Five New Deacons for the Virgin Islands Priesthood Road to the · for the november 2013 issue of...

D i a c o n a t e O r d i n a t i o n i n S t . T h o m a s i n t h e V i r g i n I s l a n d s

Road to thePriesthood

Five New Deacons for the Virgin Islands

Deacon

Boniface

Twaibu

Father Eduardo

Ortiz-Santiago

Deacon

Bruce Anderson

2 The Catholic Islander / October 2013 / www.catholicvi.com

The Magazine of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands

Most Reverend Herbert A. Bevard PUBLISHER

Msgr. Michael F. Kosak, P.A.EdItoR

Deacon John FewelASSIStAnt EdItoR

Sarah Jane von HaackMAnAGInG EdItoR

Jenny Bis

GRAPHIC dESIGnER

Charlotte BanksLillia KingAdVERtISInG

Bernetia AkinPRoofREAdER

Gerry LewisDeacon Emith Fludd

CIRCULAtIon

Brother James Petrait, OSFSWEBMAStER

October 2013Vol. 29 : Issue 8

The Catholic Islander is published monthly by the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. P.O. Box 301825, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 00803-1825 Website: www.catholicislander.com telephone: (340) 774-3166 ext. 213, fax: (340) 774-5816 © FAITH Catholic™.

Please submit news, digital photography and advertising for the november 2013 issue of The Catholic Islander by october 3, 2013.

Submit news and articles to: [email protected]. Submit advertisements to: [email protected].

Inside this issue:

4 Local News

6 Spotlight on Youth

8 ¡Buenas Noticias!

10 Journey of Faith

12 Cover Story

14 Theology 101

16 Saint of the Month

17 In the Know with

Father Joe

18 Spiritual Fitness

19 Work Life

20 World News

22-26 Parish Calendars

Catholicthe

from the bishop’s desk

My dear peopleIn the next few issues of The Catholic Islander, I will be offering a commentary on the new encyclical Lumen Fidei (Light of Faith) that was released on July 5. Here I offer you some original text from the document to consider.

the Most Reverend Herbert A. Bevard, bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.

Introduction:“Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets ... In the absence of light everything becomes confused; it is impossible to tell good from evil, or the road to our destination from other roads which take us in endless circles, going nowhere.”

We Have Believed in Love“Faith, tied as it is to conversion, is the opposite of idolatry; it breaks with idols to turn to the living God in a personal encounter. Believing means entrusting oneself to a merciful love which always accepts and pardons, which sustains and directs our lives, and which shows its power by its ability to make straight the crooked

lines of our history. Faith consists in the willingness to let ourselves be constantly transformed and renewed by God's call.

“Our culture has lost its sense of God's tangible presence and activity in our world. We think that God is to be found in the beyond, on another level of reality, far removed from our everyday relationships. But if this were the case, if God could not act in the world, his love would not be truly powerful, truly real, and thus not even true, a love capable of delivering the bliss that it promises ...

“Christians, on the contrary, profess their faith in God’s tangible and powerful love, which really does act in history and determines its final destiny; a love that can be encountered, a love fully revealed in Christ's passion, death, and resurrection.”

î find the encyclical online at:

http://www.vatican.va

33


Catholic Charities’ october food drive

Please collect the following items at your church, school or workplace and bring them to Catholic Charities:

Tuna fish | Macaroni and cheese | Mixed vegetables

Reunion – The graduating class of 1963 of St. Patrick School celebrated its 50th anniversary with a grand reunion Mass at

St. Patrick's Church in June.Digital Literacy Program

On August 28, a special celebration was held for the adult participants in the Digital Literacy Program at the St. Patrick Learning Center Public Computer Center. This first class was coordinated by Sister Claina Letang, ICM, and Pamela Andrews, assistant. The participants received their digital literacy certificate and also a crtificate of attendance. On hand to congratulate the participants were Meridith Nielsen, who was very involved in the program, and Anastasia Doward, president of the St. Patrick Alumni Association, Inc.

Golden Wedding Anniversary

A special Golden Anniversary Blessing was given to Horst and Isabel Cerni by Father John Juszcak, pastor of Holy Cross Church, on September 1. Exactly 50 years ago, on Sunday, September 1, 1963, Isabel Belardo and Horst Cerni were married at Holy Cross. Horst, a native of Germany and a Lutheran, had never heard of the Virgin Islands before they got married here. Afterwards, they lived in New York City, where their three children were born.

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, honored Isabel and Horst with a certificate and an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis on the occasion of their 50th anniversary.

Father John blesses Isabel and Horst on their 50th anniversary.

5

local news

Volunteers – The Hergenroeder family came down to the islands from Pennsylvania at the beginning of August to volunteer to

help out at Sts. Peter and Paul School for a week to help fix and clean up some of the classrooms. In addition, they helped out

in the Chancery. Photographed (l-r): Msgr. Jerome Feudjio, Mark Hergenroeder, David Hergenroeder, Steven Hergenroeder, Father

Louis Kemayou and Richard Hergenroeder.

Men's Retreat

Father Simeon Gallagher, OFM Cap, from the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado, has been a regular guest of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral over the years. During his most recent visit in September, Father Simeon gave a retreat on the topic of “Men’s Spirituality.” Many couples attended, as did singles, to hear the talk, which offered insight into the traditional and often overemphasized role of men as masculine protectors and providers.

With wit and wisdom, Father Gallagher challenged the men in his audience to strike the proper balance in their roles as husbands and fathers, or bachelors and single men, with their softer side, too. “Men need to feel free to cry when they need to,” said Fr. Gallagher, “and in the dynamic of family and society, families need to offer them that space, too. A balance of strength and openness to fuller human expression in men, and in women, will bring an overall healthier expression of love in families and communities.”

Prayer Meeting – Janice Mathurin gives a presentation at a prayer meeting at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. The prayer

meeting, which is held on Thursdays at 7 p.m., is flourishing, with almost 30 people in attendance every week.

Like us on Facebook at Catholiccharitiesvi

College-Bound – Trevor Valery, an altar server at St. Joseph Church, left for college this fall. Father John Mark presents him with a plaque for his many years of service as an altar server.


For the latest diocesan news and photographs, visit

catholicislander.blogspot.com

updated twice weekly!

spotlight on youth

The Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands is on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/dioceseofstthomas

St. Mary’s School

Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year! At St. Mary’s Catholic School, we are truly excited about continuing our rich, century-plus legacy of serving the St. Croix community. At. St. Mary’s, we strive to develop the whole child. Help us to continue our rich legacy of serving you. Registration is on-going, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visit the Catholic school websites:Ss. Peter and Paul School: www.spps.vi

St. Joseph High School: www.sjhsvi.com

St. Mary School: www.hcccstx.org

teacher orientation – The combined faculties of St. Joseph High School and St. Patrick's School attended a teacher orientation meeting on August 14 at the St. Joseph Church Social Hall. Father John Mark, principal of St. Joseph High School and pastor of St.

Joseph Church, gave a thoughtful presentation, “Seven Qualities of the Catholic Mind,” which was well received by the teachers.

7Advertise your business in The Catholic Islander! Call 340.774.3166, Ext. 213, for rates.

Physics Class

On August 29, members of the St. Joseph High School physics class took part in a lab investigation designed to show the acceleration of a falling object due to gravity. Students stood around outside the classroom window and took turns tossing a tennis ball into the air while their teacher, Br. James Petrait, O.S.F.S., made a video recording of the event from the classroom window. Afterwards, the students viewed a slow-and-stop motion video of the movement of the tennis ball, which clearly illustrated the changing speed of the ball due to the acceleration from gravity. This photo is a “still” from one of the frames of the video showing the tennis ball at its high point after being tossed by one of the students on the right side of the photo.

Visit the website of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands at

www.catholicvi.com

Spring Concert – St. Patrick School Steel Orchestra held its Annual Spring Concert on June 9 at St. Gerard’s Hall. This was made

possible through a grant from Virgin Islands Council on the Arts.

St. Patrick School – Members of the sixth grade class humorously demonstrated the dangers of not following school

rules during school orientation.

Choir – The St. Joseph High School Choir performed for the opening school Mass at St. Joseph High School on Aug. 21 at

St. Joseph Church. The choir is made up of 12th grade students and is led by one of the 12th grade students, Kedisha Charles. Teacher Austin Bowen does the musical accompaniment on the keyboard. The choir is shown in the St. Joseph Church Choir loft

after the Mass on Aug. 21. The choir leader, Kedisha Charles, is third from the left in the front row, while Mr. Bowen is in the

middle of the second row.

The Catholic Islander / October 2013 / www.catholicvi.com8

Protection of Children

The Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands is committed to protecting children from all harm. If you have knowledge of any church worker who may have abused a minor, please contact the diocesan child protection coordinator, Callista Julien, at 340.778.0484 or 340.772.4214.

¡buenas noticias!

Eventos Mensuales

oración Carismática Las oraciones en español se ofrecen en el Salón de Hospitalidad de la Catedral de San Pedro y san Pablo los lunes a las 6 p.m.

La Ultreya Todos los jueves después de la misa de las 7 p.m. los miembros del cursillo se reúnen en su Ultreya. Las reuniones son en la oficina de la iglesia de San José y son en español.

Legión de María El presidium hispano María, Arca de

la Alianza se reúne en el Salón de Hospitalidad de la Catedral de San Pedro y San Pablo los domingos a las 2 p.m.

nueva Misa en Español La iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen de la isla de Saint John está ofreciendo una misa en español todos los domingos a las 6 pm. El celebrante oficial es el padre Eduardo Ortiz Santiago, párroco de la comunidad hispana de la catedral.

oración y Reflexión Se reza el Santo Rosario y se comparten las reflexiones de las

lecturas del domingo siguiente, en la iglesia de Holy Cross los martes alternados a las 7 p.m. Las reuniones son en español.

Rosario por los no nacidos La iglesia de San José invita a los rosarios bilingües en español e inglés por los no nacidos todos los viernes a la 6 p.m.

Santo niño En la iglesia de San José se rezan las devociones del Santo Niño (el Santo Niño Jesús) los primeros sábados de cada mes a las 4:30 p.m. Durante este tiempo se ofrecen confesiones.

El Obispo Beverd hizo su visita canonica a la iglesia de san José el fin de semana del 7-8 de septiembre, aqui esta junto con el padre John Mark durante

la misa en español de las 10 a.m. el domingo 8 de septiembre.

Ada Raya-Maldonado esposa del difunto diácono Angel "Tito" Maldonado, se fue a la casa del padre a reunirse con su

amdo esposo el martes 27 de agosto, 2013. Siempre te extrañaremos.

Descanda en paz.

9


11By Paul McAvoy

John Fewel was born and raised in California, and attended Mass with his mother, father and six siblings. “My mother and father were both converts,” he said. “They converted around the time they were married. We all went to Catholic school, and my elder brother was in seminary when I was in high school.”

John felt a calling and followed his brother into seminary, but found that it was not what he expected. After three months, he decided it was not for him. After finishing a two-year degree, he transferred to the University of California at Berkeley and began studying English literature. It was the late 1970s. “It was a very interesting time,” he said. “The upheavals of the 1960s were past, but it was still a period of change.” John left U.C. Berkeley before graduating, and got married. He and his wife had three children: Joshua, Brinda, and Mary Rose. They lived in the San Francisco Bay area, where John was an airline mechanic.

During this time, John had gotten away from the Church. “I tried out a number of different Christian congregations,” he said, but did not find anything that stuck. His marriage was also facing difficulties; in 1994, he and his wife divorced.

In 1999 his life took another dramatic turn. “My [ex]wife had passed away, tragically. We were raising our three children, separately, when she died. And then three children in crisis moved into a new home ... and that was a major moment for me because of all the turmoil that could generate. It was a terrible time for them, for all of us.” John had remarried in the late 1990s, and had an infant daughter with his second wife when this happened. As his children came to live with him, burdened by the grief of their mother’s passing, the strain on his family became greater. The marriage fell apart, and his second wife ended up moving back with her family to New York.

Tragedy then struck again. His daughter Mary Rose, who was in eighth grade at the time, died suddenly from a seizure condition. John was devastated. “That, for me, for her father, was a crisis moment,” he said. “That was the moment. After many difficult, somewhat crushing experiences, Mary Rose’s death in 2002 was pretty much – that was my make or break point.”

John’s grief and his mourning were deep, lasting more than two years, and he credits this life event with a rekindling of his faith. He received grace from God to persevere through it, and even use his experience to connect with and counsel a couple who were grieving over their own child’s death.

By helping that couple, John felt a tug back towards a life that he had once considered – a life of ministry, and service, in the Church. He began attending Mass again.

He received the sacraments and was welcomed back into the Church. John began praying the rosary at a perpetual adoration

chapel in his parish. He grew in his friendship with the pastor, Father James O’Brien. One night, over dinner, Father O’Brien asked if John had ever considered the priesthood. He had, he said, but that was many years ago. Still, something about the conversation lingered. “I began to reflect on ‘why’ – because there had been a lot of pain in my years in between, and much joy, the joy of my children and joys of marriage, but a lot of tragedy, too,” John said. After much thought, he approached Father O’Brien with the thought that he might still have a vocation.

A few years prior, John’s second wife had remarried a Catholic man, and their daughter was baptized a Catholic, too. She and John requested an annulment from their previous marriage and received one. His children were grown, and he could consider a vocation to the priesthood.

“Father O’Brien helped me through my confession and my annulment, and he counseled me on this vocation that I had left many years before. And that’s when I first heard about Blessed John XXIII.”

Blessed John XXIII is a seminary for men with later vocations – all are over 30 years old and many, like John, in middle age. Through a friend of his pastor, he was introduced to Bishop Bevard. After a trip to St. Thomas to meet with the Bishop and learn about the Diocese, he decided to apply to the priesthood for St. Thomas. “I came down and I absolutely felt at home here,” John said. “The people, the place – it is wonderful and welcoming.”

John returned to the States to study at Blessed John XXIII. There, he said, he encountered the challenges of living life in community as an adult, but he also found sources of inspiration and holiness in his classmates, his professors and the priests he met there. Some, like him, had been married and lived rich lives, raising children. Others had lived interesting bachelor lives with careers and community service. The experience with older seminarians taught John that, “Even though we may be older, we can be a beacon ... We have a faith in God, a love of the Lord and we may find that at this point in our life, we have an awful lot to give."

After studying for three years, Deacon John is back on St. Thomas full time, and will be working at St. Ann Chapel and for The Catholic Islander. He is excited about his new ministries, and is busy preparing for his ordination to the priesthood in 2014. He says with pride that his children and his mother will be there (they all have been very supportive of his vocation, and his daughter even converted and had her children baptized). Most of all, John is ready to begin this phase of his life journey, and his vocation journey – a journey that has taken him to many places and through varied experiences, but, in the words of his late father, “Always, back to the Eucharist.”

The first thing you should know is that this is not a typical vocation story. John Fewel, who was ordained a transitional deacon this past August, does not fall into the standard categories for a man who is on the road to priesthood. The story of his faith journey contains many twists and turns, triumphs and heartbreaks which were critical in forming John into the man he is today. And what that is, above all, is a man who is

ready and eager to serve the Lord as a priest in the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.

journey of faith


v


Since his installation in 2008, Bishop Bevard has urged the Diocese to forge ahead on many fronts: the major restoration of the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul; the renovation of the beautiful chapel of St. Anne, in Frenchtown; the ongoing, laborious, very fruitful work of mission-appeals; the creation of the Office of Superintendent of Catholic Education; the launching of scholarship programs; and the installation of a beautiful chapel at St. Joseph High School. These are but a few prominent examples, yet they are each evidence of a steady commitment and dedication to our own diocesan mission, which is to

save souls.Recent years also have seen the

opening of the St. Theresa Chapel-Divine Mercy Shrine. Located in Charlotte Amalie next to the Cathedral Office on Main Street, the chapel was a gift of His Excellency, Bishop Emeritus Elliott Thomas and his family. In addition, the Diocese is blessed to have five men in the final stages of priestly formation. Thus, the Diocese, and its many apostolates and outreach programs, will have sufficient priests ordained to the apostolic ministry to labor in the building up and leading of Christ's bride, the Church, in the new millennium. This month's cover photo

In the last five years, the Diocese of St. Thomas has taken on many problems and worked tirelessly to achieve many goals. Several of these projects were initiated at the first Diocesan Convocation, called in 2004, by Bishop George V. Murry, and held at St. Ann Church, in Barrenspot, St. Croix.

Road to the PriesthoodF i v e N e w D e a c o n s f o r t h e V i r g i n I s l a n d s

introduces three new deacons ordained at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul on August 17: Deacon John M. Fewel, Deacon Kerly Francois and Deacon Touchard Goula Tignoua.

In the spring of this year, Bishop Bevard ordained two other men to the diaconate: Deacon Bruce Anderson and Deacon Boniface Twaibu. These five men have undertaken the office of deacon as a transitional step on the way to their ordination as priests for the Diocese of St. Thomas in the very near future.

Featured in the September 2013 issue of The Catholic Islander, Deacon Bruce Anderson shared with our readers some thoughts on his life and vocation. He spoke of growing up in Philadelphia, Pa., and how important to his family, and to him, was the service of our Lord and His Church.

In this and in the following three issues of The Catholic Islander, our new deacons will share the stories of

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard with the newly ordained deacons and members of the clergy after the Mass of Ordination.

13

v

13

Bishop Bevard believes that a

shortage of priests ... is reversible. ... he, together with Vocation Director Monsignor Jerome Feudjio, is working hard to ensure that there will be no shortage of priests here in the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.

by Deacon John M. Fewel, Assistant Editor

cover story

their calling and response to God’s invitation. Each will tell how he came to this significant step in his vocation; to the sacrament of Holy Orders, of service, which is the very heart and soul of the sacred order of the diaconate.

In this issue, Deacon John Fewel shares his call to priestly formation, which began in his birthplace, California, and has taken him across the United States, and finally to St. Thomas (see pages 10-11). In the November issue, Deacon Boniface Twaibu will relate his own story. He, like others who are serving far from the place of their birth, finds himself thousands of miles away from his native Republic of the Congo, in Africa. In the December issue, Deacon Kerly Francois will relate his journey from his home in Haiti. Most of Deacon Francois’ preparation for the priesthood was completed there before coming to the Virgin Islands, where he has already begun ministering to the growing and vibrant Haitian community in St. Thomas. Deacon Touchard Tignoua will complete the roster of our five new deacons in the January issue. A native of Cameroon, Africa, Deacon Touchard likewise completed almost all of his formation before he followed the call to a far-away place to serve the King of Kings.

Father Eduardo, who was ordained in 2012, holds a special place among these brothers. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Father Ortiz came to St. Thomas from the States. He is the first among this group of men to be

ordained a priest. In his own journey to the apostolic ministry, Father Eduardo shared with some of our new deacons and other men studying for the Diocese of St. Thomas the prayerful, focused and Christ-centered life of a seminarian.

The rapid increase in the number of seminarians in formation for the Diocese of St. Thomas inspired the editor of The Catholic Islander to create this series. These stories will undoubtedly be followed by many, many more. Bishop Bevard believes a shortage of priests, though a very serious reality the world over, is reversible. Noting the

strides being made by U.S. bishops and vocation directors to reverse this trend, he, together with Vocation Director Monsignor Jerome Feudjio, is working hard to ensure there will be no shortage of priests here in the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.

Bishop Bevard shares a belief cherished by his predecessor bishops that God in His mercy has selected enough men to answer His call to service in His Church; and that it is only left to the faithful to pray earnestly that the Lord of the Harvest will send those workers into the field.

Deacon Kerly Francois receives the Book of Gospels from Bishop Herbert Bevard.

Bishop Herbert Bevard congratulates Deacon John Fewel after the

Ordination Mass.

Deacon Touchard Goula Tignoua presents the precious blood during the Mass of Ordination.


Jesus Christ has made it possible for us to share in the divine nature by conforming to Him through the grace of the Holy Spirit imparted to us through the sacraments.

This is especially true in the case of the sacraments of Christian initiation – baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. In baptism, the faithful are born anew; by confirmation, the faithful are strengthened; and in the Eucharist, the faithful are nourished by the food of eternal life.

BaptismThis sacrament is named after its central rite, i.e. the baptizing

(from the Greek to “plunge” or “immerse”) of the catechumen. This action symbolizes the person’s “burial into Christ’s death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as ‘a new creature.’”

Prefigured in the Old Testament, baptism found its fulfillment in Jesus, who gave His apostles this mission: “Go therefore and

The Celebration of the Christian Mystery: SacramentS of InItIatIon

make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20)

The Grace of BaptismOne of the two principal effects of baptism is the purification

from sins. “By baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin.” In baptism, the person truly is reborn with nothing remaining that could impede his or her entry into the kingdom of God. However, temporal consequences of sin remain in the baptized, “such as suffering, illness, death, and such frailties inherent in life as weaknesses of character ... as well as an inclination to sin that tradition calls concupiscence.”

The other principal effect of baptism is new birth in the Holy Spirit. The baptized person becomes a new creature, “an adopted [child] of God, who has become a ‘partaker of the divine nature,’ member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.” In baptism, the baptized receive the grace of justification. This grace enables the baptized to “believe

15

Theology 101

Catechism Quiz

Q: The faithful are obligated to take part in the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days and to receive the Eucharist ...

(a.) on Sundays and feast days(b.) at least once a month(c.) at least once a year(d.) daily

A: (c) At least once a year, but the Church strongly encourages the faithful to receive the Eucharist on

Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily. CCC 1389

Archbishop Thomas MorrisArchbishop Thomas Morris (1914-1997) was an Irish theology professor at St. Patrick’s College for 18 years before he was appointed archbishop in 1960. He attended the Second Vatican Council.

On the implementation of Vatican II:

“I feel that, at a lot of points, the implementation of the Council decisions has gone beyond the council. I think the implementation of the council has been very uneven throughout the world. A lot depended on what was there before the council. You don’t change the practice in a diocese overnight just because there’s been a council.”

On the interpretation of Vatican II by theologians:

“As to the interpretation of the council, the theologians are the ones who encourage trends and develop theories and if they don’t defend the essentials, then the essentials are in great danger.

But today the theologians have fairly well divided themselves. In America, I think some of the theologians have sold out on the modern favorite questions of morality and sex, abortion, marriage.”- Excerpts from a 1992 interview by RTÉ’s (Ireland’s national television and radio broadcaster) religious affairs correspondent Kieron Wood.

in God, to hope in Him, and to love Him through the theological virtues;” gives the baptized “the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit;” and allows the baptized “to grow in goodness through the moral virtues.”

ConfirmationThe sacrament of confirmation is “necessary for the

completion of baptismal grace.” In confirmation, the baptized is anointed with oil (a sign of abundance, joy, cleansing, healing, and strength) and is thereby consecrated, or imprinted with the seal of the Holy Spirit. As Christ was marked with His Father’s seal, Christians are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit indicating “our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in His service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological [end times] trial.”

The primary effect of the sacrament is the “full outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.” Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace. It unites us more firmly to Christ; increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit and renders more perfect our bond with the Church; and gives us a “special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ ...”

The EucharistThe sacrament of the Eucharist (from the Greek meaning

“thanksgiving”) completes Christian initiation. The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” The other sacraments, along with all the work of the Church in her ministries, are bound up with and oriented toward the Eucharist. “The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the people of God by which the Church is kept in being.” In short, the Eucharist is the “sum and summary of our faith.”

Christ’s Real Presence in the EucharistJesus Christ is present to the Church in many ways: in

His word, in the Church’s prayer, in the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, in the sacraments, in the Mass, and in the person of the minister. At the same time, He is most especially present in the eucharistic species, i.e. in the bread and the wine.

The whole of Christ, i.e. his body and blood together with his soul and divinity, is “truly, really and substantially” contained in the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist. This means that Christ is present in the fullest sense when the bread and wine are converted into His body and blood through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is important to reiterate that the Church does not use this language to communicate that Christ is present in the eucharistic species in a merely symbolic way. The Council of Trent clearly states that “by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of His blood.”

The FruitsThe principal fruit of the sacrament of the Eucharist, or holy

Communion, “is the intimate union with Christ Jesus.” This communion “preserves, increases and renews the life of grace received at baptism” and completed at confirmation. It is indeed the bread of life that nourishes and sustains us in the Christian life.

The Eucharist also commits us to the poor where, again, Christ is present. Finally, the Eucharist is the sure pledge and clear sign of “the glory to come.” When this “mystery is celebrated, ‘the work of our redemption is carried on’ and we ‘break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ.’” (Quotes from the Catechism (1212-1405) unless otherwise noted)

By Doug Culp, CAO of the secretariat for pastoral life at the Diocese of Lexington, KY.


saint of the month

dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

S. K

endrick

conflict resolution

One of my co-workers informed me that not only is she a vegetarian, it is unacceptable for her if her veggie burgers are cooked on a grill that has cooked meat, or with utensils that have touched meat. How far do I need to go to accommodate these requests?

We are hosting a party for co-workers. Do I have to go out of my way to accommodate a vegetarian co-worker?

In an instant, everything can change; a life can be forever transformed. Of course, the kind of change envisioned here

is the movement that issues forth from the Spirit following an encounter with the truth, who is a person, Jesus Christ.

Consider the story of St. Bavo (also known as Allowin or Bavon). Born near Liège, Belgium, to a Frankish noble family in 622, young St. Bavo earned a reputation for being wild and selfish. His lack of respect for the dignity of others was epic. He even sold his servants to other nobles as slaves. And the fact that he served as a soldier had little impact on his very undisciplined and disorderly life.

Despite all this, he did manage to enter into an advantageous marriage through which he was gifted a daughter. Then, in one moment, everything changed for St. Bavo. Shortly after the death of his wife, he heard a sermon by St. Amand at Ghent and was moved to convert to Christianity. He soon proceeded to give all his money to the poor – as material goods lost all appeal to him. In response, he entered the monastic life where his life became characterized by fervent penance: from choosing a hollow tree trunk for his first dwelling to having one of the servants he had previously sold into slavery lead him by a chain to the local jail.

St. Bavo’s life witnesses to the

transformation that is offered to us by Jesus, if we are but open to hearing the Word of Truth. Of course, once we do hear the truth, a response is demanded. Jesus teaches us that we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him if we are to be His disciples. In a like manner, St. Augustine, following up on St. Paul’s instruction in Romans that faith comes from hearing, indicates that we must respond to hearing the Word of God by first believing them. By believing, he explains, we become obedient to God’s commands; by being obedient, we can live a good life; by living a good life, we grow in purity of heart; and with a pure heart, we can begin to understand what we believe.

St. Bavo chose to respond to the truth by allowing himself to be moved by the Spirit into an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus that completely altered the trajectory of his life. His story also serves to remind us that to know the Truth and then live as if the Truth does not exist is a poison far more deadly to the soul than death of the body. St. Bavo entered peacefully into his eternal rest on October 1, 659.

Be MovedSt. Bavo | octoBer 1

Vegan and vegetarians may differ in how strictly they adhere to their chosen restrictions. For example, lacto vegetarians eat non-meat animal products and honey, but no fish, chicken, meat or gelatin. Vegans avoid

eggs, dairy products, honey, meat and gelatin. Scripture offers several vegetarian restrictions; Genesis 1:30 is one example.

You may consider having your vegetarian co-worker cook with you.

You may order some food from a local vegetarian restaurant. Make sure when ordering that your co-worker’s dietary restrictions are met. Tell the restaurant your needs and they will steer you in the right direction.

17

father Joseph Krupp is a priest in the Diocese of Lansing, Mich.

in the know with fr. joe

Q Dear Father Joe, I am worried my children will not have a funeral Mass for me – can I still go to heaven?

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Thank you for your question; it’s really important that we pause and take a look at what

the Church says on this, as it seems to me we are in danger of accidently stepping over a treasure when it comes to funerals.

First things first: I’ve got to tell you that on the whole “going to heaven or not” thing, I have no idea. When we talk about who is in heaven or hell, we leave that to Jesus. Instead, what I’d like to do is describe to you just a few of the blessings of a Catholic funeral Mass and see if that doesn’t help you to have a good conversation with your kids about why you want a funeral Mass. Whatever the results of that conversation, I invite you to trust that God doesn’t judge us for what other people decide for us: He is Justice, Mercy and Love. Finally, I don’t know if this gives you comfort, but, in the past, I’ve done a Funeral Mass by myself for people I know would want one, but whose kids didn’t do it.

So ... with all that in mind, why have a funeral Mass?

First of all, because we pray for the dead. All of us understand that those who have lost loved ones need our prayers, but I think it’s important to remember that those who have died need them, too. I won’t go into purgatory here because I lack the space and have written on it in the past, but a key idea to purgatory is that people there pray for us and we for them. In doing this amazing thing, we continue our relationship with our beloved dead through Jesus. Father Ron Rolheiser wrote beautifully on this topic:

“Praying for the dead, our faith assures us, not only consoles us, but also offers real strength and encouragement to the loved one who has died ... Picture, for example, a young child learning to swim. The child’s mother cannot learn for the child, but if she is present and offering encouragement from the edge of the pool,

What If We Don’t Have a Catholic Funeral – Do We Still Go to Heaven?

the child’s struggle and learning become easier. Things are more easily borne, if they can be shared. This is true even for a person’s adjustment to the life in heaven.”

Once we realize the utter and complete importance of praying for the dead, the next step is to look at the liturgy because, as a general rule, there simply is no better way to pray than to pray a Mass together. Beyond that knowledge, we can see in the Mass the perfect answer to our grief: the reason for our hope of our resurrection, a means to find and offer comfort to those who mourn and a reflection of the life of heaven.

The funeral liturgy is, before anything else, all about Jesus. When we celebrate Jesus together in the liturgy, we are celebrating the reason we have hope in our time of loss. There is no life of goodness that we can live which would cause us to earn it. “Being a good person” doesn’t even come close to getting us there – no, the reason we have hope for heaven is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. In our funeral liturgy, we who know and love Jesus hear and reflect on His life in the Gospel and we participate in His Last Supper. In this, we draw hope that the love which compelled Him to live, die and rise for us is the reality that will bring us to heaven.

The funeral liturgy also helps us to find and offer comfort to those who mourn. Section 379 of the Catechism reads:

“The Church offers the Eucharistic Sacrifice of Christ’s Passover for the dead so that, since all the members of Christ’s body are in communion with each other, the petition for spiritual help on behalf of some may bring comforting hope to others.”

That really nails it. By standing together with Jesus in defiance of our circumstances, the Christian community can strengthen each other to say, “This hurts, but Christ has conquered it.” We who individually draw strength from our hope in Jesus find that hope strengthened by the community.

Finally, our funeral liturgy is also to serve as a reminder to us of the life of heaven. The funeral Mass is, at its core, an echo of the life of heaven.

Think of it this way: Imagine that you have worked your whole life to be a professional baseball player. You’ve done

the drills, worked hard at staying fit and strong and listened to the wisdom of the coaches and experienced players. After a long time of training and moving up through the system, suddenly, the manager points at you and says “Go in.” At that moment, no one would consider saying “No thanks, coach.”

We’d spring up and run into the game before the manager changed his mind!

In the same way, we who pray personally and communally, we who life the sacramental life of the Church in our everyday lives, do so, knowing that it’s all a reflection of what we’ll experience in heaven.

So, please explain to your children, talk to your priest even and put it in writing, if necessary, how important this is to you. Above all, though, remember and rest assured that the Lord will not judge you for something over which you have no control.

In the end, there is much more to write, but I think we’ve got enough here; we are so blessed to share our Catholic faith!

Enjoy another day in God’s presence!

I invite you to trust that God doesn’t judge us for what other people decide for us: He is Justice, Mercy and Love.


Come Let Us Adore Him – Eucharist Adoration

Over the past few months, I have been talking about the Eucharist. I want to focus this month on a deeper understanding and practice of Eucharistic Adoration. Many parishes around the country are having Eucharistic Adoration. It is a time of great grace to

kneel before the Lord (or sit, if needed) to be in quiet before Him. Why do we do that? To honor God for the gift of His life for our salvation; to be in his presence in gratitude that He makes Himself so available to us; to bring our concerns to Him who never turns a deaf ear, who never turns away from us – even for a moment. He is with us – Emmanuel.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a time to adore Him, to thank Him, to seek His direction. I encourage husbands and wives to spend some time in adoration together. Thank Him for all the good things He has done for you and your family. Then take time to bring your concerns for your children and grandchildren – pray together for these things. God honors your marriage vows when you come in prayer before Him together. Times of adoration can be a very good time to lay your concerns together before His face.

Those of you who serve the parish or are involved in some other ministry: regularly come as a group before the Lord, to adore and thank Him and then to ask for help in the ministries in which you are serving. Bring everything to God for guidance and wisdom and courage where needed. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a marvelous time to make your needs known – after a time of adoration and thanksgiving.

In 2001, John Paul II wrote a marvelous apostolic letter entitled Novo Millennio Ineunte (Toward the New Millennium) in which He talked about Eucharistic adoration. He encouraged us to take time gazing on the suffering face of Christ. He asked us to draw from the Scriptures the accounts of Christ’s suffering for us. Read for example, before the Blessed Sacrament, Isaiah 52 and 53, which speak prophetically of the suffering

the Messiah would endure for you and me. Read the Gospel accounts of the suffering and death of Christ on the cross. See Matthew, Chapters 26 and 27 and John, 18 and 19, Luke 22 and 23. Read slowly before the Blessed Sacrament. See what Christ did for you. Ponder and be grateful. In these times, as you sit quietly in His presence, He will seek to draw you closer to Himself. Give God time ...

Then John Paul II urges us at another time to gaze on the risen face of Christ. Read Matthew 28, Luke 24 and John 21.

Christ did all this for you. As the truth and the power of his word penetrates our distracted and sometimes our overburdened minds and hearts, we will be more and more conscious that we are not alone in our trials, that He loves us infinitely and has made it possible for us to share life with Him for all eternity. As we ponder the resurrected face of Christ, we will grow not only in faith but in hope. Put your roots down in the truth of His Word.

The Catechism tells us: “It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. Since Christ was about to take his departure from his own in His visible form, He wanted to give us His sacramental presence; since He was about to offer Himself on the cross to save us, He wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which He loved us "to the end," even to the giving of His Life. In

His eucharistic presence, He remains mysteriously in our midst as the one who loved us and gave Himself up for us, and He remains under signs that express and communicate this love.” (CCC 1380)

“The Church and the world have a great need for eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet Him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.” (Dominicae Cenae, 3)

“Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since He is the Truth, He cannot lie.” - St. Cyril of Alexandria

Eucharistic Adoration • Find a church that offers a time of

prayer before the exposed Blessed Sacrament.

• Take your Bible with you when you visit.• Genuflect before the exposed

Blessed Sacrament upon entering.• Kneel in opening prayer.• You may choose to remain kneeling

or to sit. • Slowly read the Scriptures. • Let God’s Word, His truth, begin to

re-order your priorities. • Don’t be discouraged if you fall

asleep or are distracted. • Just return to acknowledging His

presence and asking His help. • Kneel in closing prayer.• Genuflect before the exposed

Blessed Sacrament before departing.

For Migrants and Refugees October 2013

O Lord, to whom no one is a stranger and from whom no one is ever distant, look with compassion on migrants and refugees. Restore them to their homeland, protect them in their travels, and give them security in a strange place.

Give us a kind heart to welcome the stranger among us and a generous spirit to provide for their needs.Give us the vision to see that we are part of a worldwide family and help us to share your bountiful gifts with those who are without food or family, home or hope.For in welcoming them, we welcome you. Amen.

spiritual fitness

By Sister Ann Shields


Our office invited clients and all of the workers to a party to celebrate the company’s anniversary – it sounded great until I found out we are supposed to work doing things like checking coats, etc. And, of course, it’s all gratis – the dinner is our only pay. Is this fair?

Sounds like the party is more for clients than for

employees, but then again, without clients, there are no employees.

Maybe you can reframe your fairness concern.

• Is it unfair to show appreciation to the clients who pay for your company’s services and provide you income?

• Is it unfair to enjoy solidarity with your co-workers, providing cheerful service in a festive setting?

• Is it unfair to increase your stock with your employer by showcasing your good attitude and professionalism at an important client event?

• Is it unfair even if you didn’t get a dinner?

You suggest that an injustice is being done to you. If justice is to give to the other his due, what are you owed that you’re being deprived of, a violation of an employee right?

Your disappointment is

understandable. You were looking forward to a work-free, care-free evening. But don’t equate your letdown with a grievance, making you bitter toward your employer and spoiling the occasion. There’s nothing but downside with that scenario.

Employers notice and really appreciate workers who go the extra mile. Outstanding employees don’t balk at pitching in. They readily handle extra assignments and aren’t too puffed up to do a lowly task – especially when it’s under their pay grade. They’re eager to serve and do so happily. If there’s not much work to do, they’re actually frustrated.

So what kind of employee do you want to be?

I have a friend who’s a devout Christian and successful

consultant. One of his clients owns a construction firm that hosts an annual customer appreciation lunch. It’s a big job for the employees. They cook, set and serve tables, greet and clean up. It’s a big job. Though he’s not a customer, my friend was invited. He accepted but also asked to help. This highly paid professional ended up chopping vegetables and stirring gumbo in 90-degree heat, but he enjoyed every minute of it. He was not unaware that he was indebted to his client. They pay for his services.

So don’t be a grump. Check those coats with a smile. Enjoy yourself. Love your customers. Compliment your co-workers. Thank your boss for a nice dinner.

And make sure you have seconds. You deserve it.

work life


Permanent deacon ministry growing – almost 15,000 active

in the United States

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) conducted a survey of 193 of the 195 U.S. dioceses showing the number of permanent deacons continues to increase. To view the report on permanent deacons, visit www.usccb.org/diaconate.

Survey shows most Americans view abortion as a moral issue

A new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Religion and Public Life Project found that only 15 percent of Americans say that having an abortion is morally acceptable, while almost half say that it is morally wrong.

Former charity head confirmed as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican

The United States Senate confirmed former Catholic Relief Services head Ken Hackett to be the next ambassador to the Vatican; confirmation was by unanimous consent of senators.

Pope to consecrate the world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart

Pope Francis will consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary October 13 as part of the Marian Day celebration, which will involve the statue of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima.

Defending life in politics is part of the New Evangelization

Participating in the political process in favor of human life is part of the New Evangelization said Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, head of the Church’s highest court – the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.

world news World News

Colombia to host 2014 World Congress on Divine Mercy

The Bishops’ Conference of Colombia has announced that the capital city of Bogota will be the site of the third World Apostolic Congress on Divine Mercy, to be held August 15-19, 2014.

Pope celebrates Mass with hosts made by Argentine prisoner

Since July, Pope Francis has been celebrating Mass each day in the chapel at St. Martha’s Residence with hosts made by Gaby C., a woman in prison in Argentina.

Spanish government criticized for silence

The Spanish civil liberties website Mas Libres has criticized the Spanish government for failing to advocate on behalf of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Catholic sentenced to die under Pakistan’s blasphemy law.

Pro-life petition could spark European legislation

A citizen-led initiative in Europe is nearing the 1 million signatures needed to prompt a discussion on human life, and push for an end to funding of abortion and embryo-destroying research.

Quebec contemplates ban on religious garb, crucifixes for doctors

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois has lent support to a “Charter of Quebec Values” that would ban the wearing of religious garb and crucifixes by public employees.

î Visit www.usccb.org/diaconate

Listen to The Catholic Islander Radio Hour WSTA 1340 AM

Sundays at 6 p.m. or online at

catholicislander.com


Our Blessed Mother’s Message from MedjugorjeAugust 25, 2013

“Dear children! Also today, the Most High is giving me the grace to be with you and to lead you towards conversion. Every day I am sowing and am calling you to conversion, that you may be prayer, peace, love – the grain that by dying will give birth a hundredfold. I do not desire for you, dear children, to have to repent for everything that you could have done but did not want to. Therefore, little children, again, with enthusiasm say: ‘I want to be a sign to others.’ Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Courtesy of the Order of Malta | John and Claire Foster

Order of MaltaVirgin Islands Area

the order of Malta is raising funds for His excellency, Bishop Bevard’s

catholic Scholarship Program through the sale of commemorative bricks. the bricks will be installed in the rosary Garden at our Lady

of Perpetual Help church. this is a great way to remember a loved one or express gratitude to

God for answering a prayer. Your message will last forever.

î Call 774.2166 for information


parish calendars St. Thomas CalendarCatholic Daughters of America Court 2049 meets at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on the third Saturday of every month at 3 p.m.

Charismatic Prayer• Prayers in Spanish are offered at Sts.

Peter and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on Mondays at 6 p.m.

• Holy Family Church holds evenings of charismatic prayer on Mondays at 7 p.m.

Divine Mercy Chaplet • Altar servers from Sts. Peter and Paul

Cathedral and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church lead the Divine Mercy Chaplet at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral on Mondays at 3 p.m.

• The chaplet is prayed at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on Tuesdays at 3 p.m.

Holy Hours/Eucharistic Adoration• St. Therese Chapel-Divine Mercy Shrine

has Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. until Benediction at 5:30 p.m. (Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.) and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until Benediction at 1 p.m.

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church has Exposition on Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m. until Benediction at 6 p.m. and on Fridays at 6 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m.

• Holy Family Church and St. Anne Chapel have Holy Hours with Exposition and Benediction on Fridays at 6 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m.

Intercessory Prayer GroupA team is prepared to pray for the needs of all who ask at Holy Family Church on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Knights of Columbus Council 6187 meets at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on the first and third Sunday of every month at 10 a.m.

Legion of Mary• Presidium María, Arca de la Alianza,

holds meetings in Spanish at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on Sundays at 2 p.m.

• Presidium Mary, Mystical Rose, meets in Holy Family Church’s classroom on Sundays at 3 p.m.

• Presidium Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, meets in the St. Anne Chapel hall on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

MagnificatMagnificat, an international ministry to Catholic women, meets at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on the first Saturday of every month at 8 a.m.

Men’s Prayer GroupThe Sons of Joseph and Mary meet at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Our Lady of Fatima DevotionThe Children of Mary lead a devotion to Our Lady of Fatima at Holy Family Church on the first Saturday of every month at 4 p.m.

Our Mother of Perpetual Help DevotionsDevotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help are prayed before Mass on Wednesdays at:• Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral at 6:45

a.m. and noon• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at

6:15 p.m.• Holy Family Church at 6:50 p.m.• St. Anne Chapel at 7 p.m.

Pro-lifeBound 4 Life USVI, the diocesan pro-life

group, meets at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church every other week. There is also a pro-life Holy Hour and Mass at 6 p.m. on every first Friday of the month. For more information, visit Facebook.com/bound4lifeUSVI or call the OLPH Church office at 340.774.0885.

Pro-Life RosaryPray a pro-life rosary at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on Wednesdays at 5:45 p.m.

Rosary WalkSts. Peter and Paul Cathedral hosts a rosary walk on the first Saturday of every month at 7 a.m., followed by Mass at 7:30 a.m.

St. Joseph WorkersThe St. Joseph Workers meet at Holy Family Church’s Columban Hall on the second Sunday of every month at 9:30 a.m.

St. Vincent de Paul SocietyThe Young Vincentians meet on the third Sunday of every month at 11:30 a.m. The adult members meet on the fourth Saturday of every month at 3:30 p.m. Both groups meet in Holy Family Church’s classroom.

World Apostolate of FatimaThe World Apostolate of Fatima meets at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on Thursdays at 7:30 a.m.



parish calendars St. Croix Calendar

Adult Education• The St. Patrick Alumni Association, Inc,

offers an After School Tutorial Program coordinated by Sister Claina Letang, ICM. They also are now operating as a public computer center, which is part of the ViNGN Digital Literacy Program. It is open to the public during schedule mornings to mid-day.

• The Religious of the Good Shepherd offer Adult Education Classes in Spanish at the Good Shepherd Center from Monday through Friday. These courses include Spanish writing, English as a Second Language and computer courses in Windows, Word, Excel and Internet.

Bible StudyHoly Cross Church hosts Bible studies in McAlpin Hall on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m., following morning Mass.

Carmelite SpiritualityThe Our Lady Star of the Sea Community shares Carmelite spirituality in the St. Joseph Church Hospitality Lounge and Learning Center on the fourth Sunday of each month at 1 p.m.

Charismatic Prayer• St. Patrick Church has charismatic

prayer in the chapel on the third Friday of each month at 6 p.m.

Santo Niño

• St. Ann Church has charismatic prayer in Marian Hall on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

• The Cenacle of Our Lady of the Rosary Intercessory Prayer Group meets at Franciscan House on Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

Cursillo Prayer Group The Cursillo Movement hosts a Spanish prayer meeting in the St. Michael Chapel at St. Joseph Church on the last Monday of every month at 7 p.m.

Cursillo UltreyaCursillo members meet for Ultreya in the Cursillo office at St. Joseph Church on Thursdays after the 7 p.m. Mass. Meetings are in Spanish.

Devotions to St. Gerard MajellaPray a devotion to St. Gerard Majella at Holy Cross Church on Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m.

Divine Mercy ChapletSt. Joseph Church hosts Divine Mercy devotions on the fourth Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. The hour-long program includes the chaplet, prayers, adoration and teachings of the Divine Mercy by Father John Mark.

Franciscan SpiritualityThe Our Lady of the Angels fraternity of the Third Order of St. Francis shares Franciscan spirituality at Franciscan House on the fourth Sunday of each month at 2 p.m.

Holy Hours/Eucharistic Adoration• Holy Cross Church has Holy Hour

following the 8:15 a.m. Mass followed by Eucharistic Adoration until 1 p.m. on the first Friday of every month.

• Holy Cross Church has Eucharistic Adoration with confession from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday.

• St. Patrick Church has a Holy Hour with Exposition and Benediction on Fridays after the 8 a.m. Mass.

• St. Patrick Church has a full day of Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays during the Year of Faith.

• St. Ann Church has a full day of Eucharistic Adoration every Friday


Visit the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/dioceseofstthomas

Visit the website of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands at

www.catholicvi.com

Need Spiritual Direction?• Sister Patricia Alexander, W.I.f., is available for spiritual

direction at Franciscan House on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Call 340.778.5773 for an appointment.

• deacon Hyacinthe George is available for prayer and counseling at St. Ann Chapel on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.

Santo Niño

during the Year of Faith beginning with Holy Mass at 6:30 a.m. and concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m. All are invited to come out and intercede for our family, community, Church and nation in silent prayer, praise and thanksgiving before the Blessed Sacrament.

• St. Joseph Church has a full day of Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday during the Year of Faith beginning with Holy Mass at 6:30 a.m. and concluding with Benediction at 6 p.m.

Knights of ColumbusHoly Cross Council 6482 meets at Holy Cross Church’s McAlpin Hall on the first and third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m.

Legion of MaryPresidium Mary, Our Lady of Grace, meets in the Holy Cross Church rectory on Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.

MagnificatMagnificat, an international ministry to Catholic women, meets at Franciscan House on the third Sunday of each month at 3 p.m.

Neo-Catechumenal WayThe Neo-Catechumenal Way leads a Celebration of the Word at St. Joseph Church on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.

Our Mother of Perpetual Help DevotionsDevotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help are prayed at:• St. Patrick Church on Wednesdays at

6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. • Holy Cross Church on Wednesdays and

Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. • St. Joseph Church on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Rosary for the UnbornSt. Joseph Church hosts a bilingual English/Spanish rosary for the unborn on Fridays at 6 p.m.

Santo NiñoSt. Joseph Church hosts devotions to the Santo Niño (the Holy Child Jesus) on the first Saturday of every month at 4:30 p.m. The sacrament of reconciliation is offered during this time.

Shepherds of Christ AssociatesThe Shepherds of Christ Associates meet for prayer in the St. Michael Chapel of St. Joseph Church on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. and on the second and fourth Sunday of every month at 5 p.m.

Spanish Prayer and ReflectionPray the rosary and share reflections on the readings of the coming Sunday Mass at Holy Cross Church on alternate Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Meetings are in Spanish.

World Apostolate of FatimaThe World Apostolate of Fatima meets in the chapel at Holy Cross Church on Tuesdays at 5 p.m.


parish calendars St. John Calendar

Take your camera to church! Email your photographs of parish or school events to: [email protected]. Please include information about the event for the caption.

All-Night VigilOur Lady of Mount Carmel holds an all-night vigil on the first Friday of each month after the 7 p.m. Mass.

Charismatic PrayerOur Lady of Mount Carmel Church hosts an evening of charismatic prayer on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

Eucharistic AdorationOur Lady of Mount Carmel Church has Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction on Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Free MealsOur Lady of Mount Carmel Church’s Kallaloo Kitchen: Food for the Soul feeds the needy in the parish’s Guadalupe Hall on Mondays and Fridays at noon. Volunteers are welcomed.

Legion of MaryPresidium Mary, Queen of Angels, meets in the Guadalupe Hall of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.

Men’s FellowshipMen’s Fellowship meets the first and third Sunday of each month.

Spanish MassOur Lady of Mount Carmel has Spanish Mass at 6 p.m. Sundays.


Serving the U. S. Virgin Islandsfor over 40 years!

John Thomas Memorial Chapel

Advertise your business in The Catholic Islander! Call 340.774.3166, Ext. 213, for rates.

Providing efficient, friendly and professional service for over 18 years.

Toll free: (800)773-8788E-mail: [email protected]: www.sunrealty.vi

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