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.

Easter Program

Some of the Religious Education students from the Hispanic community at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas presented an Easter program in the Hospitality Lounge after the Spanish Mass on April 8.

Easter Ushers

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, and Msgr. Jerome Feudjio, rector of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas, posed with some of the ushers on Easter morning, April 8.

Easter Candle Blessing

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, blessed the paschal candle at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on Easter morning, April 8.

Easter Breakfast

After attending morning Mass and sponsoring the egg hunt at Holy Family Church on St. Thomas, the Young Vincentians enjoyed an Easter breakfast.

Easter Youth Choir

Youth ministered in song at Mass at Holy Family Church on St. Thomas on Easter, April 8.

Easter Egg Hunts

Fr. Neil Scantlebury, pastor of Holy Family Church on St. Thomas, posed with some of his egg hunters on Easter Sunday, April 8.

Sharing is caring when one hunter finds more than others at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas.

Easter Fundraiser

Members of the youth group at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John are raising funds through Saturday car washes and Sunday food sales after the Masses for their trip to the Jesus Explosion in Trinidad on July 20-22. Each child needs to raise at least $549.51; to help sponsor a child, please contact the church secretary.

Easter Steel Pans

Members of the youth group at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John played the steel pans for the visitors after the Easter Sunday Masses.

Easter Children's Homily

Fr. Charles Crespo had children come forward for the homily at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas on Easter morning, April 8.

Easter Salubong Procession

The Filipino Catholic community on St. Thomas organized its first traditional Salubong procession for Easter Sunday, April 8. One group met at the French Heritage Museum carrying a statue of the Sorrowful Mother draped with a long black veil.

Another group met near the Frenchtown Community Center carrying a banner with an image of the Risen Christ. At the sound of the bell at St. Anne Chapel, both groups processed and met at the top of the chapel steps.

When the Sorrowful Mother met her Resurrected Son, her black cape was unveiled, all sang “Regina Cieli,” and pigeons were released into the air.

Easter Vigil: Holy Cross Church

Fr. John Juszczak, CSsR, baptized Enels Iysha Knight at Holy Cross Church on St. Croix at the Easter Vigil on April 7.

Easter Vigil: Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, received several new members into the Catholic Church at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas at the Easter Vigil Mass on April 7. Pictured above, he gave Daniel Nieves a conditional baptism.

Easter Vigil: Holy Family Church

Bishop Emeritus Elliott Thomas confirmed Georgiana Phillip at Holy Family Church on St. Thomas at the Easter Vigil, April 7.

Easter Vigil: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

Fr. Eduardo Ortiz Santiago dipped the paschal candle in blessed water at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas during the Easter vigil on April 7.

Easter Vigil: St. Ann Church

Deacon Norbert Xavier dipped the Easter Candle in the vats of Holy Water during the Easter Vigil at St. Ann Church on St. Croix on April 7.

Easter Vigil: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church

The reknowned mezzo-soprano Melita Etienne led one of the responsorial psalms at the Easter Vigil at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John on April 7.

Easter Vigil: St. Anne Chapel

Fr. Charles Crespo pins incense to the Easter candle before lighting it outside St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas at the Easter Vigil, April 7.

Easter Vigil: St. Joseph Church

Fr. John Mark prayed the blessing over the Holy Fire as the Easter Vigil began at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on April 7.

Good Friday Living Stations of the Cross

The Hispanic community of Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas dramatized the Stations of the Cross on Main Street prior to the Spanish Celebration of the Lord's Passion. Pictured right, the women wept for Jesus at the eighth Station of the Cross.

Good Friday: St. Joseph Church

Fr. John Mark unveiled the crucifix for veneration at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix on Holy Thursday, April 5.

Good Friday: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church

Fr. Anthony Abraham held the crucifix for veneration at the Good Friday Celebration of the Lord's Passion at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John on April 6.

Good Friday: Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, prepared to venerate the crucifix held by Deacon Wilfredo Acosta at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on Good Friday, April 6.

Good Friday: St. Anne Chapel

Deacon Clement Danet and Fr. Charles Crespo prostrated before an empty tabernacle at the start of the Celebration of the Lord's Passion at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas today.

Good Friday Stations of the Cross

Fr. Anthony Abraham kneeled before the first station as he led the congregation at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John in praying the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, April 6.

Good Friday: Stations of the Cross

Fr. Neil Scantlebury led his congregation in an outdoor Stations of the Cross on the grounds of Holy Family Church on St. Thomas on Good Friday, April 6. The Stations ended at the church for the Celebration of the Lord's Passion.

Good Friday: Holy Cross Church

The Spanish Good Friday procession reached Holy Cross Church on Good Friday, April 6.

Good Friday: Magen's Bay

Father Eduardo Ortiz Santiago, administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on St. Thomas, led a sunrise Stations of the Cross at Magens Bay on Good Friday, April 6.

Holy Thursday: Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral

His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, transferred the Blessed Sacrament from the main altar to a side altar of repose at the conclusion of Holy Thursday's Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on April 5.

Holy Thursday: St. Anne Chapel

Adoration by the altar of repose continues at St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas.