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M arch 2015 | catholic vi.com
ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD OF
father touchard
tignoua goula
local news
• Santo Niño Celebrations / 5
• Catholic Schools Week / 6
Special Report
• Key and Sword Gala / 8
Journey of Faith
• Father Touchard
Tignoua Goula / 15
From the Bishop’s Desk
Inside this issue
3 local news
8 special report
Keys and Sword Gala celebration
and benefit for the Cathedral of
Sts. Peter and Paul.
10 local news
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Celebration, St. Ann in
Barrenspot.
12 cover story
Another call answered: Another path chosen.
18 reflection
The mystery of suffering.
20 upcoming event Vatican astronomer to share his visions of the heavens at St. Thomas Forum.
22 parish calendars
25 ¡buenas noticias!
Cover photo
by Philbert Pinney
Please submit
news and digital photography for
the April 2015 issue of The Catholic
Islander by March 2, 2015.
Submit advertising to:
cbanks7143@gmail.com.
2
In the traditional raiment of their native Camaroon, (l-r) Msgr. Feudjio and Father
Touchard, with Father Louis celebrate Father Touchard Tignoua Goula's ordination to
the priesthood.
My Dear People,
As you know, the Church year contains
many holy days, feasts and seasons. One
of the important seasons of the year is
Lent. We observe the season of Lent for 40
days before Easter. It is designed to be a
time of penance and repentance, a time of
prayer and a time when we make a special
effort to draw closer to God. This year, this
special and very holy time of year began
on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Ash Wednesday is a day when you
receive blessed ashes on your forehead
as a reminder that you are not made for
this world, but for heaven. If you make
Ash Wednesday a truly spiritual day,
then you will be off to a good start for
the rest of Lent. So, Ash Wednesday
should be a day when you go to Mass and
receive holy Communion. On this day,
also consider making a good confession
and receiving absolution.
I would remind you that every Friday
of Lent is a day when we do not eat
meat. This is called abstinence. It is
good to remember that all Catholics
perform this act of penance together as
a sign that we all have sinned and need
to repent. In addition to giving up meat
on the Fridays of Lent, we should make
every effort to pray more fervently and
more often to Almighty God. Of course,
the greatest prayer is the holy sacrifice
of the Mass and the fruitful, sincere and
worthy reception of Our Lord in holy
Communion. Allow me to suggest the
daily recitation of the rosary as part of
your Lenten preparation for Easter.
May this Lent be a wonderful and truly
spiritual time for you, leading to a very
happy celebration of Holy Week and Our
Lord’s resurrection. As we enter into
Lent, I promise to remember you in my
prayers; please remember me in yours.
The Magazine of the
Roman Catholic Diocese
of St. Thomas in the
Virgin Islands
Father John Matthew Fewel
EDITOR
Charlotte Banks
Lillia King
ADVERTISING
Most Reverend Herbert Bevard
PUBLISHER
Jenny Bis
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
Sarah Jane von Haack
MANAGING EDITOR
May the good Lord bless and keep you,
- Bishop Herbert Bevard
Deacon Emith Fludd
CIRCULATION
Brother James Petrait, OSFS
WEBMASTER
Christine Joseph
Proof Reader
www.FAITHcatholic.com
Local News
Priestly Ordination
Father Touchard and seminary faculty, Father Kevin Zilverberg (left)
and Father Thomas Margevicius (right), who gave the homily at
Father's Mass of Thanksgiving.
Father Touchard with the
Knights and Dames of Malta.
Bishop Bevard holds a horse-tail fan from Cameroon, which has a traditional
significance of praising Christ; a royal fan for the King of Kings.
Father Touchard and cousins: (l) Henri Tassie, from
Cameroon and (r) Herve Lontsi, of New York.
Ordination photography by Philbert Pinney
3
Local News
Catholic Education in the Virgin Islands
Bishop Herbert Bevard Calls a Meeting on St. Croix to Strategize and Plan
Susan Diverio (center) leads a
strategization session at Holy Cross
Church in Christiansted.
THE GOAL:
Maximize potential in all four diocesan
schools – St. Mary’s, St. Patrick’s,
Sts. Peter and Paul, and
St. Joseph’s High School.
Father Patrick Lynch,
CSsR, is superintendent of
Catholic education.
4
Mrs. Patricia Dass (left) and Ms. Elizabeth JohnBaptiste, St. Patrick’s School principal.
Local News
Santo Nino
Celebrations in the
Virgin Islands
Bishop Herbert Bevard
imparts a birthday blessing.
Third year Theology Seminarian, Mr.
Emmanuel Suaner, and Father Wieslaw Bajor,
C.Ss.R., Holy Cross Parochial Vicar.
MORE SANTO NIÑO CELEBRATION PHOTOS ON PAGE 7
5
Local News
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
ST. MARY’S SCHOOL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK SCHEDULE
6
1/25
Mass at 11 a.m. at H.C.
1/27
“Shadow Day” for students/staff at St. Mary’s
1/28
Student presentations about scholastically affiliated saints
1/29
Eighth graders serve homeless
1/30
Spelling Bee grades 6, 7, and 8 and a poster contest highlighting the theme
of the week
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
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.
Santo Niño Mass at the
Cathedral of Sts. Peter
and Paul.
Mrs. Joy Garee,
hostess of post-Santo
Niño Mass dinner.
celebration.
Enjoying dinner and festivities in honor of Santo Niño are (l-r) Philbert Pinney,
Timothy Olive, Steve Olive, visting Father John Klevence, Seminarian Emmanuel
Suaner, and Josh Hamilton.
7
Special Report
Keys and Sword Gala Celebration and Benefit
for the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
Honorees Mrs. Esonia Monsanto-Hassell and Mr. Donald C. François fêted at white tie
Keys and Sword Award Dinner held at Marriott Frenchman's Reef Hotel
Msgr. Feudjio and Bishop Herbert Bevard are all set for the
premier social event and benefit of the season.
8
Deacon Jose
Vasquez
wife Tati.
The Catholic Islander
/ March
2015 / and
www.catholicvi.com
Keys and Sword Executive Co-chair Ms. Charlotte Banks
and event photographer Mr. Philbert Pinney.
Father Kerly François.
Ms. Lillia King, Msgr. Jerome Feudjio, Mrs. Esonia Hassell, Bishop Herbert Bevard and Mrs. Charlotte Banks.
Father Louis Kemayou and Mr. Frank Souza.
Father Touchard, recently ordained, and Father Bruce Anderson.
Father Neil Scantlebury.
MORE KEYS AND SWORD PHOTOS ON PAGE 16.
9
Local News
Feast of Christ the King Celebration, St. Ann in Barrenspot
Without a week to spare, the Stewards of Christ members
St. Ann’s Stewards of Christ Ministry is barely three months old
gathered the children of CCD classes to prepare them for the
and is already affecting the life and spirit of the parish!
To mark the feast of Christ the King, as the year of the Church monthly Children’s Mass. After a few rehearsals, the kids were
drew to a close, St. Ann Barrenspot Pastor Father Louis Kemayou ready to sing, read and serve those in attendance at the 9:30
called a meeting of the young and young-at-heart – ages 25-60 a.m. Mass on Dec. 7, 2014. After what was considered the most
– to discuss the desires of the people of St. Ann’s Parish family. inspiring service, the children were given a token of appreciation,
With that first meeting, a president was selected. At the follow-up with refreshments, in the Marian Hall by the members.
Shortly after the family at Barrenspot Hill rang in the New Year,
meeting, the agenda made it clear that a new ministry would be
born to bridge the gap between young and old. In only two weeks, preparations got under way to celebrate Martin Luther King,
the newly established Stewards of Christ Ministry was established, Jr. Day. Announcements were printed, donations collected and
many volunteers turned out on Jan. 19 to play, dance, eat and
planned and organized a grand event.
enjoy fellowship on the field under a
To enjoy the games, food, prizes
star-filled tent. The day started with
and more, the people gathered at
holy Mass. Afterward, there was
St. Ann’s Barrenspot in T-shirts
Zumba with instructor Mrs. Hoover,
emblazoned with “I know who I
then a barbecue lunch prepared by
am,” which was the theme of the
Mr. Henry, Ms. Williams and many
Christ the King Family Fun Day held
parishioners whose participation
on Nov. 23, 2014. The air was filled
continued into the late afternoon.
with the aroma of delicious dishes
Also, there were more games: lime
prepared by parishioners. The sound
and spoon, three-legged race, apple
of families' laughter was everywhere
on a string, kickball and hula hoop.
as men twirled hula hoops, children
Father Louis Kemayou, pastor of Sts. Joachim
Three has always been a symbol of
grabbed apples on a string and played
and Ann Church, Barrenspot, instructs his crew
unity, but the Stewards of Christ pray
other games. All present shared the
as they prepare century-old mahogany pews for
and will continue to work towards a
knowledge of one thing: that we are
refinishing. (l-r) Danos Boland, Aldon Rogers, Jose
never-ending fellowship of Catholics
the chosen generation, daughters
Saldaña and Roosevelt Taylor.
in their parish and community.
and sons of a king.
10
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
By Father Louis Kemayou
Father Louis Kemayou (center) and the Stewards of Christ.
Parish family, relatives and friends celebrate
with annual fun day and barbecue.
Mass was celebrated at 8:30 a.m. and the
festivities went on from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
11
Cover Story
Another Call Answered
A N O T H E R
PAT H
C HO SE N
By Father John Matthew Fewel
Father Touchard Tignoua Goula was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood
on February 14, 2015. What happened on this joyous occasion was more
than simply a change of status or ministry; it was a transformation which
we really can't fully appreciate, in this world. Just what it means to stand
in Christ's place, as every priest does, is nearly incomprehensible to
earthly sense and understanding.
The sacrament of Holy Orders changes
everything for both the man and for his
community. Ordination to this sacred
order takes an eligible Catholic man from
among his community, and makes him a
priest forever.
For the priest, the job which he has is
for eternity, so completely has his identity
been bound together: who he is, with what
he does. An analogy might be a father. Any
father lays down his life for his spouse and
their children. He is no more the former
person responsible only to his God, and
to his community, and to himself. Who
he is and what he does are bound up
inseparably in the fatherhood that is his
new life. In the life to come he will still be
the father of those children whom God
gave him. Another analogy - from the
spirit world - would be an angel. These
beings come and go before the throne of
God. They serve him with a characteristic
speed, power, devotion, and perfection.
But this word angel describes a messenger,
or a function. Yet, we think of the spiritbeing whose function is that of an angel
so closely with that role that, for us, God's
spirit-messengers are angels. A butcher,
a baker, a candle-stick maker; or an office
worker, a vehicle operator, or an educator
is not forever. Such kinds of positions in
life are among the immense variety of jobs
in the world which may make a career,
long or short. Yet, all such designations,
with their responsibilities, cease with the
breath of life if not before.
St. Paul told us, "... what we shall be has
not yet been revealed. We do know that
when it is revealed we shall be like him, for
we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2). Yes,
we are created in the image and the likeness
12
of God, both now, in our corruptible bodies,
and in the glorious bodies of the saved and
gorified, at the end of time.
From the moment when Bishop Bevard
offered the prayer of ordination and
anointed Father Touchard's hands, forever
sealing them with the sacred, consecrating
oil of chrism - he is indeed a new creation.
One of the greatest and most lamentable
tragedies of the Protestant Revolution
debacle is the loss for untold millions of
souls, of Jesus - through both his Real
Presence in the Eucharist and of the priest
who makes the Eucharist possible by
standing in the place of Christ.
Yet, how little is this great mystery of
the sacramental priesthood understood,
or even appreciated, today! How shocking
and dismaying it is to hear Catholics,
sometimes, disparaging or even
calumniating a faithful priest,
consecrated to God, over
some petty disagreement,
quarrel, or conflict. The
very priest who may
well hear their final
confession and bring
them the body of Christ
to sustain them against
the powers of hell as they
enter their final struggle.
The minister who is called
to stand, as it were, athwart
the gates of hell, guarding and
seeing the departing soul's safe passage
to Heaven. The priest holds, in the
sacraments, the keys to the kingdom: the
door to eternity. He wants to see every soul
entrusted to him safely through the portal
of inevitable death and into the blessed
and eternal presence. He must be seen
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
with spiritual eyes though it is difficult
sometimes to do so. The requirement of
the priest for you and I to get to heaven
is of such importance that, even though
the man himself may be imperfect and a
sinner; the sacrament that he administers
as the Church intends it to be done is valid.
"Valid" means guaranteed effective.
How explicit was Jesus, who said - at
the cost of many who would no longer
follow him, because of this utterance of
his - "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son
of Man and drink his blood, you have
no life in you." Without a priest there
is no sacred flesh nor precious blood of
Jesus to be had for our food. Without the
sacramental priesthood there could be no
Eucharistic adoration nor the possibility
of life, within anyone.
A priest ought not be compared nor
equated with so-called non-Catholic nor
Protestant pastors of any kind or stripe,
though such ministers' fame and eloquence
sell-out packed arenas or fill churches to
the rafters. Father is the authentic minister
of Jesus Christ. He alone, standing in
the Lord's very place, brings to Catholic
Mass and hence to the world at large the
very center of true worship: Jesus Christ
crucified, in his flesh. Christ present body, blood, soul, and divinity - in the
divine and Blessed Sacrament. It's not the
priest's preaching, though he may be a fine
homilist. A good priest's holy and likable
personal manner is genuine and a true
blessing to all - but not the point
nor the draw of the Mass. From
his consecrated hands comes
the consecrated Host, and
from nowhere else. From
his lips come the words
of Christ, which bring
him down upon the altar.
The wandering, straying,
Catholic who receives
any imitation of the sacred
meal eats perishable, spoiled,
food laced with the most
virulent poison.
No Catholic must ever eat the
true body of Christ while in a state of
mortal sin, nor ever share in the false; the
imitation, the so-called "symbols," of any
denomination, no matter how similar
they may appear to Holy Communion.
Such matters as these bear heavily upon
a man "taken from among men." This is the
Story continues on pg. 14
Journey of Faith
Father Touchard Tignoua Goula
T
he spirit of a missionary is captivated by the adventure of going forth, far
from home and family, to bring Christ to the world and learn the culture of a
new land. This description would perfectly describe Father Touchard Tignoua
Goula, a newly ordained priest for the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.
Born and raised in Cameroon, West Africa, Father Touchard came to St. Thomas in
2012 after feeling a missionary’s call.
“When I entered the
seminary,” he said, “I had
always thought my vocation
would be having a missionary
experience ... and in the
process of discernment, I came
to realize my spiritual vocation
of serving the people of God
far away from home. I ended
up applying for the Diocese of
the Virgin Islands, and I started
my process with the vocational
director, Msgr. Jerome Feudjio,
where they welcomed me in
this local church.”
Father Touchard was raised
in a Catholic household, one of
seven children, in Cameroon.
In his local church, he was
an alter server and sang in a
youth choir. After graduating
from high school, he entered
a religious order, the Priests of
the Sacred Heart of Jesus, also
known as the Dehonians.
Though he felt Christ
was calling him to serve the
Church, Father Touchard felt
the missionary experience was
where he belonged. “It started
in high school,” he said. “The
faith and the example of some
European missionaries who
were serving in Cameroon
were really impressive, seeing
the way they were living,
serving people with passion
and love, and were very happy
to do so; all that contributed
to starting my own idea of
thinking of the priesthood.”
The joy that he saw in the
men serving the Church was
instantly attractive, and showed
him a path to a deep happiness
in the priesthood. Father
Touchard explained, “For me,
I’m very convinced that there’s
more happiness to give than to
receive. This is the key element
that’s really pushed me in an
irresistible way to consecrate my
life in the service of the Gospel
and in the service of the Church,
because seeing the other priests
serving the people of God – [I
thought] sharing the Gospel can
make me happy, then!”
His early years with the
Priests of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus were transformational,
helping him grow in spirituality
and devotion. He attended
seminary schools in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
and in Cameroon. When he
came to St. Thomas, he spent
time at St. Paul Seminary in
Minnesota and on the Virgin
Islands to further his studies
and learn about the Catholic
culture here. “The biggest
challenges,” Father Touchard
admitted, “are leaving your
family and some cultural
misunderstandings. But with
prayer and perseverance, the
differences can be overcome.”
In our shared faith, he reminds
us, we are all brothers and
sisters. Regarding his family,
Father Touchard stays in
touch with his four remaining
siblings and his nieces and
nephews back in Cameroon
through email and phone.
Most of all, Father Touchard
is excited to serve and to get to
know the people of this diocese.
“I am very happy to be here,” he
said with a big smile, “I really
feel welcomed by the Bishop
and all the clergy, but also by
the people of the Virgin Islands.
Their support is motivating
to me and I am ready to serve
wherever I am needed.” When
asked about what he is looking
forward to, he thought for a
moment and said, “I think I
will enjoy sharing the Good
News of the Gospel with people,
and knowing we’ll be seeking
the will of God together. We
will try to make life better by
living according to the will
of God ... one of my favorite
spiritual passages is from the
second letter of St. Paul to the
Corinthians, which says, ‘So we
are ambassadors for Christ, and
it’s God’s ways of appealing for
us. We implore you on behalf
of Christ, be reconciled to God.’
This passage is very important
to me; it’s the motto of my
spiritual life!”
I’m very
convinced that
there’s more
happiness to give
than to receive."
By Paul McAvoy
13
Local News
Catholic Charities Update
Limelas (pledges) of the Iota Phi
Lamba Sorority serve a noon meal
at Bethlehem House Shelter for the
Homeless on Jan. 10.
Story continued from pg. 12 ...
nature of the eternal trust. As a mother or
a father are hopeful of eternal reward, and
friendship in heaven of the children God
granted to them, so will a priest surrender
himself for countless souls given by God
into his care. This is the path and calling
Father Touchard has heard and chosen to
accept, along with his brother priests.
Of all the occupations a man can choose
in this life it is only the call to the priesthood
that, when heard and answered with Mary's
own fiat: "Be it done unto me according
to your word," will be his very identity
throughout all of eternity. It is the one
answered question about heaven among
all heavenly realities; things unknowable or
inexpressible in human speech.
It is of utmost importance to pray for
all priests.
You won't be, once in heaven someday, the
earthly person you are during your earthly
life. Yet, Father Touchard is, in this life and in
the next; throughout all eternity - a priest!
14
Catholic Charities Director Michael
Akin presents a plaque to Rotary Club of
St. Thomas II President Anette Williams
in recognition of the club's volunteer
service at Bethlehem House Shelter for
the Homeless. Members of Rotary Club
of St. Thomas II serve a noon meal at
Bethlehem House every Saturday.
The first phase of construction on the
Housing/Outreach Center in Christiansted
is complete. Construction on the second
phase is expected to be begin in February.
The project is being funded through a
Community Development Block Grant
and is being overseen by the VI Housing
Finance Authority. The property was
donated to Catholic Charities by Mrs. Rita
Schuster. Once completed, the facility will
house 10 homeless individuals and will
include a soup kitchen, outreach center
and administrative offices.
EIGHT VIRGIN ISLAND STUDENTS NAMED TO DEAN’S LIST
AT LA ROCHE COLLEGE
La Roche College, a private liberal arts college in the North Hills of Pittsburgh,
Pa., is pleased to announce that eight students from the Virgin Islands were
named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2014 semester.
The Dean’s List recognizes the academic excellence of full-time students who
have completed a minimum of 12 credits and earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Part-time students are eligible at the completion of each spring semester if
requirements have been met during the course of the academic year. In all, 296
students were named to the fall 2014 list.
The following students are from St. Thomas: Desla Charley, graduate of
Ivanna Eudora Kean High School; LaKeem Duporte, graduate of Charlotte Amalie
High School; and Madainia Tavernier, graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School.
The following students are from St. Croix: Kai Javois, graduate of St. Croix
Central High School; Nadaisha Sheriff, graduate of St. Croix Central High
School; Kindra Smalls, graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex High School;
Cara William, graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex High School; and
Ernest William, Jr., graduate of St. Croix Educational Complex High School.
Catholic Charities’ March Food Drive | Please collect the following items at
your church, school, or workplace and bring them to Catholic Charities:
• Baking goods, cheese and cereals
• Infant formula and baby food
• Powdered milk, butter and canned vegetables
Special Report
Keys and Sword Gala
16
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
Local News
Catholic Schools Week
Faculty members take a break in
the shade on SJHS Health Class Day
activities during Catholic Schools Week.
The SJHS Catholic Schools Week
2015 observance concluded with
the annual 5 Mile Walkathon from
Frederiksted Fish Market. They passed
through Frederiksted and went by the
Oscar Henry Customs House, with the
beautiful sea and sandy beaches on the
left side, and concluded near the sub
sonar base. The walkers added another
mile by walking to the Vincent Mason
Resort, located next to the Sandy Point
National Wildlife Refuge. At the resort,
lunch was served to the group.
17
Reflection
THE MYSTERY OF SUFFERING
On Pope Francis’ recent trip to the Philippines, he met a 12-yearold girl who captured the hearts of people around the world. She
tearfully asked the pope why God allowed children to suffer.
The young girl, Glyzelle Palomar, to their lives. People suffer all around us.
used to live her life on the streets. She No doubt, we ourselves at times need to
was abandoned by her parents and left embrace the mystery of suffering.
to make her own way as best she could.
Perhaps the most difficult suffering of
Glyzelle broke down in tears as she asked: all is to lose someone; to have someone
“Why is God allowing something like this we love – a spouse, parent, sibling, close
to happen, even to innocent children? friend or, God forbid, daughter or son –
And why are there so few who are helping die. There are no easy answers to suffering.
us?”
One can read every theology book in the
Pope
Francis,
visibly
moved, world and still be left wondering about
responded: “Only when we are able to cry the question of suffering.
are we able to come close to responding
Sometimes when you go to a wake
to your question. There
or funeral, someone
are some realities
will say to the person
that you can only see
grieving, “This is the
through eyes that are
will of God for you.” Or,
cleansed by tears.”
“God is testing you.”
With all the suffering
I know when people
that is going on in the
say these things, they
world – with suicide
mean well. They are
bombings in markets
trying to help us. But
and schools, drug
when we think about
abuse and prostitution
it logically, it paints a
that can quickly snatch
rather stark image of
away a young life like
God as someone who
Glyzelle
Palomar's
almost willfully sends
pandemics such as
punishments into the
Job, Léon Bonnat, 1880,
the Ebola and AIDS
world or pains to test
painting. Web Gallery of Art©
viruses, – to name a few
people, to see if they
– any person naturally comes face to face will still follow God’s will.
with the question: “Why does a God who
We have also met people or heard of
is good and loving permit or allow such people who will say: “God is punishing
suffering into the world?” The question of them.” We can only respond, “Would you
suffering is one of the most challenging of punish your child?” They say, “No.” I do
any faith to address.
not think that God sends us suffering
We see physical suffering and people as a result of our sins and failures. It is
with medical conditions and serious often a consequence of hurtful behaviors,
diseases carrying great pain. We know but God is not punishing us by sending
there are people carrying great emotional sufferings our way.
pain. Some people suffer from depression
The entire Book of Job is taken up with
or schizophrenia. And then there are the question of suffering. You know the
people spiritually suffering; lost, without story, I’m sure. Job is a man who has
hope, in despair – no faith, no meaning everything: wealth, prosperity, friends,
18
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
Father Kevin MacDonald. C.S.s.R.
good health. And God allows all of this to
be taken away from him. And it’s a kind
of parable, to teach us something. Job
ends up losing his family, his wealth and
his health. He ends up sitting on a pile of
ashes. And his son called friends to come
to him. They try to give him theories on
why this happened. That it was his fault
or someone in his family’s fault. They tell
him to curse God, to be angry with God.
Job is in an utter abyss. He cannot
understand what has happened to him.
Yet he refuses to curse God. He struggles
to believe. He cries out to the living God:
“Why, oh why?”
In the story, God responds: “Job, do
you know all the mysteries of the world?
Who calls the day to dawn? Who brings
the night about? Have you walked on the
ocean floor? Have you been to the highest
peaks?” And Job can only respond, “No.”
In the Book of Job, we are given an answer,
not completely satisfying, that suffering
is a mystery. We will never know the
answer. There is a famous Austrian poet,
dead now, Rainer Marie Rilke, who said
this: “Sometimes we can only live with
the questions.” And if we live with the
questions, stay with them and mull them
over in our minds, perhaps slowly, over
time, we live into the answers.
The place to look in trying to
understand the mystery of suffering is to
look at our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus entered fully into our world. The
night before He died, He was terrified.
The Gospel of Luke says that Jesus was so
afraid, He sweated blood and begged His
Father to take this cup away from Him.
But He trusted. And on Good Friday,
we see our Lord Jesus face tremendous
suffering – humiliation, unjust judgment,
scourging, beating, crowning with thorns.
Local News
He is made to drag His cross to Calvary,
being cursed and spat upon all along the
way. Nails are pounded into His flesh and
He is lifted up, struggling to breath.
But perhaps the greatest suffering of
Jesus on the cross is not physical. He’s
been abandoned by all His disciples,
except for John, His mother Mary, and a
few faithful women. He cries out to His
Father, “My God, my God, why have you
abandoned me?” On the cross, Jesus is
saying to His Father, “Are you here with
me? Am I dying alone? Are you in this
horrible, dark place?” And then He says,
trusting, knowing His Father is with
Him, that the Spirit of God is present,
“Into your hands, Father, I commend my
Spirit.”
When God became a human person,
He did not run from suffering. He faced
the cross. And so, when we face the cross
in our life – be it physical pain, emotional
suffering, spiritual heartache at what the
news tells us of our world – we look at it
and say, "If God was at Calvary, and he
was; if God was dying on the cross, and
he was. Then God is in every place of
pain and suffering. God is there. God is
present. God has not abandoned the poor
and pain-filled people of the world.”
But it’s important to remember that our
faith is not only a Good Friday faith. Good
Friday leads to Easter Sunday. It leads to
resurrection, to Christ overcoming the
bonds of death and being raised up by
the Father in the Spirit to life eternal with
God the Father in heaven. We live that
hope. The funeral Mass prayer sums it up:
“There will come a time when every tear
shall be wiped away. We shall see you, our
God, as you are and become like you and
be with you, face to face.”
Fr. Eduardo and group offer prayer returning from
2015 March for Life in Washington, D.C.
Father Kevin MacDonald,
C.S.s.R., is a Redemptorist priest,
missionary preacher, evangelist
and retreat master. He visits the
Caribbean, the U.S. mainland and
overseas in his work. To contact
Father Kevin, call Sacred Heart
Church in New Smyrna Beach,
Fla., 386.428.6426.
19
Upcoming Event
Vatican Astronomer to Share His Visions
of the Heavens at St. Thomas Forum
herubs strumming lutes on feathery white clouds, or a whirling
mass of planets, asteroids, gasses and cold, dark matter relentlessly
pushing itself apart into nothingness? The two scenarios illustrate
an erroneous premise that religion and science are somehow at odds with
one another. Far from being opponents, the Church sees the two as partners
– and nowhere is that more obvious than at the Vatican Observatory.
C
“Science opens the heart and the mind
to the great questions thought by human
beings,” Pope Francis told a group of students
studying last summer at the observatory,
adding that the search for the answers is a
step toward “meeting with God.”
Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., has
been on that journey most of his life.
An astronomer and astrophysicist with
degrees from Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and a doctorate from the
University of Arizona, he is a teacher, the
sole or co-author of several astronomy
books, a popular public lecturer and
an active researcher. He is also a Jesuit
brother. He recently received the
prestigious Carl Sagan Award from the
American Astronomical Society for
his work in making difficult scientific
concepts accessible to the general public.
20
Brother Consolmagno will be the Forum’s
guest speaker on Mar. 19 at 7 p.m. at the
Prior-Jollek Hall at Antilles School on St.
Thomas. His topic is: “Are Asteroids Fluffy?”
In an email interview, he said he finds
asteroids interesting because they “are the
building blocks of the solar system; we have
to understand how these small bodies are
put together before we can understand how
the planets themselves were put together.
Besides, I like to think of them as little
places where someday astronauts may have
adventures! Because they are relatively easy
to get to – and get from, having little gravity
of their own – it’s clear to me that asteroids
will be the first places of our solar system
to be thoroughly explored by humans, even
before Mars or the moon.”
His talk in the Forum’s lecture series
will focus on the science. “I am first and
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
foremost a scientist,” he said. “However,
doing the science gives me the credibility
to speak on science and religion issues ...
the reason why the Church supports us
in this work is precisely to encourage the
faithful to embrace science and recall that,
in the words of St. Paul (in his letter to
the Romans), since the beginning of time,
God has revealed Himself in the things He
has created.”
Pope Leo XIII established the Vatican
Observatory in 1891, following centuries
of Church-sponsored scientific research.
It now has two locations: Castel Gandolfo
near Rome and in Tucson, Ariz. Each is a
research facility equipped with telescopes,
the newer one in Arizona being one
of the most technologically advanced
instruments currently in use.
Until recently, Brother Consolmagno said
he spent most of his time in Rome, but since
he took on the duties of chief fundraiser for
the Vatican Observatory Foundation, he is
usually in the United States.
“I am still keeping up with my scientific
research, however,” he said. “I am mostly
interested in the small bodies of the solar
system – asteroids, comets, the bodies out
beyond Neptune – and the meteorites in
our collections here on Earth that have
sampled those bodies in space.”
In 1996, he spent six weeks with a National
Science Foundation team collecting
meteorites on the blue ice of Antarctica.
In 2000, the International Astronomical
Union honored his work with the naming
of “asteroid 4597 Consolmagno.”
Tickets for the March 19
lecture are $20 for the general
public, $10 for teachers and
$5 for students.
Tickets are available at
www.instantseats.com
or at Chelsea Drug Store,
Frenchtown Deli, Interiors, the
Medicine Shoppe and at the
door (availability permitting).
Story by Bernetia Akin
Order of Malta
Virgin 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.
Call 774.2166 for information
21
St. Thomas Calendar
Tridentine Mass in St. Thomas,
5 p.m. on Sundays
The traditional Latin Mass is offered at
5 p.m. Sunday evening in the Chapel
of the Little Flower. Confessions at 4:30
p.m. Come and experience the Mass
celebrated though millennia that has given
us our beloved saints who intercede for us
faithfully in heaven. English/Latin Mass
pew booklets are provided. For more
information, call the cathedral office at
340.774.0201 and ask for Father John
Fewel. Adoramus te in pacem, Domine Deus!
Catholic 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.
▶H
oly 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
▶S
t. Thérese Chapel-Divine Mercy Shrine
has Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Tuesday through Friday 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 Group
A team is prepared to pray for the needs
of all who ask at Holy Family Church on
Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
22
Bishop Bevard with visiting priests at Santo Nino festivities. (from left):
Father Anthony Manupella, Father Frank Foley, Father Robert Pasley, Father Chris
Coffey, Bishop Bevard, Father Glenn Evers, Father John Solomon, Father John
Klevence, Father William Cocco.
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.
Pro-life Rosary
Pray a pro-life rosary at Our Lady of
Perpetual Help Church on Wednesdays at
5:45 p.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, Mediatrix of All
Graces, meets in the St. Anne Chapel
Hall on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
Magnificat
Magnificat, 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 Group
The Sons of Joseph and Mary meet at
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Our Lady of Fatima Devotion
The 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.
Pro-life
Bound 4 Life USVI, the diocesan pro-life
group, meets at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
Church every other week. There is also a prolife Holy Hour and Mass at 6 p.m. on the first
Friday of the month. For more information,
visit Facebook.com/bound4lifeUSVI or call
the OLPH Church office at 340.774.0885.
Rosary Walk
Sts. 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 Workers
The 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 Society
The 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 Fatima
The World Apostolate of Fatima meets at
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on
Thursdays at 7:30 a.m.
Our Mother of
Perpetual Help Devotions
Devotions 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.
Advertise your business in The Catholic Islander! Call 340.774.3166, Ext. 213, for rates.
23
St. Croix Calendar
Divine Mercy Chaplet
St. 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 Spirituality
The 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 3 p.m.
Rosary Prayer Group
Cenacle of Our Lady of the
Rosary Prayer Group meets
at the Franciscan House every
Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Holy Hours/Eucharistic
Adoration
▶ Holy Cross Church has Holy
Adult Education
The St. Patrick Alumni Association offers
an After School Tutorial Program, which
is coordinated by Sister Claina Letang,
I.C.M. They are now also operating as a
Public Computer Center, which is part
of the ViNGN Digital Literacy Program.
It is open to the public during scheduled
mornings to mid-day.
Bible Study
Holy Cross Church hosts Bible studies
in McAlpin Hall on Wednesdays and
Saturdays at 9 a.m., following morning
Mass.
Carmelite Spirituality
The 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.
24
Charismatic Prayer
▶ St. Patrick Church has charismatic
prayer in the chapel on the third Friday
of each month at 6 p.m.
▶ St. Ann Church has charismatic prayer
in Marian Hall on Tuesdays at 7 p.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 Ultreya
Cursillo 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 Majella
Pray a devotion to St. Gerard Majella at
Holy Cross Church on Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m.
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
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.
▶ St. Ann Church has a Holy Hour with
exposition of the Blessed Sacrament,
evening prayer and Benediction every
Friday at 5:30 p.m. except First Friday,
when Mass is celebrated at 5:30 p.m.
▶ St. Joseph Church has a full day of
Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday
beginning with Holy Mass at 6:30 a.m. and
concluding with Benediction at 6 p.m.
Knights of Columbus
Holy Cross Council 6482 meets at Holy
Cross Church’s McAlpin Hall on the first and
third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m.
St. Patrick Youth Ministry
Come be with us and enjoy a variety of
St. John Calendar
¡Buenas Noticias!
exciting activities as St. Patrick parents
and youths mix work and play to spread
the Gospel message on St. Croix. For
more information, contact Father
Boniface Blanchard at 340.772.0138.
Magnificat
Magnificat, an international ministry to
Catholic women, meets at Franciscan House
on the third Sunday of each month at 3 p.m.
Neo-catechumenal Way
The 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 Devotions
Devotions 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 Unborn
St. Joseph Church hosts a bilingual
English/Spanish rosary for the unborn on
Fridays at 6 p.m.
Santo Niño
St. 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 Associates
The 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 Reflection
Parishioner Dora Tira (center) was
named Employee of the Year for the
Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center on St. John.
All-night Vigil
Our Lady of Mount Carmel holds an
all-night vigil on the first Friday of each
month after the 7 p.m. Mass.
Charismatic Prayer
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
hosts an evening of charismatic prayer on
Thursdays at 7 p.m.
Eucharistic Adoration
Our 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 Meals
Our 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 Mary
Presidium Mary, Queen of Angels, meets in
the Guadalupe Hall of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel Church on Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
Men’s Fellowship
Men’s Fellowship meets the first and third
Sunday of each month.
Pray 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.
Spanish Mass
World Apostolate of Fatima
Mass is celebrated each Sunday at 12:30
p.m. at the John’s Folly Learning Center in
Coral Bay. For questions or transportation,
call the church office at 776.6339.
The World Apostolate of Fatima meets
in the chapel at Holy Cross Church on
Tuesdays at 5 p.m.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel has Spanish
Mass at 6 p.m. Sundays.
Sunday Mass in Coral Bay
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 Los jueves después de
la misa de las 7 p.m. los cursillistas
tienen su Ultreta. Las reunions en el
trailer, en la oficina del Movimiento
de Cursillos, 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.
25
Visit the website of the Diocese of
St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands at
www.catholicvi.com
Visit the Diocese of St. Thomas in the
Virgin Islands on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/dioceseofstthomas
Read The Catholic Islander online at
www.catholicislander.com
26
The Catholic Islander / March 2015 / www.catholicvi.com
John Thomas
Memorial Chapel
Serving the
U. S. Virgin Islands
for over 40 years!
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27
Buying, Selling, or Renting?
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St. Croix
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#2 Hospital Street, Christiansted
Call today: (340)773-8790
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