Palm Sunday: St. Anne Chapel

Fr. Charles Crespo blessed palms outside the rectory at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas as Mass began on March 31. The palms were distributed and the procession into the chapel began.

Virgin Islands History

The Virgin Islands History classes of Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas hosted a Celebration of Virgin Islands History Month and learned about Transfer Day, March 31, 1917, on March 30, 2012. Ninth graders made presentations on outstanding Virgin Islanders, both past and present. Pictured above, Keisha Hyacinth gave a presentation on music to the elementary students. Guest speaker Leah Sasso McAllister spoke about her late mother, Blanche Sasso, who was former Ss. Peter and Paul principal, teacher, and seamstress of the original Virgin Islands flag. Lucia Henley, former Virgin Islands Carnival Food Fair honoree, treated the students to banana benye, sweet potato pudding, bread pudding, chicken pates, stewed cherries, and pineapple, coconut and carrot sugar cakes and tarts.

Young Athlete

Kohun Eugene, a member of the youth group at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church on St. John, wore his medals from various athletic meets on March 31.

Transfer Day

The U.S. Virgin Islands commemorated the 95th anniversary of Transfer Day, the transfer of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the United States, on March 31. The ceremony on St. Croix took place at the Whim Estate Museum. Pictured above, Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis commended the St. Patrick School Steel Pan Orchestra.

St. Mary School was among the schools that prepared an exhibit on St. Croix history. The fifth grade students researched sugar plantation estates. Pictured left, Nadia Garriga-Cerni researched the Lawaetz family plantation.

Fire Safety

Roberto Santos, a retired St. Croix fire chief and a Homeland Security adviser, instructed the staff at St. Joseph High School on St. Croix in the use of fire extinguishers on March 30. Sandra Miranda, dean and office manager at St. Joseph High School, was among the faculty members who took turns at extinguishing a blaze.

Lenten Reflections in Spanish

St. Joseph Church on St. Croix hosted a triduum of Lenten reflections in Spanish led by Orlando Bernard and Francisco Gracia of Los Hermanos Cheo of Puerto Rico on March 27-29.

Lenten Mission: St. Ann Church

Msgr. William John Lewis started a three-night Lenten mission in the chapel at St. Ann Church on St. Croix on March 27.

Physics Class

Members of the 12^th grade physics class of Brother James Petrait, OSFS, at St. Joseph High School on St. Croix, posed for a class photo in front of the school sign on March 26. Pictured left to right are Ian Heath, Jonique George, Yahaira Olmeda, Roxane Grey, Enrique Arroya, and Julie Dupie, Jr.

Students Support the Red Cross

March was American Red Cross Month. Pictured right, Basil Williams, the head of St. Mary School on St. Croix, thanked the students who supported the American Red Cross on “Wear Red Day” on March 23. Marjorie Emmanuel of the American Red Cross spoke briefly with the students about the Red Cross' worldwide assistance after natural and man-made disasters. Mr. Williams then presented her with a check for $170 from the students. Students paid $1 to wear red on this day.

St. Patrick School on St. Croix held a “penny war” to raise funds for the American Red Cross. Pictured left, Khaliah Stanley, seventh grade class president, presented a check for $300 to Ms. Emmanuel on March 26.

Legion of Mary Acies

Members of the Legion of Mary from Holy Family Church, St. Anne Chapel and Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas gathered for the Acies at Holy Family Church on March 25. Acies is Latin word meaning an army ranged in battle array, and is an annual ceremony in which the legionaries renew their fealty to Mary.

Bishop Bevard Meets Fr. Mitch Pacwa

Fr. Mitch Pacwa of EWTN preached a mission at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas this week, and earlier today preached at English and Spanish Masses at the cathedral. He is now visiting with Bishop Herbert Bevard at the Catholic Chancery.

Youth Meditations for Lent

Fr. Neil Scantlebury, pastor of Holy Family Church on St. Thomas, led youth of his parish on a Lenten Day of recollection.

Church Cleaners

Parishioners always find their churches clean when they come to Mass on Sundays, and it is due to silent ministry of the volunteer cleaners. Pictured above left to right, St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas has a new team of helpers in Cindy Richardson, Dawn Petersen, Mary Oxendine and Tyra Hunt.

Fr. Mitch Pacwa Speaks to Youth

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ, of EWTN, led about 30 youth in a Lenten meditation at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas on March 24.

Advanced Directive Workshop

More than 30 people attended a free Living Will and Advanced Medical Directive Seminar led by Tracy Sanders of Continuum Care in the St. Anne Chapel clubhouse on March 24.

Lenten Mission: Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral

Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ, of Eternal Word Television (EWTN), led a Lenten Mission at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on March 22-23. He will preach at several of the Sunday Masses in English and in Spanish.

Cultural Day

The ninth grade Virgin Islands and Caribbean History class at St. Joseph High School on St. Croix presented a Virgin Islands Cultural Day program in the St. Joseph Church Hospitality Lounge on March 22. The program featured skits and dancing by the dancing class. Caribbean food was served afterwards.

Holy Week Choir Practice

Church choirs are preparing for Holy Week, including at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas.

St. Patrick Parade

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, petted Eeyore the donkey as he and Fr. Patrick Lynch, CSsR, led the annual patronal parade for St. Patrick Church and St. Patrick School on St. Croix on March 18.

Bishop Bevard at St. Joseph Church

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, celebrated Mass at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on March 17. He is pictured before Mass with Fr. John Mark, pastor, (left) and Deacon Neville Charles (right).

Lenten Retreat: Deacons

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, led a Lenten reflection for the St. Croix deacons and deacon candidates and their wives at Light of Christ Retreat Center on March 17. At the conclusion, he announced that he would ordain Hector Arroyo of St. Joseph Church and Benjamin Parrilla of Holy Cross Church to the diaconate at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on Saturday, July 7, at 11 a.m. Pictured left to right are Msgr. Michael Kosak, vicar of the diaconate, Bishop Bevard, Mr. Arroyo and Mr. Parrilla.

Divine Mercy

Alberto Rosario of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, offered three presentations in Spanish and English on the Divine Mercy to parishioners of St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on March 16-18. Pictured right, he spoke to the Hispanic community on March 16.

Stations of the Cross

The Hispanic community at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix prays the Stations of the Cross outdoors on Fridays of Lent.

School Mass

Fr. Neil Scantlebury celebrated Mass for the students of Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on March 16. He came down the center aisle to involve the students in his homily.

Students Sing

Father Wojciech Kusek, CSsR, played guitar as fifth graders from St. Mary School on St. Croix sang “Open the Eyes of My Heart” at Holy Cross Church on March 15.

School Via Crucis

Teachers Margarite Rene and Boniface-Blanchard Twaibu led students of Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas through the Stations of the Cross during morning assembly today and every Wednesday of Lent.

Planning Holy Week

Fr. Charles Crespo, administrator of St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas, met with members of the congregation tonight in the chapel hall to plan Holy Week celebrations.

Neocatechumenal Way

Father George Klybus of Turks and Caicos led a Lenten day of recollection for members of the Neocatechumenal Way at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on March 11. The groups continue to meet on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.

Rite of Choice

Father Eduardo Ortiz Santiago, administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas, led seven confirmation candidates in the Rite of Choice during Sunday Mass on March 11.

Lenten Retreat: Holy Cross Church

Peggy Meyer led a Lenten Retreat at Holy Cross Church’s McAlpin Hall on St. Croix on March 10.

School Mass

Students of Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas attend Mass as a community at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral every Friday. Pictured right, Fr. Neil Scantlebury celebrated the Mass and Msgr. Jerome Feudjio helped distribute Holy Communion on March 9.

Pictured left, several students serve as music ministers at the Friday school Masses.

Students Learn to Care for Animals

Veterinary Services taught the students of St. Patrick School on St. Croix how to care for pets on March 8.

Students Learn about Marine Life

A representative from the St. Croix East End Marine Park taught the students of St. Patrick School about marine life on March 8.

Student Retreat

Students at Ss. Peter and Paul School on St. Thomas are on retreat today in the hall of St. Anne Chapel.

Legion of Mary

Three Legion of Mary groups meet weekly on St. Thomas. Pictured above is the group at St. Anne Chapel.

Presidium María, Arca de la Alianza, holds meetings in Spanish at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on Sundays at 2 p.m.

Presidium Mary, Mystical Rose, meets in Holy Family Church’s classroom on Sundays at 3 p.m.

Presidium Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, meets in the St. Anne Chapel hall on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

Cathedral Restoration Project

Workers are repairing several dormitories in the rectory of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas that were made unusable over the years largely due to water damage.

RCIA Candidate

Peggy Meyer is preparing Duane Howell to receive his full sacramental initiation into the Catholic Church at Holy Cross Church on St. Croix during the Easter Vigil.

Lenten Mission: OLMC Church

Father Trevor Nathasingh of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain in Trinidad led a Lenten Mission at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John on March 5-8.

Altar Servers Commissioned

Fr. Eduardo Ortiz Santiago commissioned Ryan Querrard and Jessica Gibs as altar servers during Sunday Mass at Our Lady of perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas on March 4.

Stations of the Cross

All parishes pray the Stations of the Cross on Fridays of Lent. Timothy Olive, Deacon Bernard Gibs and Joshua Gibs assisted Fr. Eduardo Ortiz Santiago (not pictured) at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas. The parish will have an outdoor Stations procession at Magens Bay on Good Friday, April 6, at 6:30 a.m.

Lenten Mission: Holy Family Church

Fr. Cornelius Phillip, FMI, of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain in Trinidad led a Lenten Mission at Holy Family Church on St. Thomas on February 27 to March 1.

Parish Bible Studies

Peggy Meyer leads a Bible study at Holy Cross Church's McAlpin Hall on St. Croix on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m.

Fr. Charles Crespo teaches from the book of Genesis in the clubhouse of St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas on Mondays and Thursdays of Lent at 5:30 p.m. Pictured right, those who arrive early watch a movie based on the book of Genesis before the class begins.

Seminarians' Rosary for Life

John Fewel (at the far right), a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and fellow seminarians from Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, prayed the rosary for life in the freezing rain outside Planned Parenthood in Brighton, Massachusetts, on March 1.