Spanish Lenten Mission

Hector Gonzalez, a former parishioner at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix who now lives in Puerto Rico, returned to lead a Spanish Lenten Mission on March 28-30. Co-leader Marina Salas is shown in the front row dressed in blue.

Cathedral Restoration Project Progresses

Workmen have strengthened the pillars of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas and have begun the re-plastering.

Choir Practices for Holy Week

Some of the choir members at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas are practicing right now for Holy Week services. They practice every Monday evening.

Girls Softball

Batter up! The Lady Jaguars, the girls softball team from Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas, are playing their first game of the season right now at Joseph Aubain Field. They are in the sixth inning and winning 7 to 3.

Legion of Mary Acies Ceremony

The St. Thomas/St. John Curia, Immaculate Conception of the Legion of Mary celebrated its annual Acies ceremony at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas today. The Acies, from a Latin word meaning an army ranged in battle array, is a consecration ceremony in which the legionaries as a body assemble to renew their fealty to Mary, Queen of the Legion, and to receive strength and blessing from her for yet another year's battle with the forces of evil. Pictured above, the members prepared to venerate the Legion of Mary standard.

Blessings from Bishop Bevard

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, celebrated Mass last night at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas and gave a blessing to altar server Mary Buendia, who won the Territorial Math Counts on March 12.

Student Sailors



Learning about wind, lift and sails

Raising and securing a sail

Teamwork to hoist a jib sail



Twenty-one seventh and eighth graders from Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas had a unique learning opportunity aboard the historic schooner Roseway on March 23. Teachers Jacqueline Vante and Kimalee Emanuel, Department of Education Career and Technical Vocations Director Eduardo Corniero, and Nicole Botellini of the Legislature of the Virgin Islands and a boat crew of eight, accompanied students as they sailed from Crown Bay Marina to Buck Island National Park and back.

Lionfish endanger our reefs

Students learned the basics of Coast Guard boating safety from the Roseway captain. Then, they worked in teams to hoist four massive sails and secured boat fenders and ropes. Students learned about navigation, tacking, wind and lift, sea depth and ocean currents, beaches and coral, fishing, ship building, lion fish, leatherback turtles, annual migrating whales and Buck Island. As the ship docked, students assisted crews with final tasks to secure the schooner to the dock and bid the crew farewell.

The sailing trip was organized by Senator Shawn-Michael Malone. Many students were interviewed by Daily News reporter Karen Hollish and discussed future career ideas, paths, hobbies, and general interests.



Cathedral Restoration Project

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, and Msgr. Jerome Feudjio, rector of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, are meeting right now with some of the heads of the Cathedral Restoration Project in the cathedral's Hospitality Lounge to discuss strategies for progressing with the work.

Bishop Bevard Celebrates School Mass on St. Croix

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, celebrated a Mass for students of St. Joseph High School on St. Croix at St. Joseph Church yesterday. The Mass honored St. Joseph, the school’s patron saint, whose actual feast day is March 19. In his homily, Bishop Bevard described how often children become the images of their parents when they get older and the same applied to Jesus and St. Joseph.

The Marian image behind and above him is Our Lady of Divine Providence, patroness of Puerto Rico.

Housekeeping Ministry

Most churches, including Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas (pictured right), have a housekeeping ministry that cleans on Saturday mornings to prepare for the weekend Masses. If you would like to help clean your church, please speak with your pastor.

Cathedral Restoration Project Progresses

Msgr. Jerome Feudjio, rector of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, climbed into the space between the ceiling and the roof to meet with the three workers who are replacing rotted beams and bolting together other beams.

The marble has been removed from the pillars in the sanctuary to inspect the brick foundation. The pillars will be plastered and painted.

During the restoration, many weekday Masses are being celebrated next door in the Chapel of St. Therese.

St. Anne Chapel Honors Math Counts Winner

Mary Buendia, a parishioner of St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas, won first place in the individuals category in the Territorial Math Counts competition. Parishioners will congratulate her tonight at Mass. She will compete nationally in Washington, DC, in May.

Fr. John Mark Is the New Principal of St. Joseph High School

Pictured above, left to right, Fr. Patrick Lynch,
the diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Education;
Fr. Mark; and Bishop Bevard.

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, has appointed Fr. John Mark as principal of St. Joseph High School on St. Croix, beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year. Fr. Mark will continue as pastor of St. Joseph Church and as director of liturgy for the diocese.

“Our task is two-fold,” Fr. Mark told The Catholic Islander. “First of all, we are focusing on the moral and spiritual formation of our young people according to the mind and heart of Jesus Christ. The second task is to ensure that the academic preparation is top-notch, as the school is a preparatory school for college education and future careers. This is important for the future of the Virgin Islands in general. We need our future leaders to be moral, spiritual and competent. We will do all we can for the young people who represent the future of the Virgin Islands so they can contribute to the culture and the society in productive and meaningful ways."

St. Mary School Claims Territorial Spelling Bee Champ

Big congratulations go out to Justine Arevalo, an eighth grader at St. Mary School, after winning the 2011 Territorial Spelling Bee at Divi Carina Bay Casino conference room on March 11. She went through 29 rounds, finally triumphing by correctly spelling “spurious” as her final word. She will now compete in the national competition in Washington, D.C. on June 1.

Outdoor Stations of the Cross

The Spanish community at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix prays the Stations of the Cross in an outdoor candlelight procession on church grounds each Friday of Lent at 6:30 p.m.

Side Altar Enhanced for Lent

As renovations continue at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas in time for its 90th anniversary this Christmas, more new religious items are being introduced. The body of the dead Christ was placed inside the side chapel in time for Lent.

Knights of Columbus Food Sale

The St. Thomas Knights of Columbus had a food sale between Masses at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral's Hospitality Lounge yesterday.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, and Fr. Patrick Lynch, CSsR, pastor of St. Patrick Church on St. Croix, led the parishioners and St. Patrick School students in their annual St. Patrick's Day parade through Frederiksted this past Sunday.

After the patronal Mass and parade, Bishop Bevard blessed a shrine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at St. Patrick School.

At the closing of the patronal celebration, Bishop Bevard tried his hand at the steel pan at the reception in St. Gerard Hall. He said he was asked to play solo – “so low” that no one could hear him!

St. Joseph School Students of the Month

The Students of the Month at St. Joseph High School on St. Croix for March 2011 were, left to right: O'Shaeney Felix, Grade 12; Jonathan Morales, Grade 9; Kibwe Tom, Grade 10; and Sadie Aubain, Grade 11.

The Students of the Month for February 2011 were, left to right: Ashley Joseph, Grade 12; Addina Denning, Grade 9; Kwame Simmons, Grade 11; and Benjamin Alicea, Grade 10 (not pictured).

Painting at Bethlehem House Shelter

We just caught His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, painting at Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless on St. Thomas with members of Sunrise Rotary and Rotary II. He will be there for the rest of the morning.

Cathedral Restoration Project

Metal girders are being soldered into the pillars for strength at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas.

Cathedral Choir Practice

Sara Connell and the choir at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas are already rehearsing weekly in the Hospitality Lounge in preparation for Holy Week.

History Bowl

The middle school came in first in its division

Ss. Peter and Paul School had three teams in the St. Thomas competition of the Virgin Islands History Bowl on March 10. Thanks to the coaching of teacher Brittany Bryan, the school placed in all three categories.

Middle School (First Place)

Eighth graders Kenise Abraham, Britany Dyer, Kesha Hyacinth and Danielle Olive and seventh graders Dante Joseph and Asel Mustafa.

High School (Second Place)

Eleventh graders Sarah-Ann Charles, Ashlee Forney and Deja Joseph, tenth graders Kiernan Corbett and Robert Greaux, and ninth grader Corey Romney.

Elementary School (Third Place)

Sixth grader Mahmoud Hussein and fifth graders Adari Hector, Jessica Gibs and Emmett Joseph.

The high school came in second
in its division

The elementary school came in third
in its division

Principals/Heads of Schools Meeting

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, met with the principals and heads of schools on St. Croix yesterday. Pictured with the bishop, left to right are Elizabeth John-Baptiste of St. Patrick School, Basil Williams, Sr., of St. Mary School, Ramona Griego of Ss. Peter and Paul School, and Deborah Skalkos of St. Joseph High School. The principals meet regularly to coordinate the school matters throughout the diocese.

Black History Month

St. Patrick School on St. Croix had an international food fair, a fashion show and other events celebrating Black History Month.

Pictured left, Charlene Matthew, the Quiz Bowl judge, posed with the winners.

Ash Wednesday

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, celebrated the noon Mass
and distributed ashes today at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas.



Fr. Charles Crespo imposed ashes on patients and staff
today at the Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Students of St. Joseph High School on St. Croix received ashes from
Fr. John Mark and Deacon James Verhoff at St. Joseph Church.




Keys and Sword Award Benefit

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, and Msgr. Jerome Feudjio, rector of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, met with the members of the Keys and Sword Award Benefit Committee in the cathedral's hospitality lounge last night. The fundraiser honoring Dr. Alfred Heath on January 22 raised approximately $95,000 towards the restoration of the cathedral.

Catholic Church Extension Society Visit

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, met yesterday with Joseph Boland, senior director of grant management at the Catholic Church Extension Society. Mr. Boland visited the diocese to review how the agency has helped and will help in the future. The Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands receives substantial funds annually from the agency.



Bishop Bevard took Mr. Boland to Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas (pictured above) and many places
supported by the Catholic Church Extension Society on St. Thomas and St. Croix.

Micheal Akin, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands,
gave Bishop Bevard and Mr. Boland a tour of Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless on St. Thomas.




Funeral for Josephine Richardson

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, presided at the funeral Mass for 98-year-old Josephine Richardson, the unofficial matriarch of Frenchtown, at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas this morning. Gov. John de Jongh and Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis were among those present. The chapel was packed and about 50 people watched it on closed circuit television in the hall, a first for the chapel.