Virgin Islands History Month

The steel band from St. Patrick School on St. Croix participated in the fifth annual Virgin Islands History Month Music series, “The Sounds of Music,” at the Frederick Dorsch Cultural Center on St. Croix on April 1. Pictured above, the band performed “This Little Light of Mine.”

Farewell to Sr. Marina Picardal, ICM

The Chain of Soladarity Organization, a St. Croix-based coalition of religious and laity dedicated to sponsoring relief work in Haiti, held a thank you and farewell dinner for Sr. Marina Picardal, ICM, on March 30, as she prepares to retire to her homeland in the Philippines. She had been at the helm of the organization for the past few years, but as her time draw near for her to leave she made sure that the group has officers in place to carry on the work.

Stations of the Cross

Deacon Bernard Gibs and the youth of St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas lead the Stations of the Cross each Friday of Lent.

St. Joseph High School Students of the Month

St. Joseph High School on St. Croix recognized its Students of the Month after the school Mass at St. Joseph Church on April 6. Pictured left to right: Adrian Gillem (Grade 12); Shanika Williams (Grade 11); and Shandelia Hendrickson (Grade 9). Christopher Rosario, Grade 10, was not present for the photograph.

New Stained Glass Windows

Fr. Neil Scantlebury blessed the new stained glass windows at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John this weekend.

Cathedral Restoration Project

Restoration efforts progress at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas. The marble seating area for priests, deacons and altar servers was removed last week in order to construct a water diversion trench underneath. For the weekend Masses, the area was covered with boards and the priests and servers sat on folding chairs.

Seminarian Receives Ordination Dates

Msgr. Jerome Feudjio, director of clergy and religious, has announced that seminarian Eduardo Ortiz will be ordained to the diaconate and to the priesthood this year. His Excellency, Bishop Francisco Gonzalez, will ordain him to the diaconate at St. Michael Church in Brandywine, Maryland, on April 30. His Excellency, Bishop Herbert Bevard, will ordain him to the priesthood at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on July 30.

Pictured above, Fr. William Palardy (left), rector of Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, and Mr. Ortiz signed the Oath and Profession of Faith at the seminary in Weston, Massachusetts on March 22.