Fr. Cecil Corneille, former Pastor of St.
Joseph Church on St. Croix, has been deployed by the National Guard
to full-time active duty in Iraq as chaplain to the American troops.
He flew overseas on May 17, and according to the military orders he
was issued, his term is not to exceed 106 days. Fr. Corneille, who is
a captain in the National Guard, has served as chaplain for the
Virgin Islands National Guard for the past eight years. He has been
on sabbatical from diocesan ministry since January 1.
Msgr. Bernard Campbell, who retired as
Parochial Vicar of St. Ann Church on St. Croix in 1999, recently
relocated to the Seaview Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility on St
Thomas. He celebrated his 93th birthday on 2006; due to the
deterioration of his health, Msgr. Michael Kosak, Diocesan
Administrator, consulted with Dr. Alfred Heath and arrangements
were made for the transfer. Msgr. Campbell is at peace in his new
home and visitors are welcomed.
Fr. Pat Lynch, Pastor of Holy Cross Church on
St. Croix, has appointed David Corey as Administrator of the
parish’s elementary school, St. Mary School, while the
Principal, Elizabeth Hering, is on a year sabbatical. She will study
towards a Masters Degree in Administration. Mr. Corey was Acting
Superintendent of Catholic Schools in 2003-2004 and Principal of St.
Patrick School in 2002-20 03.
The two diocesan seminarians have begun their
summer parish assignments. Anthony Abraham, who studies at St. John
Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs Seminary in Tunapuna, Trinidad, is
serving at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on St. John. Ernesto
Rodriguez, who studies at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe,
Pennsylvania, is serving at St. Joseph Church on St. Croix.
The two diocesan television stations, Catholic
Television Network (CTN-Channel 16) on St. Thomas and Caribbean
Catholic Network (CCN-Channel 7) have relocated. CTN has moved to
Holy Family Church in preparation for the renovations at the Ss.
Peter and Paul Cathedral rectory, and CCN has moved from St. Ann
Church to Light of Christ Retreat Center in order to bring the
operation under the Office of Evangelization.
In addition, the Catholic Islander has moved from St. John to St.
Thomas. The diocesan monthly newsletter is now based out of the
Catholic Chancery.
On St. Thomas, the Ss. Peter and Paul School
kindergarten graduation will be at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on
Friday, June 1, at 9:00 a.m. The eighth grade promotional exercises
will be at the Cathedral on Thursday, June 7, at 4:00 p.m.
On St. Croix, St. Joseph High School will have its graduation
ceremony at St. Joseph Church on Sunday, June 3, at 3:00 p.m. St.
Mary School will have its eighth grade graduation at Holy Cross
Church on Saturday, June 2, at 11:00 a.m. St. Patrick School will
have its eighth grade graduation at St. Patrick Church on Saturday,
June 2, at 6:00 p.m.