September is Catechetical Month

Happy feast day to all Catechists - This Sunday is celebrated in our Diocese as Catechetical Sunday. All the catechists will be re-commissioned during Sunday Mss for the New Catechetical year 2007-2008. Let us support our catechists and especially parents - remember you are the first catechists to your children at home!
PARENTS NOTE: Sunday School sessions start Next Sunday !!!

Farewell to the Martha Sisters

Since 1986 at the invitation of Bishop Donald Reece, Sisters of St. Martha from Nova Scotia in canada has established a mission outside of canada in St. Kitts and for the last 21 years have worked tirelessly in St. Kitts. Due to lack of younger personel they will not be able to work any more in St. Kitts and are closing the Convent. OnMonday, August 13th at 6.00p.m there will be a special Thanksgiving Mass for their many years of service.

THANK YOU SISTERS !!!!

Motto of the Sisters of St. Martha: Deo Soli – For God Alone

Mission Statement: We, Sisters of St. Martha, inspired by God’s graciousness,
hear, embrace and respond to the cry for Gospel hospitality.

The following sisters served in St. Kitts:

Sister Joan Fultz, 1986-1989, Coordinator of Religious Education
Sister Anita Driscoll, 1986-1995, Nursing to the elderly. Weekly health clinics at Basseterre and Conaree
Sister Antoinette Chiasson, 1986-1992, Home Visiting, Prison prayer services, Sessions on Scripture, etc.
Sister Genevieve MacDonald, 1986-1993, Taught Grade VI at St. Theresa’s Convent School
Sister Brendalee Boisvert, 1990-1994, Coordinator of Religious Education for the parishes
on the Island of St. Kitts, assisted with Religious Education on other Islands in the Diocese
Sister Theresa Parker, 1992-1998, Coordinator of Christian Living at St. Theresa’s and St. Joseph’s Schools, Peacemakers Youth Group with Patrice Mills, facilitated the teaching of English to the Spanish speaking people from Dominican Republic.
Sister Veronica MacNeil, 1993-1994, Grade II teacher at St. Theresa’s Convent School
Sister Clotilda McIntyre, 1994-2000, 2006-2007, Pastoral Ministry with a social
thrust: advocacy for the needy, Cardin home, Society of St. Vincent DePaul, prison ministry
Sister Mary McMahon, 1996-2002, Nursing to the elderly in their homes. Health clinics
weekly at Basseterre and Conaree
Sister Donna Brady, 1996-2001, Adult Faith Development: Ministry Formation Institute
Helped develop CAWA.
Sister Joan Walker, 2001-2005, Pastoral Ministry: Prison, Cardin Home, Hospital, elderly
Sister Loretta Gillis, 2002-2006, Spiritual Development: spiritual direction, sessions on prayer,
prayer with the elderly in their homes.
Sister Agnes Beaton, 2004-2007, Volunteer at St. Theresa’s and St. Joseph’s Schools, Parish Ministry: RCIA, parish council, youth

Many of the sisters assisted with Communion to the sick and shut-ins at the hospital and in the home.

NORTHERN DEANERY MEETING

A meeting of the clergy and pastoral administrators of the Northen Deanery took place in the Basseterre Presbytery on Tuesday, May 22. In attendance were Fr. Larry Finnegan from Virgin Gorda, Fr. Nihal Abeyasingha from Tortola, Fr. Antonio Ritaccio from Nevis. Fr. Digno Jore send his apologies from Anguilla as his working visa is not yet sorted out. Fr. Ramil who is assigned to Sandy Point has not arrived yet in the Caribbean. Sr. Margaret Hansen SSpS, pastoral administrator from Molineux parish in St. Kitts was only woman among men. Fr. George Agger, former dean was also invited to share and participate in the meeting. Br. Ivano, a seminarian in Nevis also took part as an observer. Of course the local clergy: Fr. Bernard Latus, the new dean and Fr. Xuan Ho also participated. The meeting was a time of sharing our joys, experiences and concerns and it was good to be together especially for those who are alone on an island.

BRIMSTONE HILL CATHOLIC PENTECOST EVENT

Our usual PENTECOST BRIMSTONE HILL CELEBRATION is going to be on Sunday, May 27 starting with the FESTIVE CATHOLIC ALL-ISLAND EUCHARIST at 10.00 a.m.

There will be lunch on sale at 12.30p.m. Tickets only $15 and drinks will also be on sale (please support the Sandy Point Fund-raising).

There will be many other attractions for children youth and adults: Bouncing castle for children (bring some change and support out catechetical program), cricket and domino competition, and many other games with prises to win.

CAR PASSES & LUNCH TICKETS are on sale in the Parish Office

Biblical Sabbath & Christian Sunday - Weekned Course - April 13-14, 2007

This is the time when we in the Christian church reflect upon the impact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Lord's Day which commemorates it. Why we celebrate the Lord's day and not the Sabbath? What is the essence of Biblical Sabbath? Why the Adventists and others accuse us catholics of changing Sabbath into Sunday? What did we retain in the celebration of the Lord's Day from the Biblical Sabath?

Thses and many more quastions will be answered at the Weekend workshop on "Biblical Sabbath & Christian Sunday"

You are invited to join in the two day workshop on Biblical Sabbath & Sunday starting this Friday (April 13) evening 6.00p.m. - 9.00p.m

We begin with the short introduction to the Jewish Sabbath Celebration and then at 7.30p.m. we will celebrate a sumptious Sabbath meal according to Jewish customs.

and on Saturday April 14
Saturday morning (April 14) from 9.00a.m. until noon (12.00p.m) - The Sabbath Commandment(s) in the Bible. - A serious Bible study of the sabbath commandment in the bible and biblical understanding of sabbath.
Noon until 5.00p.m. - Sabbath Rest (please refrain from doing any work)
5.00-7.00p.m. - Why not Saturday(sabbath) but Sunday (the Lord's Day)?

Registration: $25 (which includes Kosher sabbath evening meal - on Friday; and light lunch on Saturday)

You may pay your registration fee when you come but you have to register by Thursday (April 12) evening (9.00p.m. - no later registartions accepted !). You can do it by e-mail or phone. Just give me your name. Please register soon as we want to keep the workshop to maximum 10-12 participants.

The venue for the Sabbath meal will be the Prebytery Board Room, on East Independece Square, Basseterre

Marriage Encounter Weekend

A weekend course for the Engaged Couples who intended to marry in next twelve months will be held from Friday evening April 20 till Sunday morning April 22. Please register as soon as possible for the course.

This course is not a lived in course: Friday: 7.00-9.00p.m. Saturday: 9.00-12.00a.m. (Break for Lunch - included) and 1.00-4.00p.m.

Sunday Mass will be the presentation of the Certificates.

The cost is only $50 per couple.

HOLY WEEK CELEBRATIONS

The precepts of the Catholic Church say that each catholic should participate in the Sacramental Penitential Rite and make confession of sins at least once a year. Beside regular Saturday confessions twice a year in Advent and Holy Week we have organized Penitential Rite with the opportunity for the private confessions. Please take opportunity to do it on monday or Tuesday in the evening in your respective church.

The CHRISM MASS (Holy Wednesday 7.00p.m.) is a special mass when the Holy Oils (Oil of Salvation, Oil of Chrism and Oil of the Sick) are blessed by the bishop.
During this celebration there will be a celebration of the Installation of 5 ACOLYTES for the candidates selected by the Bishop & Fr. Bernard. These are: Ian Slack and Ken Martin for the Co-Cathedral; Pierre Berry for Sandy Point, Joseph Edmead for Old Road and Jeff Fraites for Molineux church.

The EASTER TRIDUUM Celebration (Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, Passion of the Lord on Good Friday and Easter Vigil on Easter Sunday) should be treated as one celebration - (it starts with Opening Hymn on Thursday and ends with the Easter blessing after Easter Vigil, there is no ending hymn or blessing on Holy Thursday and no opening rites or blessing and recessional hymn on Good Friday celebration) This is the pinnacle of the Liturgical life of the church. All Catholics should make every effort to participate in the whole Easter Triduum Celebration.