Notes from the Bishop's Desk

 

The Most Reverend Herbert A. Bevard
Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands

 

BISHOP BEVARD'S JANUARY 2009 CALENDAR

January 5-9, Retreat.
Sunday, January 18, 11:00 a.m., Patronal Mass for El Santo Niño, Holy Cross Church, St. Croix.
RETREATS
Bishop Herbert Bevard will be on his annual retreat on January 5-9.
The retreat for diocesan priests of the Virgin Islands, which in recent years was held in January, will be held later in the year.

 

SECOND COLLECTIONS

All parishes in the Virgin Islands will participate in a second collection for our local permanent diaconate program. Pastors were free to designate this collection for any weekend in January. Presently, two candidates from St. Anne Chapel on St. Thomas are attending weekly classes to prepare for their ordination to the diaconate.

All parishes will participate inthe National Black and Indian Mission Collection on January 24-25. Through this collection, the Commission for the Catholic Missions among the Colored People and the Indians has awarded grants to dioceses since 1884 to strengthen evangelization programs which would otherwise be in danger of disappearing among the African American, Native American, Eskimo and Aleute communities of the United States. The Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands has been among the recipients of these grants.

 

APPOINTMENTS

Bishop Herbert Bevard has appointed Fr. Anthony Abraham as the Director of Charismatic Renewal Services and the Director of the Office for Youth Ministries, effective January 1. Fr. Abraham continues as Parochial Vicar at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas.

Bishop Bevard has appointed Fr. Patrick Lynch as the Director of Respect Life Ministries and the Superintendent of Catholic Education, effective January 1. Fr. Lynch continues as Pastor of St. Patrick Church on St. Croix.

 

MARIAN SHRINE IS REDEDICATED

Bishop Herbert Bevard rededicated the Shine of Our Lady of Barrenspot during Sunday Mass at St. Ann Church on St. Croix on December 7.

 

WELCOME HOME, BISHOP THOMAS 

BishopHerbert Bevard organized a homecoming reception for Bishop Emeritus Elliott Thomas when he arrived at Cyril King airport on St. Thomas on December 19. Bishop Thomas was welcomed by Bishop Bevard, priests, students and lay persons.