THE BISHOP’S CIRCULAR
To: Clergy and People
From: The Bishop
15th December, 2015
Greetings!
Christmas Message
I am kindly asking all Incumbents to have my Christmas message read in all Churches during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Christmas Day. The Message is attached.
Cruise
I hope to be out of the Diocese from 6th January, 2016. I’ll be accompanying my wife, Lois on a cruise in the northern Caribbean, which she was awarded for outstanding performance from her workplace RBTT Bank. During my absence the Very Rev’d Patrick McIntosh will oversee the Diocese.
Appointment
I have appointed the Rev’d Canon O. Samuel Nichols as rector of the Parish of The Holy Trinity, Castries with St. Mary. La Caye, St. Lucia and as Archdeacon of St. Lucia with effect from 1st February, 2016 his service of Institution and Induction as well as recognition is scheduled for Thursday 21st April, 2016 being the fest of St. Anselm of Canterbury, 5:00pm at the Holy Trinity, Parish Church, Castries, St. Lucia. Your prayers and presence are requested.
Bishop’s Appointments
I am kindly asking you to inform me by 29th December, 2015 if you desire me to come to your parish in 2016 for Confirmation or any other occasion.
Servers Festival, 2016
The Annual Servers Festival in the Archdeaconry of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is scheduled for 9:30am on Saturday 30th January, 2016 at the St Mary’s Parish Church, Bequia. Each parish is kindly asked to make a contribution of $150.00EC and inform The Venerable J. Everton Weekes of the number of servers who will attend. The contribution may be given directly to St Mary’s Parish Church, Bequia or through Diocesan Office.
Pre Lenten Retreat 2016
The Annual Pre-Lenten Retreat is scheduled for 9:00am Tuesday 2nd to 1:00pm Thursday 4th February, 2016 at the Anglican Pastoral Centre, Montrose Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Travel days are Monday 1st and Friday 5th February, 2016. A contribution towards the cost of the Retreat will be greatly appreciated. Please send your travel itinerary to Diocesan Office soonest and prepare to observe silence.
Pastoral Assistants Programme
The Pastoral Assistants programme to be conducted by The Rev’d Canon De Vere Murrell is scheduled for Friday 15th to Sunday 17th January, 2016 in Bequia and Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd January, 2016 at the Anglican Pastoral Centre, Montrose, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
We are hoping to bring this programme to the Archdeaconry of Grenada on the week end of February 6th to 8th, 2016 with sessions on Saturday 6th and Monday 8th.
The Programme will be held in St. Lucia at a date to be determined later in the year.
All Incumbents are kindly asked to submit the name of persons selected to participate to Diocesan Office by the 29th December, 2015
Obituary
We have learnt of the passing of the Rt. Rev’d Neville deSouza retired Bishop of the Diocese of Jamaica who died on Saturday 1st December, 2015 after a brief illness. He was the twelfth Bishop of Jamaica. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
I spoke to the Rt. Rev’d Howard Gregory Bishop of Jamaica today and expressed our deepest sympathy to Bishop deSouza’s family and the Diocese of Jamaica. I am kindly asking each Parish to have a Requiem Mass for him.
Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord; And let light perpetual shine upon him.
With every good wish and God’s Blessings!
Sincerely
The Rt. Rev’d C. Leopold Friday
Bishop of the Windward Islands