Former VI Seminarian Ordained

Most Rev. George Murry, SJ, bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, ordained Ernesto Rodriguez to the priesthood at St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown on June 25. Father Rodriguez was a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands from 2006 to 2008. Father Rodriguez’s first assignment as a priest is at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Ashtabula, Ohio.

Patronal Mission

Fr. Kevin MacDonald, CSsR, of St. Patrick Church on St. Croix, led the annual patronal mission at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on June 20-23. On the third night, he and Deacon Eduardo Ortiz (left) blessed bread and distributed it to the congregation.

Fathers Day

Father Patrick Lynch, CSsR, pastor, blessed fathers at Mass at St. Patrick Church on St. Croix on Fathers Day, June 19. Father Lynch, assisted by Deacon Louis Soto, presented the fathers with a gift.

Adult Education

Six adult students graduated from a Windows Vista computer course at the Good Shepherd Center on St. Croix on June 17. The year long course, taught by Sister Digna Rivas, RGS, is one of the programs offered by the outreach ministries of Holy Cross Church. The graduates were Jafreysi Abad Rodriguez, Virginia Bello Maynard, Martín Burgos, Luis Campos Dante, Berta Felis and Altagracia García. 

Gov. Juan Luis Funeral

The funeral Mass for the late Gov. Juan Luis was held at Holy Cross Church on St. Croix on June 16. Fr. Kenneth Gaddy, pastor, was the celebrant.

Philippines Independence Day

Msgr. Antonio Verzosa celebrated a Philippines Independence Day Mass in the Filipino language at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas this morning. Pictured left is the music ministry.

Valedictorian and Student of the Year

Michael Vante, a lector at St. Anne Chapel, was valedictorian and Student of the Year at Charlotte Amalie High School graduation on June 12. He also won Best Oralist at the Virgin Islands Moot Court competition on May 13. He will be attending the University of Miami in August.

Pentecost Celebration

The Diocesan Office of Evangelization presented a Pentecost celebration at Light of Christ Retreat Center on St. Croix on June 10–12. The theme was: “Do not conform yourself to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect” (Rom 12:2).
The events began with an all-night prayer vigil on June 10. Winston Garcia from the People of Praise community in Trinidad spoke at a men’s prayer breakfast on June 11. Mr. Garcia also spoke at a men’s prayer breakfast at Light of Christ retreat Center on St. Croix on June 11, pictured right. He spoke to 37 men about their commitment to a life long covenant with their spouse.

About 200 participants from various parishes attended the annual Pentecost Rally at Light of Christ Retreat Center on St. Croix on Pentecost Sunday, June 12. Mr. Garcia encouraged the participants to allow the Holy Spirit to bring to fulfillment all that God has in store for them. He stressed a personal relationship with the Source and Giver of Life. Pictured left, Deacon Joseph Mark of St. Ann Church prayed over Mr. Garcia.

Deacon Ortiz Prepares for Ordination

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, will ordain Deacon Eduardo Ortiz to the priesthood at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on Saturday, July 30, at 9:30 a.m. Deacon Ortiz arrived for his summer assignment at the cathedral on June 11. Pictured above, left to right, Deacon Wilfredo Acosta, Deacon Ortiz and Bishop Bevard served together at Sunday Mass at the cathedral on June 12.

Two Priests Share Anniversaries

Father Andrzej Szorc, parochial vicar at Holy Cross Church on St. Croix, celebrated his 25^th anniversary of priesthood at Mass on June 12. He concelebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving with visiting priest Msgr. Floro Arcamo, who celebrated his 46^th anniversary of priesthood. Msgr. Arcamo was on St. Croix for his nephew’s confirmation and graduation from St. Mary School.

The Class of 1971

The Class of 1971 from Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas had its 40th anniversary reunion and posed with Bishop Herbert Bevard after Sunday Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on June 12.

Farewell to Sister

Sister Marie Stephania, MC, is being transferred to Haiti after five years in St. Croix. She had served the homeless, elderly, homebound and religious education students at St. Joseph Church. She is pictured above with Isabel Cerni, a Lay Missionary of Charity, at Holy Cross Church on June 12.

Michael Akin, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands, shows the newly renovated bathroom in the women's section at Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless on St. Thomas. Work will begin soon on renovating the men's bathroom.

Pentecost Triduum

Winston Garcia of the People of Praise Community in Arima was the speaker for the Pentecost Triduum at St. Ann Church on St Croix on June 7-9 at 7 p.m. Mr. Garcia helped prepare the participants for Pentecost, encouraging them to realize that God has a plan for them. In line with the theme from Romans 12:2, he suggested they return to the basics and use the word of God to help them understand the need for a renewed lifestyle. He used the “penny catechism,” a popular prayer book in the Caribbean, as a resource for what God wants from a 21st century disciple. He used examples from his own struggles to illustrate what God can do to bring about healing and transformation. The talks were broadcasted live on the Caribbean Catholic Network, channel 7.

Catholic Charities Meeting

Bishop Herbert Bevard and Jerome Esterson, chief finance officer for the diocese, met with several members of the board of directors of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands (CCVI) at CCVI’s St. Thomas office on June 9. Pictured left to right they are Mr. Esterson, board members Henry Richardson and Elton Chongasing, Bishop Bevard, and board members Yvonne Thraen, Dr. Alfred Heath and Shelley Moorhead. The renderings on the wall are of the planned housing for the homeless on St. Croix.

Val and Sal

Msgr. Jerome Feudjio and principal Ramona Griego presented awards to the valedictorian Danielle Olive and salutatorian Luis Chevalier of Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas during the eighth grade promotion Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on June 8. Danielle is an altar server at St. Anne Chapel, and Luis is a lector and an altar server at the Spanish Mass at the cathedral.

New Youth Group

The new youth group at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral held a bake sale in the Hospitality Lounge between Sunday Masses on June 5.

Cathedral Roof Is Replaced

After the plywood and tar paper, another layer of plywood and the red aluminum sheets are finally completing the last stage of roof repair.

Once the old roof was removed, the workmen discovered that the bottom of the wood beams where they meet concrete were rotted. They are now replacing the bottoms of the beams.

The Graduates!

Fr. Anthony Abraham was the guest speaker at the Ss. Peter and Paul School graduation at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports Center on St. Thomas on June 2. For more information on the graduates, please click on the Catholic School News tab above.

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten

St. Patrick School on St. Croix had pre-kindergarten promotion and kindergarten graduation in St. Gerard Hall on June 1.