Sad day for St Cecila's church in St Joseph Parish Trinidad

I am so saddened by an act of senseless violence against the church in Trinindad. In the "Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Newspaper" there is an articel today (Friday October 26th 2012) about Vandals destroying church statues and priceless relics. The article is written by Dereck Achong.

Police are investigating an act of vandalism at St Cecilia’s RC Church, Maracas/St Joseph. The sacrilege was discovered at the Maracas Royal Road church around 5 am yesterday by an elderly parishioner, who opens the church each morning for morning Mass.


In an telephone interview yesterday, parishioner Dianne Narine said many holy statues and priceless relics had been destroyed by the vandals, who got into the church on Wednesday night through a back entrance. She said the tabernacle and altar were found overturned and chopped into pieces. The church’s PA system and a wall also were badly damaged but nothing had been stolen.

She added: “Everybody is in tears. We (the parishioners) feel violated and are traumatised. We don’t know who would do such a thing to a place of worship. It is like a piece of us is missing.” Narine believes the suspects could not have come from the nearby La Seiva Village as most of the residents attend the church.

The parishioners believe the vandals destroyed the statues using a small cutlass, which is stored in the building and is used to cut the flowers which adorn the church. Detectives of the Northern Division under the supervision of Senior Supt David Abraham visited the church yesterday morning and interviewed several parishioners and lifted fingerprints from the damaged items.


Narine said she could not estimate the cost of the damage as she said many of the destroyed items were donated over 30 years ago. Up to late yesterday there were no arrests. The Larceny Act 1919 defines the offence of sacrilege as breaking and entering into a place of divine worship and committing an arrestable offence. A person found guilty of sacrilege is liable to up to ten years’ imprisonment. Efforts to contact Archibishop Joseph Harris proved futile.

It's only a tiny rosebud, a flower of God's design -but who wrote it.

Recently someone posted a comment referring to my posting of the poem "It's only a tiny Rosebud". The individual claimed that the Author of the poem was Vernie McMqueen and that I am to remove the poem. Well, I had searched the internet for the Author and had not seen any. Now after perusing the "turn back to God Blog" I have observed a very interesting exchange on who the poem actually belongs to:

Someone posting as Wendy wrote on "Turn back to God" :

I would like to advise people that this author is known. No one has the right to repost with any links to any site. Be advised that if you post, print, collect any said monies, etc. will result in further actions. No one has permission to post or print or give authorization of such actions

When challanged on what right she had to post such a thing Wendy wrote:

The copyright is in the works and this poem was written for the old preachers back in the day by a lady who died of cancer. She has many paintings and poems but got thrown around after her death. She was a great and true christian lady who believed in God. If you like to know who the author is and give credit without rendering monies or any other type of payments than email me at wen_lynn@hotmail.com

Another woman called Jana gave her story on the poem and how it came about:

The “old preacher” was the late Rev. I. H. Terry who pastored a thriving church for many years in Bakersfield, California. The “younger preacher” was Rev. Vaughn Morton who had just gone through a terrible divorce. Rev. Vaughn Morton currently is the pastor of Truth Tabernacle in Fresno, California. As a young evangelist, Rev. Morton told the story of Rev. Terry taking him into his garden, cutting a rosebud off a bush then handed it to him and told him to unfold it. Rev. Morton tried and made a mess of the rose. Then Rev. Terry told him to be patient and let God unfold his life. From that, Rev. Morton preached a sermon he titled, “Just Let It Unfold.” I happened to personally hear him preach this sermon in 1969 at Apostolic Gospel Church of Delano, California. The following week, a woman brought a framed piece of art that was a drawing of a rose around this poem. I don’t believe the real author has ever been given credit for the poem. I don’t recall the woman’s name. I do remember seeing the framed art she brought to the church after Rev. Morton preached the sermon, “Just Let It Unfold.” To be honest, I’m not entirely certain the woman authored the poem but she did have it typewritten with some rose artwork around it in the frame.  

Then the plot thickened. A man posted that HE was the actual Author of the poem:

HI, MY NAME IS DARRYL L. BROWN. I AM NOW A PASTOR. I WANTED TO GET THIS POEM OUT MANY YEARS AGO BUT I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD GET OUT LIKE THIS. GOD GAVE ME THIS POEM IN 1974. I HAD LOST MY WIFE AND CHILDREN THROUGH ADULTERY. I WAS LOST, I SAT UPON A ROCK AND I WROTE BY INSPIRATION OF GOD THIS POEM IN ABOUT 3 MINUTES. I AND ONLY I HAVE THE COPY WRITE REGISTRATION NUMBER FOR ROSE BUD, I HAVE THE ORIGINAL TEMPLATES OF CARDBOARD AND WOOD I USED TO MAKE THE FIRST ONES. I SOLD ABOUT 12 OF THOSE WOODEN PLAQUES AROUND 1975. I STILL HAVE AN ORIGINAL PLAQUE. AND 3 OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS STILL HAVE A ORIGINAL ONES ALSO THAT I MADE IN 1974. I HAVE A COPY WRITE NUMBER AND WILL GIVE IT TO WHO EVER MAY NEED IT. I HAD THE COPY WRITE DONE IN 1985. I NEVER PUT THAT STORY ABOUT TWO PREACHERS, SOMEONE ADDED THAT TO IT. I WANTED TO REACH EVERYONE NOT ONLY CHRISTIANS BUT PEOPLE WHO MAYBE SEARCHING FOR GOD! I HAVE SENT PROOF TO ABOUT TWO WEB SITES ALREADY SO THEY COULD USE MY POEM. I COULD DO THE SAME FOR YOU. BUT I WANT TO WARN THOSE WHO WOULD LIE AND CLAIM THIS POEM, THE COURTS WILL JUDGE YOU AND THEN GOD WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY! P.S. GOD RESTORED MY WHOLE FAMILY BACK TO ME. I AND NOW I HAVE 12 GRAND CHILDREN AND 3 GREAT GRANDS. THANK YOU FOR LOVING ROSE BUD I BELIEVE GOD WANTS THE WORLD TO HAVE THIS POEM.

What followed was an intense discussion of opposing views. Both parties seemed to believe that the poem belonged to their camp. Pastor Darryl Brown says that he did not add the preacher story to the Poem, the other party insisted that it did happen. It would seem that Pastor Brown want's to reach many people and the children of Vernie wants acknowledgement and perhaps something more. Nonetheless, as the good Pastor says God will be the judge.
Now. The real question is " Who do I get permission from to leave my post up?


Here again is my version: IT"S ONLY A TINY ROSEBUD

A newly ordained priest was walking with an older, wiser Priest in a garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had in store for him, the younger asked the older for some advice.
The older priest walked up to a rosebush and handed the younger a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. "What does this have to do with anything" he thought to himself, still out of respect for the older man he tried but soon he realised he could not achieve what was asked of him.
Noticing the younger priests inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...
"It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine."

"The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
God opens this flower so easily,
But in my hands they die."

"If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?"

"So I'll trust in God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step of the way."

"The path that lies before me,
Only my Good Lord knows.
I'll trust God to unfold the moments,
As He unfolds this rose."









 
 




 

GO TEACH - A Book by Edward J. Gilbert C.Ss.R., JCD - 9th Archbishop of Port of Spain

Go Teach, a collection of Archbishop Edward Gilbert’s Catholic News columns, was launched to the National Public Library, corner Hart and Abercromby Streets, Port of Spain, on Tuesday (October 16th 2012). The book honours the legacy of the ninth Archbishop of Port of Spain, but its content, mostly teachings on the faith, makes it a delightful companion for the Year of Faith.

In his foreword to Go Teach, the collection of his predecessor’s Catholic News columns, Archbishop of Port of Spain Joseph Harris writes that the new book gives the faithful “a practical resource for study and meditation”. As the Church begins the Year of Faith, it should also be a most welcome resource.

During his 10 years as chief shepherd of the local Church, Archbishop Edward Gilbert wrote extensively, and with great clarity, on various aspects of the faith in the Sunday paper. Several of these columns are reproduced in the 324-page book, paying tribute to the ninth Archbishop of Port of Spain whose lucid teaching style many see as his very special attribute.

This gift, no doubt, has been honed through many years of teaching in the classroom. It is not always appreciated that the Archbishop’s academic career includes 14 years as a professor of Canon Law. Both here in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain and, earlier, in the Diocese of Roseau, Dominica, Archbishop Gilbert embraced wholeheartedly his role as principal teacher of the flock.

The former Archbishop now in Florida is not well and does not travel as before. May God continue to Bless him  in his ministry.

CATHOLIC CHURCH NOT OUTDATED

An article appeared in the Antigua Observer newspaper on Saturday, October 13th, 2012. Bishop Ken Ricards of Antigua made a public statement saying that the Catholic Church is not Outdated. It is an interesting arguement. Is it, or isn't it outdated?

St. John’s Antigua- The head of the Roman Catholic Church here has responded to criticisms from within that the church is 200 years behind time. Bishop Ken Ricards says morality is something the church cannot be flexible on.

In an interview just before he died in late August Italian Cardinal Carlo Martini criticized the church for its stance on divorce, Its tradition of not allowing female clergy members and other long standing traditions.

But Bishop Ricahards says the church’s’ consistency doesn’t make it out dated. Catholic Bishop Ken Richars The Catholic Church still does not support divorce. Priests must take a vow of chastity and only men can be priests.

Spain gives Trinidad and Tobago historic documents

Happy National Day to Spain. Our former Colonial masters from 1498 to 1797.

The Fiesta Nacional de España is the national day of Spain. It is held annually on October 12 and is a national holiday. It commemorates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's first arrival in the Americas, a day also celebrated in other countries. The day is also dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Our Lady of the Pillar, the patron saint of all Hispanic peoples and of the Spanish Civil Guard.

Our Lady of the Pillar (Spanish: Nuestra Señora del Pilar) is the name given to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her claimed appearance during the start of Christianity in Spain. She is the Patroness of the Spanish Civil Guard and the Hispanic world (but the Patroness of Spain is the Inmaculate Conception).

So Spain has given Trinidad some Historic Documents. Below is an article taken from the Newsday Papers of October 12th 2012 written by Lara Pickford-Gordon.

A DESCRIPTION of TT by Admiral Christopher Columbus in 1498, the Royal Charter appointing the first Spanish Governor Antonio Cedeño and the earliest recorded economic and social statistics for Trinidad, were among the reproduced historical items given to TT by the Spanish government yesterday.

Also donated was a duplicate of the 1776 map of Trinidad and the “Real Cédula de Poblacíon,” which Spanish Ambassador Joaquín de Arístegui Laborde said is, “considered by some historians to be the social Constitution of the pre-19th century Trinidad.”

Spanish company REPSOL was the main private sponsor of the historical documents. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar hosted a luncheon at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s yesterday to commemorate the donation of historical documents from the General Archive of the Indies of Seville by the Spanish government. The donation was made to mark TT’s 50th anniversary of Independence and took place on the eve of Spain’s National Day.

Laborde said, “this archival donation clearly shows the islands of Trinidad and Tobago were important components of the hemispheric project for the construction of the Spanish Americas.”

He spoke of the significance of October 12 as a tribute to the transatlantic bond and the shared bond of 300 years.

Happy 100th Birthday Mount Saint Benedict Abbey

This year the Abbey of Mount Saint benedict in Trinidad will celebrate 100 years of existance. Here is a little history of the Abbey from their website:

Dom Mayeul de Caigny, Abbot of the Abbey of San Sebastian, Bahia, Brazil, founded the Abbey of Our Lady of Exile in 1912. Abbot Mayeul had written to the Archbishop of Port of Spain, Trinidad, in October 1911, asking permission to send some of his monks to the Island, as he stated that there was the threat of religious persecution in Brazil. The Archbishop extended an invitation for him to come and choose a suitable locality for his monks. The Abbot chose his site on January 17, 1912, and on October 06 of the same year three of his monks arrived in Trinidad to establish monastic life there. The monastery was dedicated to Our Blessed Mother under the title of Our Lady of Exile, as this story recalled the experience of the monks who, like Mary, were also fleeing the threat of persecution. The beginnings were of a very humble nature. From 1914 Abbot Mayeul supervised the development of the Monastery until he resigned in 1923 and retired to the Abbey of Saint Leo in Florida, USA, where he is buried today. Mount St. Benedict, as it is more popularly known, was granted canonical status as a Conventual Priory on March 06, 1915. Dom Mayeul was succeeded by Dom Hugh van der Sanden, a Dutchman, who encouraged local vocations. During his term the Monastery was affiliated to the Belgian Congregation (Congregation of the Annunciation) in 1927. It was also under his tenure that the Monastery began a seminary in 1943 to prepare young men for the diocesan priesthood. In that same year the Monastery established a Secondary School. Dom Hugh was Superior until 1947, when the Monastery was raised to the rank of an Abbey, and Dom Adelbert van Duin was elected as the first Abbot. Dom Bernard Vlaar, another Dutchman, succeeded him. Dom Hildebrand Greene from Guyana was elected the First Caribbean Abbot of the Monastery in 1979, and he was instrumental in establishing a monastic daughter house in Guyana in 1988. In 1995, with the election of Dom Francis Alleyne, Mount St. Benedict had its first Trinidad born Abbot. In 2003 he was appointed Bishop of Guyana and was replaced by Dom John Pereira. The major ministry of the monks has been spiritual direction and pastoral counselling to the pilgrims who visit the Abbey on a daily basis. Hospitality is extended to all, and people of all faiths: Christians, Hindus and Muslims, and people who profess no faith are all received at the Abbey. In 1967, a Vocational School was established at the Monastery to teach young people a skill such as woodwork, bookbinding, plumbing, welding or some other technical craft to gear them for life. The Monastery has been involved in parochial activity, Pastoral Counselling, Agriculture, Apiculture, Education, Credit Unions, Coaching of young swimmers, Liturgical Renewal, Retreats, and Cottage Industries, such as Yogurt production. “Pax Yogurt” has become very popular in recent years, and this has replaced our former honey production. There are plans to expand this even further. In order to mark the ninetieth anniversary of the Abbey, the monks produced a CD. It consists of some of the compositions of Bro. Paschal Jordan, who is the Superior of the monastic foundation in Guyana.

Newest Caribbean Bishop installed on the french island of Guadaloupe

Monsignor Jean-Yves Riocreux bishop of the diocese of Pointose in France was installed as the new Bishop of Basseterre-Pointe a Pierre (Guadeloupe) on Sunday 30th September 2012.

Jean-Yves Riocreux was born on February 24, 1946. He was ordained priest on 1974, at Marlhes for the Diocese of Noumea. He was the liaison of the French bishops with more that 100 French speaking parishes overseas including in the US.

This installation means all territories in the Antilles Bishops’ Conference now have resident bishops with the exception of Montego Bay, which is currently under Episcopal Administration of Bishop Tiedemann of Mandeville.

Bishop Jean-Yves Riocreux succeeds Bishop Ernest Cabo, who retired a few years ago.

Here is a timeline of the Good Bishop and his history:
24 Feb 1946 - Born Marlhes
31 Mar 1974 - Ordained Deacon Deacon of Nouméa, New Caledonia, Pacific (Oceania)
22 Jun 1974 - Ordained Priest Priest of Nouméa, New Caledonia, Pacific (Oceania)
5 May 2003 - Appointed Bishop of Pontoise, France
29 Jun 2003 - Ordained Bishop Bishop of Pontoise, France
15 Jun 2012 - Appointed Bishop of Basse-Terre (et Pointe-à-Pitre), Guadeloupe, Antilles
30 Sep 2012 - Installed Bishop of Basse-Terre (et Pointe-à-Pitre), Guadeloupe, Antilles