PILGRIMAGE TO THE OUR LADY OF CASSI HILL SHRINE

Hundreds of Catholics participated in the 59th annual Our Lady of Cassi Hill pilgrimage at Holy Family Church on St. Thomas on August 20. A procession was followed by Mass in the church and benediction at the adjacent Our Lady of Cassi Hill shrine.

PRIEST HELPS ORGANIZE A LOCAL PEACE EFFORT

Several community leaders on St. John took to the streets during the month of August to promote peace on the island.

"All the residents of St. John suffered such a rough summer last year because of a number of racially­ divisive incidents," Fr. Charles Crespo, Pastor of Our Lady ofMt. Carmel Church, told The Catholic Islander. "A number of these cases were coming to court in August, so several community leaders decided we needed to proactively promote peace before tempers began to flair."

Two or three CIT members set up a table at Franklin A. Powell Jr. Park in the afternoons and engaged people lounging in the park and those coming on or off the ferry to "Think peace, talk peace, be peace." Those who engaged in dialogue were given a flyer and a cold drink.

MASS FOR CATHOLIC POLITICIANS

Bishop George Murry, SJ, celebrated a Mass for Catholic Politicians at Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral on St. Thomas on August 13. All Catholic politicians and aspirants to office were invited to attend the Mass. In his homily, Bishop George Murry, SJ, spoke of the importance of Catholic politicians remaining faithful to religious values while working for the common good.

Politicians and aspirants of other faiths also attended and listened to Bishop Murry's message.

Pictured with Bishop Murry after Mass were (front row, left to right) Senator Louis Hill, Basil Ottley, Jr. and Senator Shawn-Michael Malone; (middle row) Judge Edgar Ross, Gregory Francis and Horace Brooks; (back row) Senator Lorraine Berry, Patrick Simeon Sprauve and John de Jongh.

THE CATHOLIC ISLANDER       *SEPTEMBER 2006 *    4