 1959. He did his elementary and secondary studies at Fatima College in Trinidad (big up to the old Alma mater). He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the University of the West Indies.
In 1982 he joined the Regional Seminary of St. John Vianney in Trinidad and Tobago. From 1986 to 1988 he did further studies at the Catholic University of Leuven, where he graduated in Moral and Religious Science (Magna Cum Laude). He then returned to Trinidad and Tobago to teach at the Seminary. He was ordained a priest in Port of Spain on March 19, 1991.
After his ordination he has held the following positions:
1991: Professor at the Regional Seminary of St. John Vianney;
1991 - 1996 Duncan Street Caring Centre - Coordinator responsible for the staff and assistance program development for the homeless;
1991 - 1996: Coordinator of the Marian House, home to the homeless;
1993 - 1996: Director of Production of the Trinity Television Network;
1996 - 2003: Studies for a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology at Heythrop College University of London, in England,
1995: Director of the Caribbean School of Catholic Communications;
2000 - 2002: Chaplain of the General Hospital in Port of Spain;
2000 - 2005: Member of the community team Living Water Community in Port of Spain;
2002: Director of Marian House;
2003 to 2006: Director of the Institute of Pastoral Leadership in Port of Spain; Pastor of the Holy Rosary and St. Martin de Porres in Trinidad; CITY - Community Intervention Transforming Youth in Trinidad.
2006: A Short Course in Management of Social Development for Caribbean NGO's in Washington, in the United States,
2003: Member of the Board of clergy of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, of the Commission of the Archdiocesan Synod, the Commission of the Archdiocesan Communications and of the Commission Justice and Peace;
2005 - 2006: Episcopal Vicar for the Archdiocese in the north area;
2006: Moderator of the Archdiocesan Curia.
The Diocese of Bridgetown (1970), has an area of 430 square kilometers and a population of 277,000 inhabitants, of whom 11,000 are Catholics. There are 6 parishes, 11 priests (4 diocesan, 7 religious), 1 permanent deacon and 9 nuns. The Diocese of Kingstown (1989), has an area of 388 square kilometers and a population of 120,000 inhabitants, of whom 15,469 are Catholic. There are 6 parishes, 11 priests (7 diocesan, 4 religious) and 14 nuns. The Diocese of Kingstown and Bridgetown are suffragans of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 08/07/2011)
The Holy Father appointed Bishop for the two Dioceses of Bridgetown (Barbados) and Kingstown (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), Rev. Mgr. Charles Jason Gordon, of the clergy of Port of Spain, moderator of the Archdiocesan Curia.
The Rev. Mgr. Charles Jason Gordon, was born in Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago, on March 17, 1959. He did his elementary and secondary studies at Fatima College in Trinidad (big up to the old Alma mater). He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the University of the West Indies.
In 1982 he joined the Regional Seminary of St. John Vianney in Trinidad and Tobago. From 1986 to 1988 he did further studies at the Catholic University of Leuven, where he graduated in Moral and Religious Science (Magna Cum Laude). He then returned to Trinidad and Tobago to teach at the Seminary. He was ordained a priest in Port of Spain on March 19, 1991.
After his ordination he has held the following positions:
1991: Professor at the Regional Seminary of St. John Vianney;
1991 - 1996 Duncan Street Caring Centre - Coordinator responsible for the staff and assistance program development for the homeless;
1991 - 1996: Coordinator of the Marian House, home to the homeless;
1993 - 1996: Director of Production of the Trinity Television Network;
1996 - 2003: Studies for a Doctorate in Pastoral Theology at Heythrop College University of London, in England,
1995: Director of the Caribbean School of Catholic Communications;
2000 - 2002: Chaplain of the General Hospital in Port of Spain;
2000 - 2005: Member of the community team Living Water Community in Port of Spain;
2002: Director of Marian House;
2003 to 2006: Director of the Institute of Pastoral Leadership in Port of Spain; Pastor of the Holy Rosary and St. Martin de Porres in Trinidad; CITY - Community Intervention Transforming Youth in Trinidad.
2006: A Short Course in Management of Social Development for Caribbean NGO's in Washington, in the United States,
2003: Member of the Board of clergy of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, of the Commission of the Archdiocesan Synod, the Commission of the Archdiocesan Communications and of the Commission Justice and Peace;
2005 - 2006: Episcopal Vicar for the Archdiocese in the north area;
2006: Moderator of the Archdiocesan Curia.
The Diocese of Bridgetown (1970), has an area of 430 square kilometers and a population of 277,000 inhabitants, of whom 11,000 are Catholics. There are 6 parishes, 11 priests (4 diocesan, 7 religious), 1 permanent deacon and 9 nuns. The Diocese of Kingstown (1989), has an area of 388 square kilometers and a population of 120,000 inhabitants, of whom 15,469 are Catholic. There are 6 parishes, 11 priests (7 diocesan, 4 religious) and 14 nuns. The Diocese of Kingstown and Bridgetown are suffragans of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 08/07/2011)
Father Joe Harris appointed Archbishop of Port of Spain
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Coadjutor of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), Rev. Fr. Joseph Harris, C.S.Sp., on 8 July, 2011. He has been Pastor and judicial Vicar for the clergy in the same Metropolitan See.
Rev. Fr. Joseph Harris, C.S.Sp., was born in Trinidad on March 19, 1942. In 1969 he was accepted into the novitiate of the Spiritans Fathers in Quebec, Canada.
After the novitiate, he professed his temporary vows and was sent to Ireland to study philosophy in Dublin.
He then returned to Trinidad to study theology, which he did at the Holy Ghost Missionary College and at the Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs in Trinidad. He professed his perpetual vows on November 3, 1967 and was ordained a priest on July 14, 1968.
After the Ordination he was sent to Paraguay as a missionary and in 1984 to the United States for further studies. He graduated in "Church Administration" at the Chicago Theological Union in 1991. In 2003 he went to Canada to study canon law (in Ottawa), obtaining a licentiate in 2005.
After Ordination he has held the following positions:
1968 - 1982: Missionary in Paraguay;
1969 - 1971: assistant priest of Santa Catalina in Asunción;
1971 - 1981: Parish Priest at San Jose Obrero, Vila Morra, Asuncion;
1973 - 1981: Superior of Spiritan Fathers in Paraguay;
1973 - 1974: Teacher of religion in the College of Christo Rey, in Asunción;
1974 - 1980: National Chaplain of the youth movement in Paraguay; Spiritual Director of the Cursillo Movement de Cristiandad;
1978 - 1980: Professor of religious studies at the ' University of Privada, in Colombia,
1978 - 1981: Director of the Pre-novitiate of the Spiritan Fathers in Paraguay;
1982 - 1987: Professor of Spirituality, Co-Director and then Director of the training in the Scholasticate of PP. Spiritans in Chicago, in the United States;
1987 - 1993: Director of the formation of PP. Spiritans in Trinidad, in Arouca;
1993 - 1999: Rector of the Regional Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs in Trinidad.
1997 - 2003: Provincial Superior of the PP. Spiritans in Trinidad;
1999 - 2003: Parish Priest of Saint Anthony in Petit Valley, in Trinidad;
2003 - 2005: Studies for the Licentiate in Canon Law at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada;
2005 - 2006: Deputy Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain; since
2006 - until now. Judicial Vicar and Vicar for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Pastor of St. Anne.
The territory of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, built in 1850, includes both the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, including about 20 smaller islands. The territory covers about 5,128 sq. km., and has about 1,262,400 inhabitants, of which 289,460 Catholics (ca. 26%), distributed in 61 parishes and 181 Mass centers, where often the laity and the religious preside the celebration of the Word. There are 107 priests in the Archdiocese, 46 are religious. However, only 57 are active. There is only one major seminarian and 141 religious women. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 08/07/2011)
Rev. Fr. Joseph Harris, C.S.Sp., was born in Trinidad on March 19, 1942. In 1969 he was accepted into the novitiate of the Spiritans Fathers in Quebec, Canada.
After the novitiate, he professed his temporary vows and was sent to Ireland to study philosophy in Dublin.
He then returned to Trinidad to study theology, which he did at the Holy Ghost Missionary College and at the Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs in Trinidad. He professed his perpetual vows on November 3, 1967 and was ordained a priest on July 14, 1968.
After the Ordination he was sent to Paraguay as a missionary and in 1984 to the United States for further studies. He graduated in "Church Administration" at the Chicago Theological Union in 1991. In 2003 he went to Canada to study canon law (in Ottawa), obtaining a licentiate in 2005.
After Ordination he has held the following positions:
1968 - 1982: Missionary in Paraguay;
1969 - 1971: assistant priest of Santa Catalina in Asunción;
1971 - 1981: Parish Priest at San Jose Obrero, Vila Morra, Asuncion;
1973 - 1981: Superior of Spiritan Fathers in Paraguay;
1973 - 1974: Teacher of religion in the College of Christo Rey, in Asunción;
1974 - 1980: National Chaplain of the youth movement in Paraguay; Spiritual Director of the Cursillo Movement de Cristiandad;
1978 - 1980: Professor of religious studies at the ' University of Privada, in Colombia,
1978 - 1981: Director of the Pre-novitiate of the Spiritan Fathers in Paraguay;
1982 - 1987: Professor of Spirituality, Co-Director and then Director of the training in the Scholasticate of PP. Spiritans in Chicago, in the United States;
1987 - 1993: Director of the formation of PP. Spiritans in Trinidad, in Arouca;
1993 - 1999: Rector of the Regional Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs in Trinidad.
1997 - 2003: Provincial Superior of the PP. Spiritans in Trinidad;
1999 - 2003: Parish Priest of Saint Anthony in Petit Valley, in Trinidad;
2003 - 2005: Studies for the Licentiate in Canon Law at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada;
2005 - 2006: Deputy Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain; since
2006 - until now. Judicial Vicar and Vicar for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Pastor of St. Anne.
The territory of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, built in 1850, includes both the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, including about 20 smaller islands. The territory covers about 5,128 sq. km., and has about 1,262,400 inhabitants, of which 289,460 Catholics (ca. 26%), distributed in 61 parishes and 181 Mass centers, where often the laity and the religious preside the celebration of the Word. There are 107 priests in the Archdiocese, 46 are religious. However, only 57 are active. There is only one major seminarian and 141 religious women. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 08/07/2011)
Vatican press release about Church in Trinidad and Tobago
The Vatican released these two announcements about the church in the caribbean.... ok I'll post it over in English
NOMINA DEL VESCOVO DELLE DIOCESI DI BRIDGETOWN (BARBADOS) E KINGSTOWN (S. VINCENZO E GRANADINE)
Il Santo Padre ha nominato Vescovo per le due diocesi di Bridgetown (Barbados) e di Kingstown (S. Vincenzo e Grenadine), il Rev.do Mons. Charles Jason Gordon, del clero di Port of Spain, moderatore della Curia arcidiocesana.
Rev.do Mons. Charles Jason Gordon
Il Rev.do Mons. Charles Jason Gordon, è nato a Port of Spain, in Trinidad e Tobago, il 17 marzo 1959. Ha compiuto gli studi elementari e secondari al Collegio Fatima in Trinidad. Ha ottenuto un Bachelor of Arts in Filosofia all’Università delle West Indies. Nel 1982 è entrato nel Seminario Regionale di S. Giovanni Vianney in Trinidad e Tobago. Dal 1986 al 1988 ha svolto gli studi superiori alla Catholic University of Leuven, dove si è laureato in Science Morali e Religiose (Magna Cum Laude). È poi tornato a Trinidad e Tobago per insegnare in Seminario.
È stato ordinato sacerdote a Port of Spain il 19 marzo 1991.
Dopo l’ordinazione sacerdotale ha ricoperto i seguenti incarichi: dal 1991: Professore nel Seminario Regionale di S. Giovanni Vianney; 1991-996: Duncan Street Caring Centre - Coordinatore responsabile per il personale e per lo sviluppo del programma assistenziale per i senzatetto; 1991-1996: Coordinatore della Marian House, casa per i senzatetto; 1993-1996: Direttore di Produzione di Trinity Television Network; 1996-2003: Studi per il Dottorato in Teologia Pastorale all’Heythrop College University of London, in Inghilterra; dal 1995: Direttore della Caribbean School of Catholic Communications; 2000-2002: Cappellano dell’Ospedale Generale a Port of Spain; 2000-2005 Membro dell’équipe della comunità Living Water a Port of Spain; dal 2002: Direttore della Marian House; 2003-2006: Direttore dell’Institute of Pastoral Leadership a Port of Spain; Parroco di Holy Rosary and St. Martin de Porres in Trinidad; CITY – Community Intervention Transforming Youth in Trinidad. 2006: Breve corso in Management of Social Development for Caribbean NGO’s a Washington, negli Stati Uniti; dal 2003: Membro del Consiglio del clero dell’Arcidiocesi di Port of Spain; della Commissione del Sinodo Arcidiocesano; della Commissione della Comunicazione Arcidiocesana e della Commissione Giustizia e Pace; 2005-2006: Vicario Episcopale per la zona nord dell’Arcidiocesi.
Dal 2006 è Moderatore della Curia Arcidiocesana.
[01077-01.02]
NOMINA DELL’ARCIVESCOVO COADIUTORE DI PORT OF SPAIN (TRINIDAD E TOBAGO)
Il Papa ha nominato Arcivescovo Coadiutore dell’Arcidiocesi di Port of Spain (Trinidad e Tobago), il Rev.do P. Joseph Harris, C.S.Sp., Parroco e Vicario giudiziale per il clero nella medesima Sede Metropolitana.
Rev.do P. Joseph Harris, C.S.Sp.
Il Rev.do P. Joseph Harris, C.S.Sp., è nato in Trinidad il 19 marzo 1942. Nel 1969 è stato accolto nel noviziato dei Padri Spiritani in Quebec, Canada. Dopo il noviziato, ha emesso i voti temporanei ed è stato inviato in Irlanda per gli studi filosofici a Dublino. È successivamente ritornato a Trinidad per gli studi teologici, che ha svolto presso l’Holy Ghost Missionary College, e al Seminario di San Giovanni M. Vianney e dei Martiri Ugandesi in Trinidad.
Ha emesso i voti perpetui il 3 novembre 1967 ed è stato ordinato sacerdote il 14 luglio 1968.
È stato quindi inviato in Paraguay come missionario e nel 1984 negli Stati Uniti, per studi superiori. Si è laureato in "Church Administration" al Chicago Theological Union nel 1991. Nel 2003 si è recato in Canada per gli studi di Diritto Canonico (ad Ottawa), ottenendo la Licenza nel 2005.
Dopo l’Ordinazione ha ricoperto i seguenti incarichi: 1968-1982: Missionario in Paraguay; 1969 -1971: Vicario parrocchiale di Santa Catalina a Asunción; 1971-1981:Parroco di San José Obrero, Vila Morra, Asunción; 1973-1981: Superiore dei Padri Spiritani in Paraguay; 1973- 1974: Insegnante di Religione nel Collegio Christo Rey, Asunción; 1974-1980: Cappellano nazionale del movimento giovanile in Paraguay; Direttore spirituale del movimento Cursillos de Cristiandad; 1978-1980: Professore di studi religiosi all’Università di Privada, Colombia; 1978 -1981: Direttore del pre-noviziato dei Padri Spiritani in Paraguay; 1982-1987: Docente di Spiritualità, Co-direttore e poi Direttore della formazione nello Scolasticato dei PP. Spiritani a Chicago, negli Stati Uniti; 1987-1993: Direttore della formazione dei PP. Spiritani in Trinidad, ad Arouca; 1993-1999: Rettore del Seminario Regionale di San Giovanni M. Vianney e dei Martiri Ugandesi in Trinidad. 1997-2003: Superiore Provinciale dei PP. Spiritani in Trinidad; 1999- 2003: Parroco di San Antonio a Petit Valley in Trinidad; 2003-2005: Studi per la Licenza in Diritto Canonico alla St. Paul University a Ottawa in Canada; 2005-2006: Vice Vicario Giudiziale dell’Arcidiocesi di Port of Spain.
Dal 2006 è Vicario Giudiziale e Vicario per il clero dell’Arcidiocesi di Port of Spain, Parroco di Sant’Anna.
[01078-01.01]
NOMINA DEL VESCOVO DELLE DIOCESI DI BRIDGETOWN (BARBADOS) E KINGSTOWN (S. VINCENZO E GRANADINE)
Il Santo Padre ha nominato Vescovo per le due diocesi di Bridgetown (Barbados) e di Kingstown (S. Vincenzo e Grenadine), il Rev.do Mons. Charles Jason Gordon, del clero di Port of Spain, moderatore della Curia arcidiocesana.
Rev.do Mons. Charles Jason Gordon
Il Rev.do Mons. Charles Jason Gordon, è nato a Port of Spain, in Trinidad e Tobago, il 17 marzo 1959. Ha compiuto gli studi elementari e secondari al Collegio Fatima in Trinidad. Ha ottenuto un Bachelor of Arts in Filosofia all’Università delle West Indies. Nel 1982 è entrato nel Seminario Regionale di S. Giovanni Vianney in Trinidad e Tobago. Dal 1986 al 1988 ha svolto gli studi superiori alla Catholic University of Leuven, dove si è laureato in Science Morali e Religiose (Magna Cum Laude). È poi tornato a Trinidad e Tobago per insegnare in Seminario.
È stato ordinato sacerdote a Port of Spain il 19 marzo 1991.
Dopo l’ordinazione sacerdotale ha ricoperto i seguenti incarichi: dal 1991: Professore nel Seminario Regionale di S. Giovanni Vianney; 1991-996: Duncan Street Caring Centre - Coordinatore responsabile per il personale e per lo sviluppo del programma assistenziale per i senzatetto; 1991-1996: Coordinatore della Marian House, casa per i senzatetto; 1993-1996: Direttore di Produzione di Trinity Television Network; 1996-2003: Studi per il Dottorato in Teologia Pastorale all’Heythrop College University of London, in Inghilterra; dal 1995: Direttore della Caribbean School of Catholic Communications; 2000-2002: Cappellano dell’Ospedale Generale a Port of Spain; 2000-2005 Membro dell’équipe della comunità Living Water a Port of Spain; dal 2002: Direttore della Marian House; 2003-2006: Direttore dell’Institute of Pastoral Leadership a Port of Spain; Parroco di Holy Rosary and St. Martin de Porres in Trinidad; CITY – Community Intervention Transforming Youth in Trinidad. 2006: Breve corso in Management of Social Development for Caribbean NGO’s a Washington, negli Stati Uniti; dal 2003: Membro del Consiglio del clero dell’Arcidiocesi di Port of Spain; della Commissione del Sinodo Arcidiocesano; della Commissione della Comunicazione Arcidiocesana e della Commissione Giustizia e Pace; 2005-2006: Vicario Episcopale per la zona nord dell’Arcidiocesi.
Dal 2006 è Moderatore della Curia Arcidiocesana.
[01077-01.02]
NOMINA DELL’ARCIVESCOVO COADIUTORE DI PORT OF SPAIN (TRINIDAD E TOBAGO)
Il Papa ha nominato Arcivescovo Coadiutore dell’Arcidiocesi di Port of Spain (Trinidad e Tobago), il Rev.do P. Joseph Harris, C.S.Sp., Parroco e Vicario giudiziale per il clero nella medesima Sede Metropolitana.
Rev.do P. Joseph Harris, C.S.Sp.
Il Rev.do P. Joseph Harris, C.S.Sp., è nato in Trinidad il 19 marzo 1942. Nel 1969 è stato accolto nel noviziato dei Padri Spiritani in Quebec, Canada. Dopo il noviziato, ha emesso i voti temporanei ed è stato inviato in Irlanda per gli studi filosofici a Dublino. È successivamente ritornato a Trinidad per gli studi teologici, che ha svolto presso l’Holy Ghost Missionary College, e al Seminario di San Giovanni M. Vianney e dei Martiri Ugandesi in Trinidad.
Ha emesso i voti perpetui il 3 novembre 1967 ed è stato ordinato sacerdote il 14 luglio 1968.
È stato quindi inviato in Paraguay come missionario e nel 1984 negli Stati Uniti, per studi superiori. Si è laureato in "Church Administration" al Chicago Theological Union nel 1991. Nel 2003 si è recato in Canada per gli studi di Diritto Canonico (ad Ottawa), ottenendo la Licenza nel 2005.
Dopo l’Ordinazione ha ricoperto i seguenti incarichi: 1968-1982: Missionario in Paraguay; 1969 -1971: Vicario parrocchiale di Santa Catalina a Asunción; 1971-1981:Parroco di San José Obrero, Vila Morra, Asunción; 1973-1981: Superiore dei Padri Spiritani in Paraguay; 1973- 1974: Insegnante di Religione nel Collegio Christo Rey, Asunción; 1974-1980: Cappellano nazionale del movimento giovanile in Paraguay; Direttore spirituale del movimento Cursillos de Cristiandad; 1978-1980: Professore di studi religiosi all’Università di Privada, Colombia; 1978 -1981: Direttore del pre-noviziato dei Padri Spiritani in Paraguay; 1982-1987: Docente di Spiritualità, Co-direttore e poi Direttore della formazione nello Scolasticato dei PP. Spiritani a Chicago, negli Stati Uniti; 1987-1993: Direttore della formazione dei PP. Spiritani in Trinidad, ad Arouca; 1993-1999: Rettore del Seminario Regionale di San Giovanni M. Vianney e dei Martiri Ugandesi in Trinidad. 1997-2003: Superiore Provinciale dei PP. Spiritani in Trinidad; 1999- 2003: Parroco di San Antonio a Petit Valley in Trinidad; 2003-2005: Studi per la Licenza in Diritto Canonico alla St. Paul University a Ottawa in Canada; 2005-2006: Vice Vicario Giudiziale dell’Arcidiocesi di Port of Spain.
Dal 2006 è Vicario Giudiziale e Vicario per il clero dell’Arcidiocesi di Port of Spain, Parroco di Sant’Anna.
[01078-01.01]
SOLT finds Father Corapi GUILTY
Press Release Concerning Fr John Corapi from SOLT Regional Priest Servant
July 5, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: Rev. Gerard Sheehan, SOLT Regional Priest Servant Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Robstown, Texas
Fr. John A. Corapi submitted his resignation from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity ("SOLT") early in June. SOLT is a Society of Apostolic Life of Diocesan Right with its regional office in Robstown, Texas.
While SOLT does not typically comment publicly on personnel matters, it recognizes that Fr. John Corapi, through his ministry, has inspired thousands of faithful Catholics, many of whom continue to express their support of him. SOLT also recognizes that Fr. Corapi is now misleading these individuals through his false statements and characterizations. It is for these Catholics that SOLT, by means of this announcement, seeks to set the record straight.
A woman, well known to Fr. John Corapi, mailed SOLT a signed letter detailing allegations of Fr. Corapi's sexual activity with adult women, abuse of alcohol and drugs, improper sacramental practices, violation of his promise of poverty, and other wrongdoing.
After receiving the allegation, SOLT formed a three person fact-finding team to ensure that it handled this matter in accordance with canonical norms. The team included a priest-canonist, a psychiatrist, and a lawyer. Two were members of religious orders, and one was a lay Catholic. Two were men, and one was a woman. All three have national reputations and substantial experience in ecclesiastical processes related to priest disciplinary issues.
As the Society was engaging this team, Fr. Corapi filed a civil lawsuit against his principal accuser. He contended that she had defamed him and breached her contract. The contract, according to Corapi's lawsuit, contained a provision binding the woman to silence about him. He offered the woman $100,000 to enter this agreement.
SOLT's fact-finding team subsequently learned that Fr. Corapi may have negotiated contracts with other key witnesses that precluded them from speaking with SOLT's fact-finding team. Many of these witnesses likely had key information about the accusations being investigated and declined to answer questions and provide documents.
When the fact-finding team asked Fr. Corapi to dismiss the lawsuit, to forbear from foreclosing his mortgage, and to release her and other individuals from their contractual obligations to remain silent about him, he refused to do so and, through his canonical advocate, stated: "It is not possible for Father Corapi to answer the Commission's questions at this time."
SOLT's fact-finding team has acquired information from Fr. Corapi's e-mails, various witnesses, and public sources that, together, state that, during his years of public ministry:
He did have sexual relations and years of cohabitation (in California and Montana) with a woman known to him, when the relationship began, as a prostitute; He repeatedly abused alcohol and drugs; He has recently engaged in sexting activity with one or more women in Montana; He holds legal title to over $1 million in real estate, numerous luxury vehicles, motorcycles, an ATV, a boat dock, and several motor boats, which is a serious violation of his promise of poverty as a perpetually professed member of the Society.
SOLT has contemporaneously with the issuance of this press release directed Fr. John Corapi, under obedience, to return home to the Society’s regional office and take up residence there. It has also ordered him, again under obedience, to dismiss the lawsuit he has filed against his accuser.
SOLT's prior direction to Fr. John Corapi not to engage in any preaching or teaching, the celebration of the sacraments or other public ministry continues. Catholics should understand that SOLT does not consider Fr. John Corapi as fit for ministry.
Father Sheehan will not be available for comments as he is attending the SOLT General Chapter from July 5-23.
July 5, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: Rev. Gerard Sheehan, SOLT Regional Priest Servant Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Robstown, Texas
Fr. John A. Corapi submitted his resignation from the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity ("SOLT") early in June. SOLT is a Society of Apostolic Life of Diocesan Right with its regional office in Robstown, Texas.
While SOLT does not typically comment publicly on personnel matters, it recognizes that Fr. John Corapi, through his ministry, has inspired thousands of faithful Catholics, many of whom continue to express their support of him. SOLT also recognizes that Fr. Corapi is now misleading these individuals through his false statements and characterizations. It is for these Catholics that SOLT, by means of this announcement, seeks to set the record straight.
A woman, well known to Fr. John Corapi, mailed SOLT a signed letter detailing allegations of Fr. Corapi's sexual activity with adult women, abuse of alcohol and drugs, improper sacramental practices, violation of his promise of poverty, and other wrongdoing.
After receiving the allegation, SOLT formed a three person fact-finding team to ensure that it handled this matter in accordance with canonical norms. The team included a priest-canonist, a psychiatrist, and a lawyer. Two were members of religious orders, and one was a lay Catholic. Two were men, and one was a woman. All three have national reputations and substantial experience in ecclesiastical processes related to priest disciplinary issues.
As the Society was engaging this team, Fr. Corapi filed a civil lawsuit against his principal accuser. He contended that she had defamed him and breached her contract. The contract, according to Corapi's lawsuit, contained a provision binding the woman to silence about him. He offered the woman $100,000 to enter this agreement.
SOLT's fact-finding team subsequently learned that Fr. Corapi may have negotiated contracts with other key witnesses that precluded them from speaking with SOLT's fact-finding team. Many of these witnesses likely had key information about the accusations being investigated and declined to answer questions and provide documents.
When the fact-finding team asked Fr. Corapi to dismiss the lawsuit, to forbear from foreclosing his mortgage, and to release her and other individuals from their contractual obligations to remain silent about him, he refused to do so and, through his canonical advocate, stated: "It is not possible for Father Corapi to answer the Commission's questions at this time."
SOLT's fact-finding team has acquired information from Fr. Corapi's e-mails, various witnesses, and public sources that, together, state that, during his years of public ministry:
He did have sexual relations and years of cohabitation (in California and Montana) with a woman known to him, when the relationship began, as a prostitute; He repeatedly abused alcohol and drugs; He has recently engaged in sexting activity with one or more women in Montana; He holds legal title to over $1 million in real estate, numerous luxury vehicles, motorcycles, an ATV, a boat dock, and several motor boats, which is a serious violation of his promise of poverty as a perpetually professed member of the Society.
SOLT has contemporaneously with the issuance of this press release directed Fr. John Corapi, under obedience, to return home to the Society’s regional office and take up residence there. It has also ordered him, again under obedience, to dismiss the lawsuit he has filed against his accuser.
SOLT's prior direction to Fr. John Corapi not to engage in any preaching or teaching, the celebration of the sacraments or other public ministry continues. Catholics should understand that SOLT does not consider Fr. John Corapi as fit for ministry.
Father Sheehan will not be available for comments as he is attending the SOLT General Chapter from July 5-23.