Our Lady of Fatima 95th Anniversary Procession

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, blessed rosaries at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas as 200 faithful gathered for a procession to a Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral honoring the 95th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.

Home Rosary

Members of the Hispanic community at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas gathers in the homes of different parishioners each night in May to pray the rosary.

Confirmation: St. Joseph Church

Bishop Herbert Bevard, Fr. John Mark and Deacon Neville Charles posed with the newly confirmed at the end of the Mass at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on May 19.

Confirmation Retreat

Seminarian Thomas Carvey led a retreat for confirmation candidates from Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas in the chapel at Ss. Peter and Paul School on May 19.

Science Fair

The physical science students of St. Joseph High School on St. Croix participated in a Science Fair on May 18. Six seniors from the physics class were the judges, and Br. James Petrait, OSFS, physical science and physics teacher, moderated the fair. Pictured above, first place winner Malika Francois, Grade 9, is shown with her project display.

Youth Choir

Cantor Lisa Chamely-Aqui has begun teaching music and developing a youth choir at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.

Catholic Club

Fr. John Mark, principal of St. Joseph High School on St. Croix, inducted 10 students into the school’s Catholic Club during the school Mass on May 16.

Confirmation: St. Patrick Church

The new confirmands posed with Bishop Herbert Bevard after Mass outside St. Patrick Church on St. Croix on May 13.

Mothers Day Brunch

The men of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John prepared and served a Mothers Day brunch in the parish's Guadalupe Hall and members of the youth group waiting on tables.

Mothers Day Gifts

Fr. Neil Scantlebury prepared to give gifts to the mothers at Holy Family Church on St. Thomas on the eve of Mothers Day, May 12.

Father John Mark and Deacon Guillermo Huertas gave blessed items to the mothers who attended the Spanish Mass at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on Mothers’ Day, May 13.

Members of the youth group distributed carnations to mothers at the end of Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John.

Altar Servers Visit the Homebound

Altar servers from Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas visited the homebound on May 12, the day before Mothers’ Day. They gave each mother a potted plant.

Pro-Life March and Rally

Several Catholic priests participated in the St. Croix Right-to-Life Committee’s ecumenical pro-life march and rally in Christiansted on May 12. His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard was the keynote speaker at the rally. Pictured above, left to right, are Fr. John Juszczak, CSsR, Fr. Patrick Lynch, CSsR, Fr. Louis Kemayou and Fr. John Mark.

Tourism, Economy, History

Representatives from the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism spoke to students at St. Mary School on St. Croix on May 11 on the importance of tourism to the local economy and the role that local history and culture can play in attracting tourists. A question and answer session was held to strengthen the students’ knowledge of native foods, music and historical sites.

First Communicants Congratulated

Father Anthony Abraham and members of the staff at Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas showcased those who received their baptism and/or first communion the previous weekend during the school Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on May 11. The students wore the clothes they wore at their reception of the sacraments at their church.

Medical Help for the Homeless

Workers from My Brother’s Workshop put the finishing touches on the medical exam room at Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless on St. Thomas on May 10. The room will be used by volunteer physicians in a pilot project to bring medical care to the homeless and underserved. The project was initiated by First Lady Cecile deJongh and supported by volunteer medical professionals from the private and public sector. Catholic Charities board members Odile de Lyrot and Alfred Heath have been involved in the planning process.

May Crowning: St. Mary School

St. Mary School on St. Croix celebrated the coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on May 10. The students prayed a decade of the rosary during the school assembly, then went across the street to Holy Cross Church for the weekly school Mass. After the mass, the students sang Marian hymns in a procession back to school, where they made a floral offering to an image of the Blessed Mother. Pictured above, Bianca Rames crowned the statue, assisted by Zara Bengoa. The students then prayed the Act of Consecration to the Blessed Mother.

Elegant Tea Party

The Alumni Association of St. Patrick School on St. Croix held an Elegant Tea Party at St. Gerard Hall on May 6 as a fundraiser for the school.

Magnificat Luncheon

Carol Winston-Victorine of Holy Family Church on St. Thomas shared her spiritual journey during the Magnificat Luncheon at Gertrude’s Restaurant on St. Croix on May 6.

May Crowning: Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral

Celebrating May as the month of Mary, an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was crowned at the beginning of the Spanish Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on May 6.

Confirmation Inscription

Lauren Penn and her sponsor Juliette Daniel were among those who signed in when the Confirmation candidates were presented and inscribed at Sunday Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on May 6.

First Communion: Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral

Msgr. Jerome Feudjio administered First Communion to 25 children today during Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas.

Confirmation: St. Anne Chapel

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, confirmed two parishioners, Danielle Olive (pictured above) and Alice Barber at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas on May 6.

First Communion: St. Anne Chapel

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, and Fr. Charles Crespo gave First Communion to seven children at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas on May 6.

May Procession: St. Anne Chapel

St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas had its annual May Procession through Frenchtown with the image of Mary on May 6.

Once the procession arrived at the chapel, Ana Pia Brunt crowned the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Confirmation: Holy Family Church

Several of the new confirmands led the Prayers of the Faithful during the Confirmation Mass at Holy Family Church on May 5.

May Crowning: St. Joseph Church

As the parish began celebrating the Month of Mary, a young parishioner crowned an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the start of Mass at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on May 5.

Knights of Malta in Lourdes

Some 300 members of the Knights and Dames of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta made their annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, in May, bringing with them 55 “malades,” the French word for “sick.” Dr. Lina Batenga and Leslie Highfield Carter from Holy Cross Church on St. Croix, and Jerry and Christine Woodhouse from Our Lady of Perpetual Help on St. Thomas deposited written prayers from the faithful in the Virgin Islands in the Grotto of Massabielle where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.

Pictured above, Jerry and Christine Woodhouse cared for Peggy Higgins from New Jersey, a mother of four with aggressive breast cancer who had just finished chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Kallaloo Kitchen Volunteers

Zach and Jordan Raus of Marietta, Georgia, honeymooned on St. John and served the needy at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church’s Kallaloo Kitchen in the Guadalupe Hall on May 4.

Volunteers serve lunch on Mondays and Fridays.

Patronal Mass

Fr. John Mark celebrated the patronal Mass of St. Joseph the Worker at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on May 1.

Founders Day

St. Patrick School on St. Croix celebrated Founders Day with “A Taste of the Caribbean,” an international food fair, at St. Gerard Hall on May 1, in celebration of the school’s 146^th anniversary. The food was prepared by students, parents and faculty. Fr. Lynch led the opening prayer, and the students sang the school song "Hail to St. Patrick School.” Pictured above, Elizabeth John Baptiste, principal, addressed the students, faculty and guests.

First Communion: Holy Cross Church

Fr. John Juszczak, CSsR, gave first communion to Zugeily Reyes (pictured right) and 30 other children during Sunday Mass at Holy Cross Church on St. Cross on April 29.

Music for the Masses

Left to right, Michael Sorzano, Steven Burkholder and Ed August usually play instruments at different Masses at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John, but on April 29 they all played at the 9:30 a.m. Mass.

Reading Carnival

Students from St. Joseph High School on St. Croix led a reading carnival in the classrooms and on the campus on April 28. The high school students read to elementary school students. Lunch was provided, the school’s steel pan band played, and the children enjoyed a slide and a jump room.

Professional Development for Teachers

Teachers from St. Patrick School on St. Croix learned new teaching techniques in Barcelonetta, Puerto Rico, on April 27. They were introduced to the Waterford program, designed to help students remain on task while improving academically. Upon approval for purchase, St. Patrick will be the first private school in the Virgin Islands to use the Waterford program.

Installation of Lectors

At the request of His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, Msgr. Michael Kosak, Vicar General, installed six deacon candidates to the ministry of lector at St. Ann Church on St. Croix on April 26. The new lectors posed afterwards with Msgr. Kosak and Deacon Joseph Mark, Dean of the Formation Program. Left to right, front row, they are Reynold Modeste, Alvin Bedneau, Hector Arroyo, Tony Murray and Benjamin Parrilla; in the middle row are Deacon Mark and Marlon Braithwaite; Msgr. Kosak stands in the back row.

Bishop Leads Parish Mission

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, led a parish mission at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Delray Beach, Florida, on April 23-24. Two of his St. Thomas parishioners, John and Claire Foster, were in Florida at the time and took this photograph!

Youth Lead Mass

The youth group at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John ministered at Mass on April 22.

Flea Market

The fundraising committee of St. Joseph Church on St. Croix held a flea market on the parish grounds on April 21 to help defray the expenses of maintaining the parish. Donated items including clothing, electronics, furniture, dishes, books, and more were offered for sale. Drinks and snacks were also on sale.

Prayer Group Mass

Fr. Kevin McDonald, CSsR, celebrated the annual Mass of Thanksgiving for the Our Mother of Perpetual Help prayer group in the residence of member Inez Walker on St. Croix on April 20.

Redemptorist Provincial Visits St. Croix

Fr. Kevin Moley, CSsR, provincial superior of the Redemptorists, visited the Redemptorist communities on St. Croix on April 18-21. Pictured above, he also visited the Missionaries of Charity on April 19.

Cultural Dancers

The Cultural Dancers from Holy Family on St. Thomas performed Cultural Night at Lionel Roberts Stadium on April 18.

Parishioners Celebrate Priest's Birthday

Parishioners celebrated the birthday of Fr. Anthony Abraham in the rectory of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John on April 16.

Divine Mercy Mass

Fr. Dan Cambra, a Marian of the Immaculate Conception based at the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge Massachusetts, celebrated a Mass at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 15, and then invited parishioners to venerate a relic of St. Faustina.

Bishop Bevard at Holy Cross Church

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, prepared to celebrate Mass at Holy Cross Church on St. Croix on April 15.

Helping the Homeless

Members of Lions Club donated food and supplies to Bethlehem House Shelter for the Homeless on St. Thomas on April 14.

Divine Mercy Mission

Father Dan Cambra and Brother Michael Baker of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception based at the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, led a three-night mission at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas on April 11-13.

New Cross above the Cathedral

Workers installed a new cross high above the façade of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on April 9.