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Message
from the
Antilles Episcopal Conference
To the
Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful:
Today's
Ceremony of Installation is meant to be thanksgiving to Almighty God for
the appointment of a new Archbishop to the vacant See of Port of
Spain. Today Archbishop Edward Gilbert begins his journey of faith
with you keeping your gaze fixed on Christ, "the same yesterday and
today and forever" (Ref: Heb 13:8)
It is
slightly over a year since the unexpected death of Archbishop Pantin.
Even as we recall his many years of steadfast service, we pray that he may
intercede for this diocesan church and for Archbishop Gilbert, its new Pastor.
Through his labours and those of his predecessors, the People of God in Trinidad
and Tobago have been formed and nurtured in faith, hope and charity.
No doubt the new Archbishop is profoundly grateful to those he succeeds
and will continue to build on the foundation they have securely set in place.
Archbishop
Gilbert has been an esteemed member of our Antilles Episcopal Conference
for the past six years. His wide experience as an Administrator has
been of great advantage to our Conference and the member bishops have come
to rely on his learned interventions. His reverence for the lowliest
is obvious and his sensitivity regarding the expectation of others is
real.
A bishop's pastoral
care is given in a unique way with and through his principal co-workers,
his priests. Our prayer for Archbishop Gilbert is that he nurture a spirit
of heartfelt understanding and mutual support among you, his priests, for
in his extensive pastoral activity he will need your valuable help and collaboration.
In this Archdiocese
so rich in religious communities with representatives from many congregations,
orders and societies, the Archbishop must seek divine guidance in order to
respect the charisms of each group and accompany you in your activities as
a reliable guide. You must be available to him
The vast mission
of evangelization which he now undertakes requires that he recognize the deep
faith of the lay faithful here in this Republic and that he invite you into
loving association with him in this ministry. Archbishop Gilbert is
sure to discover the promising number of young people who are here to
cooperate with him in his efforts and we pray that he will be a Father to
all of you.
Although the
difficulties of daily life are inevitable, we pray that the Archbishop can
overcome them with the Lord's help. May he follow the high road of
the dialogue of charity, seeking to establish relations with other baptized
faithful and people of other religions living in Trinidad and Tobago.
Today's
celebration of Archbishop Gilbert's installation invites the Church of
Port of Spain to gather and be spiritually united; to give the kiss of
peace and fraternal best wishes to the new Archbishop. This day you
are being sent to go forth with your new Pastor in the faith of your
fathers, to pass its torch to the generation to come.
May the Immaculate
Mother of God protect you and go with you.
Cordially in
Christ,
Most Rev
Edgerton R Clarke
President
Antilles Episcopal Conference
May 5, 2001
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