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EXCLUSIVE NEWS INSIDE *Burglary at STX Soup Kitchen THE CATHOLIC *New Initiatives for Vocations *New College of Evangelization *V.I. Priests in Kuwait and Rome *Thanksgiving Blessings ISLANDER *Nuestra Señora De Providencia *Advent & Christmas Programs VOL. 20, NO. 12 DECEMBER 2004 *Listings of Coming Events A PUBLICATION OF THE DIOCESE OF ST. THOMAS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS MSGR. CAMPBELL IS 91 YEARS OLD 150 YEARS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION This December 8 marks the 150th anniversary of the proclamaion of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary by Blessed Pope Pius IX. A truth revealed by God to the Church, the dogma states that by God’s grace Mary was preserved free from original sin from the first moment of her existence. In this way God prepared her to be the mother of his Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. For Roman Catholics, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Msgr. Bernard Campbell celebrated his 91st birthday at St. Ann holy day of obligation, meaning that Church on St. Croix on October 29. all must attend Mass that day. Pictured above sitting in a chair, he is surrounded by Fr. Louis Many Virgin Islands parishes Kemayou (left), Fr. Simon Peter Opira (right) and the parishioners around have added a second Mass for that them after the Friday morning Mass. day. PROCESSION USHERS IN THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST Very Rev. Neil Scantlebury, Rector of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, led his congregation through the streets of Savan in a candlelight procession on October 30. The procession was to call attention to the end of the year of the rosary and to usher in the year of the Eucharist, both in October. The procession marched from the Cathedral to the Romeo Malone Savan Community Center and back. The Year of the Eucharist began with the World Eucharist Congress in Guadalajara, on October 10. Notes from the Bishop’s Desk The Most Reverend George V. Murry, SJ Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR “On behalf of the priests, the deacons and their wives, and the chancery staff, I wish you and your families a blessed Christmas and a peaceful new year.” -Bishop George Murry BISHOP TO BLESS CATHEDRAL RESTORATION PRIEST’S RESIDENCE CAMPAIGN RE-LAUNCHED Bishop George Murry, SJ, will bless the newly- completed rectory at St. Anne’s Chapel on Saturday, December 4, at 4:45 p.m. Built over the chapel’s Club House, the new rectory will be the living quarters of its administrator. At present, the chapel’s administrator is Msgr. Jerome Feudjio. The building to the right of the chapel is the new home for Bishop George Murry, SJ, helped re-launch the Ss. Peter the administrator of St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas. and Paul Cathedral restoration campaign by speaking with interested parties on October 17 and 24. BISHOP MURRY’S ITINERARY FOR DECEMBER 2004 December 4 4:45 p.m. Blessing of Rectory St. Anne Chapel St. Thomas 6:00 p.m. Mass Holy Family Church St. Thomas December 5 9:00 a.m. Mass Sacred Heart Chapel St. Croix December 7 10:00 a.m. St. Croix Deanery St. Patrick Church St. Croix December 11 5:00 p.m. Mass St. Joseph Church St. Croix December 12 7:00 & 10:00 a.m. Mass St. Patrick Church St. Croix December 12 2:00 p.m. School Christmas Pageant Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral St. Thomas December 14 10:00 a.m. St. Thomas/St. John Deanery Columban Hall St. Thomas December 17 10:00 a.m. Chancery Christmas Luncheon Bishop’s Residence St. Thomas December 18 6:30 p.m. Mass Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church St. Thomas December 19 7:30 & 9:30 a.m. Mass Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church St. John December 21 10:00 a.m. Presbyteral Council Bishop’s Residence St. Thomas 1:00 p.m. Presbyteral Christmas Luncheon Bishop’s Residence St. Thomas December 24 Midnight Mass Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral St. Thomas December 25 10:00 a.m. Mass Water Island December 26 7:30 & 10:00 a.m. Patronal Mass Holy Family Church St. Thomas December 31 11:00 p.m. Mass Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral St. Thomas THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER * DECEMBER 2004 * 2 WOMEN’S CONFERENCE BARBADOS ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES SUPPORT GROUP HONORS FR. SCANTLEBURY The St. Patrick Church Prayer Group on St. Croix The Barbados Association of St. Thomas and St. had its fourth annual Women’s Conference at the Light John will honor Very Rev. Neil Scantlebury, Rector of of Christ Retreat Center on October 15-17. The theme Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, at its annual was “Woman Be Made Whole by Living the Fruit of the dinner dance at the Palms Court Harbour View Hotel on Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace.” Saturday, February 19, beginning with cocktails at 7:00 Francine de Lande spoke on women’s brokenness p.m. and the need to touch “the hem of the Lord’s garment.” The Barbados Association will also honor Neil Carty, Vice President of Betterroads Asphalt Company, Presenters Gertrude Lecointe, Sr. Emma Paloma, ICM, and Gloria Husbands, a member of the Barbados Verty Daniel, Anna Doward, Iris Richards and Mary Association. Baptiste proposed ways to wholeness by living the fruits The “Independence Ball” celebrates the 38th of the Spirit: love, peace and joy. anniversary of the independence of Barbados. The conference launched a monthly inter-parish Honorable Liz Thompson, Minister of Housing and women’s support group at Light of Christ to help deepen Lands in Barbados, will be the keynote speaker. Milo’s the participants’ relationship with God, to further Kings will provide the music. Tickets are $55. interparish unity including music ministry, and to discuss women’s issues. RE-ELECTED SENATOR SECOND BURGLARY AT THE SEEKS BLESSING ST. CROIX SOUP KITCHEN While CCVI and other community agencies focused their effort on raising awareness of homelessness and hunger in the territory, others focused on vandalizing the St. Croix Food Emergency Program (FEP)/Soup Kitchen, a place that many of the local homeless and hungry go to for help. Clients could not be served on November 12 as staff spent the day cleaning and repairing damages to the kitchen, pantry, and serving areas. Vandals were able to get in by cutting the line to the security system, which was put in this January after last December’s break-in. Although no cash is available in the building, thieves took pots, pans, food, and a VCR. Senator Shawn Michael Malone attended Mass at The FEP/Soup Kitchen offers lunch, showers and Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas to give clothing five days a week to thirty to forty needy and thanks for being re-elected on Election Day, homeless of Christiansted. November 2. To make donations towards replacing items taken “With the Lord’s help,” he said, “I will continue from the soup kitchen, call Catholic Charities at 773- to work hard and effectively on behalf of all the 0132 on St. Croix or 777-8518 on St. Thomas. people of our beloved Virgin Islands.” ================================================================================= The Catholic Islander is published monthly by the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. The Catholic Islander is written, edited and printed solely in the U.S. Virgin Islands. P.O. Box 301825, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 00803-1825 http://www.catholicislander.com Telephone: (340) 776-6339 Fax: (340) 693-7685 E-mail: [email protected] Publisher The Most Reverend George V. Murry, SJ Editor-in-Chief Fr. Charles Crespo Contributing Editor Bernetia Akin Copy Editor Madeleine Anduze Staff Photographers Faye Abdullah-Boschulte Webmaster Br. James Petrait, OSFS Circulation Deacon Emith Fludd THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER * DECEMBER 2004 * 3 YOUTH GROUP PREPARES THE BLESSING OF PRE-THANKSGIVING DINNER THANKSGIVING MEALS The Catholic Youth in Action youth group at Ss. Fr. Charles Crespo, Pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas organized a pre- Carmel Church on St. John, blessed the meals that Thanksgiving dinner for their parents in the Hospitality Magdalene Charles, Bonnie Blair and Lea Hippolyte Lounge on November 21. They are pictured above brought to Thanksgiving Mass on November 25. praying together an Iroquois Prayer of Thanksgiving. NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK For the second year, Catholic Charities of the A yearly effort, activities were planned and held Virgin Islands (CCVI) and the V.I. Alliance Against one week before Thanksgiving. The National Coalition Homelessness/Continuum Care took part in National for the Homeless and National Student Campaign Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Against Hunger and Homelessness were co-sponsors promoting awareness of the homeless of the Virgin for this special week. This year’s theme was “Bringing Islands on November 14-20. America Home.” PARISH HOLDS COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON Continuing a tradition of five years, some parishioners of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John cooked, others served and still others went out into the streets to invite everyone who happened to be downtown at midday to an all-out fabulous Thanksgiving luncheon at the Nazareth Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall. The community meal straddled social structures and brought together at table a combination of parishioners, tourists, homeless people and those who had recently moved on island who might not yet have had a social network. Intended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church’s annual Thanksgiving community meal was held more as a community gathering than at the Nazareth Lutheran Church’s fellowship hall.