More than 20 parishioners from all the St. Thomas parishes meet at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral's Hospitality Lounge on Wednesdays to learn American Sign Language.
The Bishop's Appeal 2008 raised $185,883 in its first two months, on its way to a goal of $400,000.
Each Lent, the Bishop's Appeal raises funds to support the four Catholic schools in the diocese, Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands and local evangelization efforts.
As of March 27, the parishes of the diocese had raised the following amounts.
St. Croix
Holy Cross Church/Sacred Heart Chapel $41,875
St. Ann Church $16,298
St. Joseph Church $12,140
St. Patrick Church $ 6,725
St. Thomas/St. John
Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral $44,394
Holy Family Church $21,299
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church $21,825
St. Anne Chapel $16,917
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church $ 4,412
To date, the Bishop's Appeal 2008 has generated 603 gifts from the parishes, totaling $185,883.
Brochures and envelopes for the Bishop Appeal's 2008 are available at all Catholic parishes, schools and Catholic Charities.
For more information contact the Catholic Chancery,
Phone: (340) 774-0201
Mail: P.O. Box 301825, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 00803-1825
All parishes in the Virgin Islands will have a second collection for the Catholic Home Missions Appeal on the weekend of April 26-27.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops established the Catholic Home Missions Appeal in 1998 to support the missions in America. Catholic Home Missions primarily supports those unable to offer their people the basic pastoral ministries of word, worship and service without outside help. It also gives grants to organizations and religious communities engaged in missionary work. The pastoral services include evangelization, religious education, ministry training and support for poor parishes.
The Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands has a job opening on St. Thomas. The Catholic Chancery seeks an accountant/bookkeeper. Mail resumes to the Catholic Chancery, P.O. Box 301825, St. Thomas, VI 00803, or fax resumes to (340) 774-5816.
Msgr. Kosak will concelebrate a Mass celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Willemstad at the National Stadium in Curacao on April 28.
The Diocese of Willemstad comprises the Dutch Caribbean territories of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. The islands are Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, St. Maartin, St. Eustatius and Saba. The seat of the Diocese is in Curaçao, considered the capital of the Netherlands Antilles.
Most Rev. Elliott Thomas, retired bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, continues to recuperate from his surgery. Correspondence may be sent to him at Regina Cleri Residence, 60 William Cardinal O'Connell Way, Boston, MA 02114.
Deacon Wilfredo Acosta has begun serving as Catholic Chaplain to the Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas, replacing Deacon William Kenny who retired on February 28. Deacon Acosta will make weekly rounds and liaison with the pastors on St. Thomas and St. John. He also will lead the weekly communion services in the All Faiths Chapel when Fr. Charles Crespo is off-island.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Callista Julien, diocesan Child Protection Coordinator, has posters and information on child abuse for display at parishes, schools and businesses. She can be reached at the Catholic Chancery on St. Thomas.