Bahama Catholic - April 2019

Follow Us @archdioceseofnassau THE NEWSPAPER OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF NASSAU MARCH/APRIL 2019 The Archdiocese remembers with gratitude Msgr. Preston Moss and Fr. Remy David Rev. Father Remy R. David April 22, 1937 - February 3, 2019 Monsignor Preston A. Moss, PA, CMG, OM The Archdiocese of Nassau and the Bahamian Community remember with gratitude Monsignor Preston A. Moss, PA, CMG, OM and Father October 19, 1939- March 11, 2019 Remy David. They touched us in immeasurable ways and have given us innumerable examples of how to live humbly and to articulate a deep faith in God. Monsignor Moss died on Monday, March 11, 2019 in Nassau. He was 79. Monsignor was ordained to the Priesthood on June 4, 1965. Fr. Remy David died while in hospital in Florida on February 3, 2019. He was 81. Fr. Remy was ordained a priest on June 13, 1968. May God grant them eternal rest.

2 HOMILIES By Archbishop Patrick C. Pinder, STD, CMG Rite of Christian Burial for Msgr. Moss had a very clear, definite and consistent understanding of ministry, particularly priestly ministry. He internalized it quite deeply. The image he often used Msgr. Preston A. Moss, PA was that of putting ones hand to the plow and not looking back. St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, March 21, 2019 “ ”- Archbishop Pinder Readings: Sirach 2:1-11; [Psalm 23]; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20, John 17:24-26 \"My child, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare your- self for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast ... Cling to Him, do not leave him ... Trust in God, and he will help you, make your ways straight and hope in Him.\" (Sirach 2:1ff.) With those words proclaimed, we come to honor with Christian Burial, PRESTON ALEXANDER MOSS. He was widely known, highly regarded, and deeply loved and appreciated. This is a special moment in the life of our Church and in the life of our community. To his family, I say, you have given the Church a priest of FINAL COMMENDATION rare gifts and talents. He touched the lives of many near and far. For this I say thank you. I support you in prayer as Then I asked, \"How do you know him?\" He replied, \"About found him so approachable, so accessible, so easy to con- you mourn the loss of not one but two family members at 30 years ago when I was beginning my career in the fide in, so profoundly caring. this time. Family meant everything to Msgr. Moss. This Vatican Diplomatic Service, I met him at one of our nun- included his wider family including his Minnesota family. ciatures in Africa. He made such a positive impression on Msgr. Moss had a very clear, definite and consistent under- me that, even though I have not seen him since, I have not standing of ministry, particularly priestly ministry. He inter- For all those who cared for Monsignor during his long ill- forgotten him.\" nalized it quite deeply. The image he often used was that ness, especially those present or those participating by way of putting ones hand to the plow and not looking back. It of the media, I say thank you, sincerely. The person saying this is Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Pietro comes straight from the Gospel of Luke: Parolin, the current Secretary of State for the Vatican. This Two nights ago, (March 19, 2019) at the Vigil for Msgr. is but one example of the way that Msgr. Moss touched the \"No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what Moss at St. Anselm Church, the beautiful testimonies about lives of so many persons over the course of his life. was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.\" (Luke 9:62) him, by those who spoke, had a consoling effect on those of us present. I got to know Fr. Moss during the summer of 1972. I had To this he would in time add the wisdom of Sirach: completed my first year in the seminary. That summer I Concerning his funeral, he gave some very clear instruc- was assigned to live and work with him at St. Bede's Parish. \"My child when you come to serve the Lord, prepare your- tions in his Will. It says ... \"I direct that my funeral be very He was pastor there. The housekeeper explained to me self for trials ... Be sincere of heart and steadfast ... cling to inexpensive ... It is my desire that a simple Mass of that Fr. Moss was a very particular man. He liked things him, do not leave him, that you may prosper in your last Christian Burial be conducted without any Eulogy and the done the right way. Well, I learned to take delight in pur- days.\" (Sirach 2:1-3) burial should be made at St. Anselm.\" His funeral instruc- posely doing things the wrong way and watching him fume tions conclude with a list of the hymns to be sung on this with frustration and even anger. At a day and an hour I These words represent no less than a significant aspect of occasion. know not, I shall have to give an account for my mischief. the narrative of the priestly vocation of PRESTON ALEXANDER MOSS. A few years ago I was attending a Synod of Bishops in But, the point is, even though he would be angry, his anger Rome. During one of the informal gatherings, the man lasted but an instant. It never got the better of him. He Continued on page 5 seated next to me, noting from my name tag that I was the had a peace of mind and heart, an equanimity of Spirit that Archbishop of Nassau, asked \"Is there a priest in your I have rarely seen in anyone. It is no wonder that people Archdiocese named Preston?\" I replied, \"yes.\" He asked, \"How is he?\" At the time, Msgr. Moss was Vicar General and doing quite well, and I said so.

3 Rite of Christian Burial for Fr. Remy David St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, February 22, 2019 Readings: Isaiah 61:1-3, [Psalm 23], ICorinthians 4:1-2, 5-7, Luke 22:24-30 Beloved, We come to be consoled in faith as we bring to COMMITTAL burial our Brother in faith, Fr. Remy David. I acknowledge with deep appreciation his family “For the gift of the life and ministry No doubt the call of Young Jeremiah also captured who have travelled great distances to be here on of the humble, simple, caring and the imagination of Fr. Remy in his youth. \"The this occasion. I assure you of the support of my word of the Lord came to me: Before I formed prayers as we all gather to commend Fr. Remy to committed priest we knew as Fr. you in the womb, I knew you, before you were the Lord. born I dedicated you ...\" Remy David we say ... simply ... On Tuesday (February 19, 2019) of this week the Later it says: \"Do not say I am too young. To faithful gathered at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Merci Bon Dieu, Merci. whomever I send you, you shall go, whatever I Hunter, Grand Bahama to celebrate a Vigil for the command you, you shall speak.\" (Jeremiah 1:4-7) Deceased. ”-Archbishop Pinder Fr. Remy came among us from his native Haiti and On Wednesday night (February 20, 2019) the The promising harvest of young local priests in he came not to take but to give. And give he did! faithful again gathered, this time at Mary Star of 1968 was almost non-existent by 1972. Many He gave his entire ministry as a priest here among the Sea Parish in Freeport for a Memorial Mass. left! Few remained! Among those who remained us. That was a little over 50 years - half a century. steadfast in those difficult times was Fr. Remy These were fitting expressions of faith on the part David. It honors me so to be privileged to serve Again it is an honor for me to bring this noble wit- of a community grieving the loss of a man of sim- him with Christian Burial today. ness of faith and priesthood to burial today. ple, deep and committed faith, who was their priest, their pastor. He served in parishes, schools and the Chancery Contemporary thought on the profile of the priest Office. He ministered to young married couples begins with the priest as Preacher. Proclamation We gather again this morning ( February 22, 2019) and taught Deacon candidates. He was equally at of the Word of God in Sacred Scripture is the pri- This time to bring him to burial. home in our Haitian community as in the broader mary duty of the priest, \"This proclamation Bahamian community. In this regard his contribu- requires the priest to be committed to growth as a Fr. Remy served this Archdiocese long and he tion is unique and to some extent irreplaceable. living contemplation of the word and not just a served it well. He was ordained here at St. Francis technician going through the motions.\" Xavier Cathedral on June 13, 1968, in the old Fr. Remy loved the Sacred Scriptures and he knew cathedral building. The portrait of Fr. Remy dis- them well. He had a particular love for the In other words the priest must be a person of faith played here today shows the face of a young man Prophets and no doubt saw his vocation in the speaking from his heart to the hearts of all the unblemished by the lines of age or worry. Yet manner of young Isaiah. Isaiah heard the Lord faithful. there is an intensity in his eyes. It is the intensity asking: \"Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?\" of one who is serious, committed and sincere. Isaiah responded with a heart so self-less and gen- Continued on page 12 erous: \"Here I am send me!\" (Isaiah 6:8) Let me add that he was quite learned, humble and simple in his manner of life. 1968 was a tumul- tuous year in many places. The Catholic Community here in The Bahamas was not to be spared the echoes of this reality.

4 For many Catholics Lent revives memories of days when candy, movies Lent is first, last and foremost about baptism. Baptism is about going down and other signs of human celebrations were ‘given up’. There is an old with Christ unto death and being raised up with him to glory. This death sense of Lent as a time of self-imposed penance and asceticism. The and rising can be celebrated only after it has been experienced and lived in explicitly religious expression of the season might have taken the form of week- the daily fabric of human life. So Lent is about dying to self for the life of ly Stations of the Cross and daily Mass. Lent was to be endured. There is a others. Lent is about dying to all human supports which blind us from see- legitimate sense of the prayer, asceticism and charity towards neighbour that ing that true life is in God alone. Lent is as serious as coming to know that are authentic hallmarks of the Lenten season. There is a genuine need to iden- the deepest meanings of human life are seen in Jesus who fights every temp- tify again with the suffering of Jesus. What is really new for us is the need to tation to take the world by power, force or the razzle-dazzle of miracles. see all these practices and prayers in the light of the Church’s annual retreat in preparation for the Easter Triduum. During those three days new Christians will The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday. On this day we are signed be born from the font of baptism and all Christians will welcome them with an with a cross for we live under and in that sign. The sense of Lent as preparation enthusiasm kindled anew through reliving our own birth in Christ. for initiation and its renewals is most clearly proclaimed in the A cycle of Sunday readings which may always be used and should be used by every parish preparing catechumens for initiation at the Easter Vigil. Thursday of Holy Week (Holy Thursday) is the last day of Lent. With the celebration of the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Lent ends and the Christian community enters into the annual celebration of the Passover of the Lord, the Easter Triduum. A REFLECTION “Rend your hearts, not your garments, and FOR LENT return to the Lord, your God.” Joel 2:13 By Deacon William Fielding making. We sometimes prefer to be seen to be repen- reminds us that the tear represents the rent in the tant, rather than being truly repentant. If we truly lives of the relatives as a result of the death of their Each year we read this verse from the Book of Joel on want to make amends for our sins and prepare for relation. Our sin separates us from God. It tears the Ash Wednesday. Each year it sets the tone for the Easter, why are our churches not full at Mass each bond of love which units us. So, in expressing sor- season we are beginning, the season of Lent, when day; why do the priests not complain that they are row, the tearing points to the hurt we are suffering, we take spiritual stock of our lives and assess what busy all the time with hearing confessions? to our loss. we need to change to get our lives back on track, not only for the great celebrations of Easter, but also so The symbolism of tearing garments to express grief Continued on page 5 that we are better prepared to stand before the Lord may not be apparent to us today. Rabbi Telushkin at the day of judgement. Joel’s inspired verse is imploring us to put away our Archbishop Pinder Celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass masks of sanctity, our pretense at being good or holy. He wants us to act honestly and truthfully. In Jewish culture, to express grief you would tear your clothes and weep publicly. At a funeral, where we wear black as sign of mourning, the Jewish relatives of the deceased would tear their clothes. This is a tradition that some follow to this day. However, as clothes are expensive, some Jews buy cheap clothes for the occa- sion. As a result, although they are seen to be tearing their clothes they are, essentially, just putting on a show; they are pretending to follow the tradition. They are, to some extent, just pretending to express sorrow (see Rabbi Joseph Telushkin (2008). This pre- tense, which shows that they are more concerned about their bank balance, is an outward superficial show of what their hearts should be expressing. This is what Joel finds objectionable. Our sorrow Archbishop Patrick Pinder celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass on March 6, 2019, marking the beginning of Lent. must not be superficial. We must express repentance The Archbishop is pictured above blessing the ashes during mid-day Mass at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Also for our sins from the deepest recesses of our hearts. pictured from left to right are: Fr. Glen Nixon, Rector at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral , Fr. Thomas Assenga and Typically, our churches are full for the distribution of Deacon Samuel Mitchell. ashes. By displaying our ash-stained foreheads to others, it is as if we want others to see our remorse for our sins. But, on the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, do we find those same people in church? This is the uncomfortable point that Joel is

5 A REFLECTION FOR Constantly distancing ourselves from the ordinary in our lives to focus on the truly extraordinary, who is God. While Sunday Mass is an essential part of the way we “return LENT to the Lord, your God”, we always need to do more. If we ever think we are doing enough, we are not. While public prayer is an important part of our spiritual life, we also Continued from page 4 need private time alone with God. A balanced spiritual life needs both private and com- munal prayer. The way we usually get to know another person best is by having private One of the ways we can “return to the Lord, your God” is by praising him constantly. By time with that person. The same is true with our relationship with the Lord. If we are to reminding ourselves of who He is, from whom we have been turned away through our deepen our relationship with Him, we need to spend private time with Him. For many, sins, we can start to appreciate the need to be constantly open to conversion if we are to our deepest soul searching is done alone with God. appreciate the need to return to the road along which Jesus is leading us. The Jewish mourning tradition includes a prayer called the Kaddish, an ancient prayer, which extols So this may be the message we might like to take from Joel this Lent. Maybe we might the glory of God, “May His name be magnified and made holy…”. It is a prayer used to respond to Joel’s instruction by spending more time in prayer this Lent. We might like to help the mourners come to terms with their loss and to see beyond it, to see the great view this verse as a call to have “quality” time in private with the Lord, where we deepen glory of God. our appreciation of His infinite glory. “May His name be magnified and made holy…” as the Kaddish states. This “quality” time, focused on the glory of God, will indeed allow Maybe this is what we can learn from Joel’s verse today. We can sometimes fail to appre- us to “return to the Lord, your God”. By putting the Lord front and centre of our lives ciate the transcendent glory of God. We cannot comprehend the infinite, we cannot again we can better distance ourselves from our daily distractions, our petty gods, which imagine what eternal life with God will be, other than it will be infinitely more than any- seek to tear us from the “Lord, your God”. As we seek to repair and deepen our relation- thing we can currently imagine. We get so caught up in our mundane lives that we often ship with the Lord, we will find that we are indeed rending our hearts and not our gar- lose sight of God. We can feel so constrained by the need to pay bills, get children ready ments. As our short-comings become evident, we can then ask for the grace we need for school, etc., that these seem far more immediate and important than anything else and which will allow us to move closer to God so He will change “my mourning into danc- we fail to find time to praise God - to re-orientate ourselves to “return to the Lord, your ing” (Ps. 30:12). God”. But this is what constant conversion is: constantly returning to the Lord. Telushkin, Joseph. 2008. Jewish literacy: the most important things to know about the Jewish religion, its peo- ple, and its history. New York: William Morrow. (Work Consulted) Archbishop’s homily from Lawrence Aloysius Burke. Archbishop Burke offered us respect for law, respect for time, commitment, self-disci- Rite of Christian Burial excellent leadership for 22 years, before returning to his pline and even sacrifice. These are our spiritual roots. (Msgr. Preston Moss) native Jamaica. He often spoke of how his time here in This is our spiritual core. The Bahamas was made so much easier by the loyal sup- Continued from page 2 port of Msgr. Moss. As we gather to honor our noble brother with burial, let this occasion call us back to our spiritual roots, our spiri- He was ordained a priest at a time when our Church had Msgr. Moss served three Bishops as their Vicar General - tual core. We honor him best by following his example! undertaken the difficult challenge of renewing itself. This Bishop Paul Leonard Hagarty, OSB, Archbishop Lawrence followed in the wake of and according to the mandate of Burke, SJ and myself. I am most grateful for his support, Yes there was a priest among us named Preston. He is the Second Vatican Council. his advice and his friendship as my closest co-worker. now gathered unto God. We now minister to him in the way he ministered to so many and so well over his 50 The waves of renewal affected different people in differ- Msgr. Moss was well known for his liturgical presence. plus years of ministry. ent ways. In those challenging years of renewal, a prom- His gestures could be dramatic, even extravagantly so. ising young Bahamian presbyterate was almost complete- He was a gifted preacher quite at home in proclaiming We knew him, we loved him, we now miss him and so ly lost. From among them only one Bahamian priest out and explaining the Word. Yet he understood quite well we grieve. Pain at parting is the price we pay for love of seven remained. No doubt during that painful pas- what St. Paul meant in saying: and friendship in this world. There is grief because he is sage, when he alone remained, young Fr. Moss must have now taken from us. But there is also gratitude for the sought solace and comfort and wisdom in Sacred \"We do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord. .... grace of having had our lives touched by his own. Scriptures. It is no surprise that he would be drawn to We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpass- words like these: ing power may be of God and not from us. (2 He was wise, committed, loyal, patriotic, given to the Corinthians 4:5-7) symbolic and he was a bridge builder. These are the \"Consider the generations long past and see: has anyone marks of a great citizen, a great Christian, a great priest trusted in the Lord and been disappointed? Has anyone The preacher, however eloquent, must be a transparent and an excellent pastor of souls. His life, his example, persevered in his fear and been ignored? For the Lord is medium. Christ must shine through him. The ways of will endure as a testimony to the love of God expressing compassionate and merciful; forgives sins and saves in Christ must be evident in him. The values of Christ itself in love for others, a testimony, not in stone or in time of trouble.\" (Sirach 2:10-11) must be present in him. Indeed, we preach much more mere words but in the flesh itself. convincingly by our actions than by our words alone. These words are an aspect of the narrative of a vocation to As we commend our brother to God we pray in the the priesthood which lasted 53 years. For us, that is a It is good to know and admire the priest. It is essential words of St. Bede: record! It is a benchmark! His ministry, his commitment, though to know Christ whose minister the priest is. I his endurance, his perseverance, is Sacred Scripture pro- believe Msgr. Moss has been exemplary in this regard. It \"Grant us your light, O Lord claimed eloquently in human flesh. is for that reason, among others, there is this great out- so that the darkness of our hearts may wholly pass away pouring of love, admiration, appreciation and gratitude and we may come at last of the light of Christ. He taught us that we should never allow our passions to today. For Christ is that morning star, destroy our potential. We should never allow our pas- who, when the night of this world has passed, sions to destroy our possibilities. We must not allow the What is the value of this example in the life of our coun- brings to his saints the promised light of life storms of passion to shipwreck our future. try today? We live in a democracy. But a democracy is and opens to them everlasting day. not merely a machine we can set on automatic and Amen.\" In the aftermath of those sad and disappointing years expect it to work properly. No, a democracy is a com- Msgr. Moss alone could not do what needed to be done. munity of persons. For it to work well, for it to flourish, May God grant him eternal rest. May perpetual light We needed help. That help came in the person of requires that its citizens live certain virtues all the time. shine upon him. Among those virtues are honesty, civility, respect for life,

6 AROUND THE ARCHDIOCESE St. Joseph Church celebrates 85th anniversary Old parish named for former pastor Rev. Father Marcian Ambrose Peters, OSB The time is now here for a pro- loose. found spiritual renewal of our This passage is the foundation of so Archdiocese. This was much of the authority given to the successor of Peter, the Pope. So much Archbishop Patrick Pinder’s appeal so that the symbol of St. Peter and the symbol of the papacy, is the two keys. to the parishioners of St. Joseph’s Furthermore, these keys of the Church at the celebration Mass to Kingdom of Heaven entrusted to Peter are understood as the founda- launch the 85th Anniversary of the tion of the authority of the Church to minister the Sacrament of parish on Tuesday, January 29, 2019. Reconciliation. In his homily the Archbishop said \"Whatever you bind on earth shall be that, this Spiritual Renewal must bond in heaven; and whatever you embrace every aspect of the Life of loose on earth shall be loosed in our Archdiocese: Family Life, wor- heaven.\" (Matthew 16:19) ship, and encouragement of voca- tions. These words have a tradition of asso- ciation with the role of the Church in The following the the Archbishop reconciliation. That is why in homily: Chapter 18 of this same Gospel of Matthew; we find these instructions: Beloved, Continued on page 9 We have just heard proclaimed some words from the Gospel of Matthew. Indeed, words from the 16th Chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. The pas- sage concludes with Christ entrust- ing to Peter the power of the keys. That is the power to bind and to New Bahamas Ambassador appointed to the Holy See H.E. Basil Barnett presents his credentials to His Holiness Pope Francis Basil W. Barnett was among the 10 non- ter”. May the lessons learned from the two resident ambassadors who presented great wars of the twentieth century convince their credentials to His Holiness Pope the world’s people and their leaders of “the Francis during an audience with the Holy futility of armed conflict and the need to Father in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican resolve conflicts through patient dialogue and Apostolic Palace in Rome, Italy, on Thursday, negotiation”, he said. December 13, 2018. The Pope also noted that 2018 marks the 70th The ten new Ambassadors came from anniversary of the adoption of the United Switzerland, Malta, The Bahamas, Cabo Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Verde, Iceland, The Gambia, Qatar, Estonia, Rights. This document “continues to guide Turkmenistan, and Grenada. All of them are the efforts of global diplomacy to secure peace non-resident Ambassadors because their in our world and to promote the integral countries do not have an established Embassy development of each individual and all peo- to the Holy See in Rome. ple”, said Pope Francis. “Respect for human dignity and human rights”, he continued, Addressing the Ambassadors, Pope Francis must inspire and direct our efforts to address confirmed the Church’s commitment to the challenges of armed conflicts, poverty, dis- “working with every possible partner in a crimination, inequality, and the crisis of mass constructive dialogue aimed at proposing migration. concrete solutions to this and other urgent humanitarian problems”. In conclusion, the pope offered his prayerful good wishes and the readiness of the Roman In his address, Pope Francis recalled that this Curia to assist these new ambassadors in their year marks the 100th anniversary of the end work. of the First World War which his predecessor, Pope Benedict XV, called a “senseless slaugh-

7 RED MASS 2019 Members of the legal profession gathered at the 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral on Sunday, January 6, 2019 (The Feast of the Epiphany of The Lord) to attend the annual Red Mass. Archbishop Patrick C. Pinder was the main celebrant and homilist. The purpose of the Red Mass is invoke divine guidance & strength to those serving in the legal profes- sion. The following is an excerpt from Archbishop Pinder pictured above with members of the legal profession following the annual Red Mass at St. The Archbishop’s homily: Francis Xavier Cathedral. As the weeks and months of this New Year unfold and as \"Social Mortgage.\" One commentator explains it this way. who do not have. That is what Robin Hood did. Rather, you rise each day to face the stubborn challenges of life in solidarity is more properly described by the saying: \"No our community may you never become hopeless or Just as a conventional mortgage binds the homeowner to one is to too poor to give. No one is too rich to receive.\" uncaring. Let me propose something you may find help- repay the institution that made ownership of that home Thus the dignity of everyone is preserved. ful as you move through your responsibilities this year. possible, a social mortgage obligates the owner of private property to give back to the community so that those with The Social Mortgage which John Paul II taught us is a It is the idea of the Social Mortgage. John Paul II con- no private property holdings have access to the same potent vision for our Commonwealth and for our com- ceived of it. He first mentioned the idea in a speech to the basic services such as health care, education, transporta- mon future. We should remember it on days when we bishops of Latin America gathered in Mexico on January tion, and police and fire protection that helped make pos- feel weighed down and defeated by the same old human 28, 1979. I mention that date because shortly thereafter sible the personal development of that property owner. problems and challenges which we seem unable to solve he visited Nassau on his way back to Rome. (O'Boyle) or remedy or move beyond. He had seen first-hand, countries with populations far This is not a political ideology. This is not an economic A vision enlivened by the idea of a Social Mortgage and of greater than ours and with social problems far more theory. This is not a strategy for winning a popular vote. human solidarity, places a special obligation on members entrenched and daunting than ours. He invited everyone This is a vision for a just and peaceful society. The kind of of the legal profession and the judiciary. with means and ability to accept that they also have a society in which we all would like to live. As you begin this new legal year and must rise to your Social Obligation for the good of all. The idea, a Social responsibilities as judge or advocate may the vision of our Obligation, he developed in greater detail in his 1981 The Social Mortgage, in which we all share, is another Social Mortgage serve you as a guiding light even and encyclical \"On Human Work\" (Laborem Exercens). name for human solidarity. Solidarity is not simply a especially in dark moments. matter of taking from those who have and giving to those Then, in his encyclical of 1987 titled \"On Social Concern\" (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis) he gave this idea the name the Meet Archdiocese of Nassau newest members of the Equestrian Order of The Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ) Pictured from left to right are: Lady Camile Hall, Monsignor Alfred Culmer, Davy Rolle, Archbishop Patrick Pinder, Theresa Butler, Justice Cheryl Albury and Sir Burton Hall. Back row: Patricia Coakley, Basil Albury and Elma Garraway. In ceremonies at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, His Grace, Archbishop Patrick invested as members of the Order in 2016, and Burton and Camille Hall who were admit- Pinder was invested as a Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the ted to the Order in 2009 and who now hold the rank of Knight Commander and Lady Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ) by the Grand Master of the Order, Edwin Cardinal Commander, respectively, with Star and Deacon Michael Checkley, Administrator of O’Brien. At the same ceremony, Commodore Davy Rolle, of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Holy Name Parish in Bimini, who was admitted to the Order in his native Canada and (pictured third from the left) and Maria Teresa Butler, ( fourth from the left) of St Thomas who now holds the rank of Knight Grand Cross. More Parish were invested as Knight and Lady, respectively, of the Order. The EOHSJ is, a Roman Catholic chivalric order whose members, apart from providing They join Monsignor Alfred Culmer, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Nassau and Pastor support for the charitable work of the Order in the Holy Land, are expected to be persons of St Joseph’s Parish, Basil and Cheryl Albury of St Anselm’s Parish, Patricia Coakley of committed to the work and witness of their local Church and service in the community. St Joseph’s Parish and Elma Garraway of the Church of the Resurrection, who were

8 Family Life as a Spiritual Practice By Agatha Cartwright of faith, we communicate to our children Director of The Office of Family Life that we choose to live our lives in con- versation with God. Not only does God In The Midst Of Darkness exist, but we must live in the context of our relationship with God. “I do dimly perceive that whilst everything another, the Christian family is challenged to live faith- Family prayer… You may ask: “How do around me is ever changing, ever dying ... there fully the gospel of Jesus Christ on a daily basis. Surely, we begin?” Just begin! Sometimes we is underlying all that change, a living power this is a great challenge conceptually, but what does it wait for the best conditions: once the that is changeless, that holds all together that mean practically? baby’s older, when the soccer season creates, dissolves and re-creates. That inform- ends, after I finish night shifts. There is ing power or spirit is God. And since nothing First and foremost, we must understand that we are the never going to be a perfect time free else that I see merely through the senses can or first preachers of the faith to our children. Not the from stress, illness or an impossible will persist, God alone is. priests, not the nuns, not the CCD teachers, not even schedule. our parents. But us … parents. For us this entails the “Anything worth doing is worth doing And is this power benevolent or malevolent? I responsibility of sharing our story and vision as mem- poorly.” So quit making excuses and see it as purely benevolent. Good natured, gra- bers of the People of God. We must try to give them a begin praying poorly. It is awesome to cious, bountiful… For I can see that in the sense that we are part of a story of faith much larger experience the courage and faith midst of death life persists, in the midst of than ourselves. This is the tradition that binds us to expressed in the daily commitment to untruth, truth persists, in the midst of dakness, both the past and future generations. family prayer. God’s grace shines light persists. Hence I gather that God is Life, through in the most broken family situa- Truth, and Light. God is Love. God is the Our story is a family history. Our family, in a larger tions when two or three gather in His Supreme Good.”- Mahatma Gandhi. sense, is the whole People of God who have long name. Didn’t Jesus promise it? Matthew 18:19 and 20 known a God, who, because he so intensely and faith- says: “I will be in the midst of them”. Considering Mahatma’s words carefully we are fully loves his people, initiates salvation on their behalf. made fully aware of the need for God’s presence As the Psalms sing, he is still doing “marvelous things” We must pray liturgically. Sunday Mass and involve- in our lives, in the lives of our families and that for His people. ment in Parish activities is a good way to show children of the entire universe. Therefore, at all costs, we must that the domestic Church is part of a much larger faith cultivate an environment in which every family mem- Like the families of the Exodus who are commanded by community, the parish, which in turn, is part of the ber can discover God’s presence amid family life. God, through Moses, to remember always the won- Archdiocesan Church, which takes its place in the drous deeds the Lord has done for them, we today Church universal. The parish community must never Family life is of major concern to everyone. We recog- share the same responsibility. They were commanded be turned in on itself; it must witness love for God by nize family as the most basic communal structure of to teach their children their story … that once they were loving and serving others, especially sisters and broth- society. Whether one is part of a more traditional family a captive people enslaved in Egypt, but the Lord heard ers in need. unit as a married couple with children, or is a single their cries and delivered them. That deliverance, we parent, or even a single individual, we are all in some believe, finds its climax and fulfillment in the passion, We must pray spontaneously. This is of great impor- way or another part of a family. Just as Vatican II helped death and resurrection of Christ. It is a story of freedom tance. Spontaneous prayer is prayer that is simple, from us renew the way we think of ourselves as Church, it and salvation. the heart and in our own words. It is a personal expres- also revived interest in and affirmed the value of the sion of our faith and confidence that Jesus is near us spirituality of family life. A simple and effective way to communicate this great and wants to act on our behalf. Children learn this mystery to our children is through reading Bible stories prayer very readily. At an early age they begin saying The Council speaks of the family as the first community and Gospel parables. Through the way we live our fam- spontaneous prayers if they are nurtured in an environ- and the most basic way in which the Lord gathers us, ily life, we try to fashion the faith identity of our chil- ment that does it. A little five- year old boy may be forms us and acts in the world. It refers to the family as dren as Catholic Christians. Faith is God’s gift, but it heard saying: “Jesus, please heal Daddy’s headache.” a community of love and as the domestic church, or the demands our cooperation. To be a parent, means you “Thank you Jesus it’s gone!” church of the home. This renewed importance of the must work. family and spirituality, as a way of both drawing closer Another ‘family tradition’ is to pray on our knees, espe- to God and witnessing divine reality to the world may Family prayer, especially around meal and bedtime is cially when we pray the traditional prayers of the be, for us as Church our greatest challenge and our another key component in family spirituality. As people Church, like the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and greatest hope. Act of Contrition. Praying rote prayer may seem boring and uninspired, but it is a very important component in For Catholics, a healthy understanding of family spiri- training our children in the Catholic Faith. Novenas are tuality begins first and foremost with an equally also very powerful and a great way to pray. It is very healthy understanding of the sacrament of marriage. meaningful to be actively involved in the novena and to The vocation of marriage entails at least two things: receive the answer to the prayer intention. This is a sign Firstly, as a couple you are called to help each other to the whole family of God’s loving providence and the grow in maturity and faith, to be for each other a path Holy Spirit/Saint’s powerful intercession. to God. And secondly, we are called to help the world around us come to know and experience the reality of Continued on page 9 God’s presence and love through the love they see in our marriage. The domestic Church, a concept of Vatican II, must be rooted in the love and mystery of God. Nourished in prayer and sustained by unconditional love for one

9 Family Life as a Spiritual Practice These are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, signs that God’s love is flowing through your life. The gifts are yours– Continued from page 8 control. These are the qualities the Holy Spirit pro- look for them. duces in us as we are transformed into Christ’s image. We should pray at meals, we should pray on Feast To be the Christian family we want to be is, by far, our Days, we should pray on the road and we should pray Have you noticed the Holy Spirit at work in your life? greatest challenge and our greatest hope. We must with a sense of humor. A good spiritual maxim for Here’s a quick rundown of how the gifts of the Holy always keep in mind that we need to be effective mod- every family is this: “Pray as you can and not as you Spirit may be present in your life: els for religious faith and conviction. We need to share can’t”. Forget the ideal. Find what’s possible for your with each other and our children a sense of God’s family. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. After all He is • Have you intuitively known how to handle a tough mercy and forgiveness. The one true test of our love as the best teacher of prayer. Romans 8:26 says: “Likewise situation in your family? That’s wisdom. a Christian family is not how few problems we have the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know or how well we get along, but how we deal with each how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself inter- • Have you stopped yourself from getting angry at other in moments of conflict, how we reconcile and cedes for us…” This same Holy Spirit is at work in our your child long enough to think what it feels like to be how we show forgiveness. When children see gentle- children; every now and again, we can catch a glimpse. in his or her shoes? That’s understanding. ness and compassion, they learn a way of behaving. Families are the Holy Spirit’s greenhouse for us and our • Have you clearly and firmly stated your beliefs Most of all as parents, we want to communicate to our children. Our life together prepares our children to ful- about right and wrong to someone in your family? children how deeply and unconditionally God loves fill their life purpose of loving and serving the Lord and That’s counsel. them. We want to encourage them in a life-long, life- His people. Within the family, children receive protec- giving relationship with God in faith and trust. tion, nourishment for their bodies and souls, and • Have you hung in there when you wanted to throw instruction and practice in daily living. In our family in the towel? That’s fortitude. Pope John Paul II has stated often that the very core of relationships we start to acquire the fruits of the Holy the Church is linked to the health of the family. The Spirit, the behaviours that mark us as followers of • Are you open-minded, letting go of superstitions, individual’s life in Christ is so often born and nour- Christ. prejudices, and small mindedness? That’s the gift of ished within the family that the family unit can be knowledge. called the seedbed of faith. Keeping that seedbed Therefore, our families are spiritual greenhouses that watered and free of weeds is the job of parents; mak- give our children a good start on the spiritual lives • Do you realize you need God’s help and that all of ing faith sprout is God’s. they must live in the world. They are also the place life is a gift? That’s piety. Our greatest challenge is simply to be the families we where parents continue their spiritual growth by claim to be – to have a strong faith identity as Catholic developing the fruits of the Spirit to maturity. In our • Have you felt awe, perhaps the day you first held Christians and to kindle this self-understanding in our daily life together we learn love, joy, peace, patience, your baby in your arms? That’s fear of the Lord. children. If we are faithful to this challenge, we will kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- begin to live as God’s people, creating a just and lov- ing world, one family at a time. Archbishop Pinder’s Homily: where Jesus foretold Peter's denial and, as it were, for- low the right way and rebukes us when we stray from St. Joseph’s 85th Anniversary gives Peter in advance. Jesus said: \"Simon, Simon, Satan the right way and rejoices when we return to the right had desired to sift all of you like wheat. But I have way. If that is our answer then it will make all the differ- From page 6 prayed that your own faith may not fail and once you ence in how we live. have turned back, you must strengthen your brother.\" This evening we gather to celebrate the 85th anniversary \"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his faults (Luke 22:31ff) The weak, yet restored, faith of Peter is of this Parish dedicated under the patronage of St. between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have the rock upon which the Church is built. Joseph. 85 years is a long, long time. 85 years ago takes won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or us back to the year 1934. That was certainly long before two others along with you, so that every fact may be Beyond all this, the gospel proclaimed in our hearing my time. established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If this evening is a story of an encounter. It is an encounter he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses between Jesus and Peter. The encounter comes to a That would have been 45 years after the first permanent to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would moment of high intensity when Jesus says to Peter, \"Who Catholic Mission was established here in The Bahamas. a Gentile or tax collector.\" (Matthew 18:16) do you say that I am?\" It was a mission comprised of the Sisters of Charity. Then these words are repeated: Their great concerns, apart from sharing the faith, was \"Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be Now faith is not fundamentally doctrine or devotions or education and health care. bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth, will commandments or hymns. They are all a part of it to be be loosed in heaven.\" sure. Fundamentally, faith is an encounter. It is an We are presently celebrating Catholic Schools Week and encounter with the living Lord. So the question which we are on the verge of the 130th Anniversary of the Back to our gospel for today... Jesus put to Simeon Peter is put at each one of us. \"Who establishment of Catholic Schools in our country. Let us We find Jesus giving Simon a new name. He is now do you say that I am?\" not forget that the early Catholic Mission also included Peter, the Rock. Jesus declares, \"Upon this Rock I will medical clinics, as well. Such was the response to the build my church.\" The way we answer that question makes all the differ- basic human needs which the early Catholic missionaries ence in our lives. If we avoid the question, then for us saw around them. The rock is the faith of Peter. That faith was tested and faith may be something to consider but not to take too failed and found wanting. But it was powerfully seriously or perhaps not to consider at all. If we answer St. Joseph's Parish like Our Lady's Parish and St. restored. that Jesus is a good man who will let me do whatever I Anselm's Parish were intended to have the early want to do whenever and however I want to do it, then Catholic Mission enter the core of our Bahamian commu- Towards the end of the Gospel of John, Jesus, now risen, that too will be reflected in how we live. nity where needs were greatest and hearts were very asks Peter. \"Do you love me?\" He asks this not once, not much open to the message of the Gospel and the faith. twice, but three times. The triple question is to offset But if we answer with Simon Peter that Jesus is the Peter's triple denial of Christ. Messiah, that he is the Lord of Light, that he is the Lord Continued on page 10 of Goodness and Justice of Peace and Pardon... that he is There is a wonderful passage in the Gospel of Luke the one shows us the right way and challenges us to fol-

10 Archbishop Pinder’s Homily: We remember them all with gratitude today. This Spiritual Renewal must embrace every aspect of the St. Jospeh’s 85th Anniversary Life of our Archdiocese. After 85 years of worship and In a special way let us remember Msgr. Preston Moss witness is St. Joseph the parish to lead that spiritual Continued from page 9 who is among those who pastored this Parish. He con- Renewal? Is that what your theme: Steadfast and tinues to struggle through the challenges of ill health and Committed to Empowering a Christ-Centered For 85 years the faith has been celebrated in Worship and is much in need of our prayers. Of course we lift up our Community means? Or are these just some nice words Word but most importantly in the Witness of the lives present pastor, Msgr. Culmer and his able assistant, composed by a committee? which have touched and have been touched by this place Deacon Peter Jones. of Catholic Faith we call St. Joseph's Parish. We must return to our foundation. The Faith we cele- The renewal of the physical infrastructure of our New brate and live is born of an encounter with the Living Many are the souls who have gone before us in faith here Providence parishes began here at St. Joseph's Parish Lord. The encounter is highlighted by the question in this Parish. We cherish the memories of their pres- with the construction of this New Church building under which the Lord asks of Simon Peter and of each one of ence, their friendship, their witness, their example, their the leadership of Fr. Martin Gomes, SS.CC. As a result us. It is a question each of us must answer. And our service and their love. We can think of them fondly if you can see the structure of the Church of the early mis- answer will make all the difference. with some sadness but confident that they are gathered sion period evident in the Old Church building and the around the Lord of Life. Church of our present Catholic Community evident in \"Who do you say that I am?\" This is what Jesus is asking the New Church building and Parish Hall. each of us. To answer it is to know life and faith and I number among them my maternal grandmother, Letitia worship and ministry in a whole new way. Not to McKinney. If anyone deserves credit and praise for my That same comparison can be made at St. Francis Xavier answer it is to carry on business as usual. vocation, she is the one. She worshipped here for Cathedral, St. Anselm, St. Cecilia, Holy Family and very decades. soon, St. Thomas More. For 85 years the Faith has been celebrated and witnessed in this place by many. Now is your moment. That 85 It was coming to church with her, as a child, that I first That renewal of the physical plant began here and, as it year heritage demands and deserves your best. experienced the Stations of the Cross. While I grew up in were, sent out a silent challenge across the Archdiocese. the Cathedral Parish, as a teenager I attended St. Joseph's The time is now here for a profound spiritual renewal of May all who worship and witness and work and visit and it was from here that I went to the seminary. The our Archdiocese. That renewal must embrace Family this parish be blessed with the encounter of the Lord of pastor at the time was Fr. Clement Portzio, OSB. It was Life. It must embrace worship and start with everyone Life. also here at St. Joseph's in August 1980 that I celebrated making the effort to be at Mass on time and not 10 min- my first Mass. utes late. May that encounter with the fullness of Grace, which gathered this parish together, keep it together for another On this occasion we remember with gratitude all the It must embrace encouraging vocations. If the faith in 85 years and even more. priests who have served here. Many are now gone the family is strong there will be vocations. The nature of before us. Some are still with us but in distant places. vocations is a barometer of faith in our families. Readings: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30, [Psalm 122, Ephesians 2:19-22, Matthew 16:13-19 It’s Why do A Matter Faith Catholics do that? Why do Catholics say “Amen” at the end of some prayers? acted as a sign of recognition between early Christians who were sometimes forced to worship in secret. Now a prayer in itself, each time we make the Sign of the Cross In Hebrew, the word “Amen” shares the same root as the word “believe.” This root we express respect for God and call down his blessings on ourselves. also expresses trustworthiness and faithfulness. When you read the gospels, you’ll see that Jesus sometimes used the word “Amen” twice in a row to emphasize the Why do Catholics bless themselves when entering and leaving church? trustworthiness of his teaching. He wanted his listeners to pay special attention. So when we say “Amen” at the end of a prayer, we reinforce our faith in what we just Old Testament Jews washed with water before entering the Temple precincts. said. We also express our confidence that God will hear our prayers. Building on a ritual familiar to the Jews, John the Baptist used water to represent repentance of sin and purification. So when we cross ourselves with holy water Why do Catholics give the Sign of Peace during Mass? entering and leaving the church, we recall that history. But we also refer to our Baptism when the priest used water to symbolize the washing away of our sins and The first words Jesus said to his apostles after his Resurrection were : “Peace be with to protect us from evil. you” (John 20:21). After that their fear disappeared. By offering each other the Sign of Peace at Mass, we share that peace with the entire Body of Christ. Jesus also told us Why do Catholics use rituals? to reconcile with one another before approaching the altar of God (Matthew 5:23). Thus, the Sign of Peace is a gesture of Reconciliation with those around us before Our everyday awareness of God comes to us through our senses: Sight, sound, smell, coming to the altar to receive Holy Communion. Note that records from as early as touch, and taste. They are the pathways to the deepest parts of our imagination and around A.D. 155 by Justin Martyr show that early Christians would exchange the kiss understanding. Some rituals of the Church go back to the times when few people of peace at celebration of Mass, when prayers were concluded; this tradition seem to could read or write—but they could be drawn to Jesus by using their senses. Now have persisted and evolved to the hand-shake of today. we use sacred music, bells, incense, poetic prayers—they all plant our faith deep in our body and bones as Catholics. It is important to point out that many of these sym- Why do Catholics make the Sign of the Cross? bols refer to ancient Jewish practices, such as the use of incense , which is to this day used in the Catholic Church during the incensing of the Altar, the Sacrificial Table at Back in the second century when this practice began, it was common to honor a Mass and the Book of the Holy Scripture, the ringing of the bell during the celebra- ruler with a gesture of respect. Whether bowing down on one knee or touching the tion of the Eucharist and so on. These are practices that were familiar to the first forehead, such gestures were ritual ways to show humility before a person of great Christians, who were mostly of a Jewish background. power. The Sign of the Cross became one such devotion to the Holy Trinity, and

11 Catholic Schools Moving’ & Groovin’ Run/Walk attracts hundreds in celebration of Catholic Education Week Over 500 runners and walkers recently Roundabout as runners and walkers made Save the graduation dates: hit the pavement for the first their way along the route. The Aquinas ‘Catholic Schools Movin’ & Groovin’ College Band also entertained participants at Exodus Mass: June 5 Run/Walk’. The event served as a precursor the Health Fair which took place immediate- Francis de Sales (Abaco): June 12 to celebrating 130 years of Catholic educa- ly following the event. tion in The Bahamas and marked the end of Mary, Star of the Sea: June 12 Catholic Schools Week 2019. This year CBE Proceeds from the ‘Catholic Schools Movin’ Aquinas College: June 13 celebrated its 10th Annual Catholic Schools & Groovin’ Run/Walk’ will benefit the Week. Catholic Schools Week is an annual development of CBE schools. Aligning with event during which Catholic schools a key tenet of Catholic education to commit throughout the United States and other terri- oneself to service, part proceeds from the tories celebrate Catholic education and rec- ‘Catholic Schools Movin’ & Groovin’ ognize the contributions Catholic schools Run/Walk’ will be donated to the Persis make to local communities. Rodgers Home for the Aged (New Providence) and The Abaco Cancer Society The Catholic Schools Movin’ & Groovin’ Run (Abaco). Walk took place on the islands of New Providence, Abaco and Grand Bahama. The The title sponsor for the first annual Catholic CBE system is the second largest educational Schools Movin’& Groovin’ Run/Walk was system in The Bahamas and the largest pri- Insurance Management. Supporting spon- vate school system in the country. The event sors included Aliv, Bahamasair, Apex took place in Abaco and Grand Bahama on Awards, Bahama Health, Blue Lagoon February 1. On February 2, 2019, in New Island, CJ’s Abaco Dorado Boat Rentals, Providence, participants moved and Dairy Queen, The d’Albenas Agency Ltd., grooved along the route to the sounds of the Marcos Pizza, FOCOL Sun Oil Limited and Aquinas College Band. The Band played a DC Technology. medley of songs at the Saunders Beach Aquinas College World Scholar’s Cup Team Sets Its Sights on the 2019 World Cup Scholar’s Australia The Aquinas College 2019 World Scholar’s Cup Team has quali- fied for the World Scholar’s Cup Global Round in Australia. Ten schools, two hundred and twenty students recently partici- pated in the World Scholar’s Cup Bahamas Round. Fourteen teams from Aquinas College, consisting of three team members each, com- peted in the local round, pictured at left). All the Aquinas teams qualified for the World Scholars Cup Global Round in Australia. The Global Round in Australia will be held August 13-19, 2019. Last year Aquinas College participated for the first time in the World Scholar’s Cup. The team emerged as the most outstanding team from The Bahamas in last year’s World Scholar’s Cup Tournament of Champions. Shona Knowles, Principal, Aquinas College explained why she felt it is important for Aquinas College students to participate in the World Scholar’s Cup Competition: “ The competition is an Inquiry based competition which fosters the need for students to \"think outside of the box”. The structure of the competition inculcates higher level crit- ical thinking skills. The World Scholars Cup competition also allows the students to learn beyond the classroom as it provides the perfect opportunity for experiential learning. This competition does an excel- lent job in preparing global citizens.”

Pallbearers Msgr. Simeon Roberts, Fr. Reginald Demeritte, Msgr. Alfred Culmer, and Msgr. John 12 Johnson (partly hidden) casket out of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral following the funeral Mass for Msgr. Preston Moss. Archbishop Pinder’s Homily: Rite of Christian Burial IN LOVING MEMORY Fr. Remy David OF Continued from page 3 Msgr. Preston A. Moss, PA, CMG, OM Rev. Father Remy R. David Born: October 19, 1939 Born: April 22, 1937 The priest too is a leader of worship and prayer. In his gathering the community around the Word and Sacrament, the Church as the Ordained Priest: June 4, 1965 Ordained Priest: June 13, 1968 Body of Christ enlivened by the Holy Spirit must be clearly and Entered Eternal Life: March 11, 2019 Entered Eternal Life: February 3, 2019 truly expressed.\" The priest is also a man of pastoral charity. Requiescat in Pace - Rest In Peace When we let ourselves be chosen by Jesus, it is to serve; to serve the people of God; especially those living on the fringes of society. Such service requires the priest to be willing and able to encourage and nurture and care for the people to whom he ministers. These aspects of the profile of a priest were easily evident in the life of Fr. Remy. He was by no means perfect. But in so many ways he was exem- plary. He could teach us a great deal about the virtue of humility. He could teach us a whole lot about how to live simple lives My very last time with Fr. Remy was in the hospital in Freeport where he was waiting to be taken by air ambulance to Florida to have a surgical procedure from which he did not recover. As he lay in his hospital bed, waiting for his air lift - I asked him... \"Fr. Remy what would you like for me to do for you?\" He brought his body to a sitting position, leaned forward and said: \"Give me your blessing.\" That was all that he asked for, a blessing. The truth is, for more than 50 years of his life, his witness, his voca- tion, his commitment, his humility, his simplicity, in short his priest- hood - has been for us, nothing but a blessing. Our first reading for this liturgy is from the Prophet Isaiah. He announces: \"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted ...\" (Isaiah 61:1) In the Gospel of Luke, these words of Isaiah are the first words on the lips of Jesus as he begins his public ministry of teaching, healing and transforming lives. As Fr. Remy's ministry among us is now ended these words are put before us here and now. May they serve us as a guide, an inspiration, a consolation, indeed a blessing as the life of Fr. Remy David surely was. It ennobles us to have the honor of bringing him to burial. May he rest in peace. For the gift of the life and ministry of the humble, simple, caring and committed priest we knew as Fr. Remy David we say ... simply ... Merci Bon Dieu, Merci.