ANTILLES EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE ANNUAL PLENARY MEETING OF BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS MAY 8th – 14th, 2011

St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral in Bridgetown, Barbados witnessed a gathering of the priests, Religious and faithful of the island who participated in the Opening Mass for the 55th Annual General Meeting of the Bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) which took place from 8th – 14th May, 2011.

Invoking the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit on their first working day, the bishops reflected on the Holy Father’s Message for World Day of Peace 2011: “Religious Freedom, the Path of Peace.” This atmosphere of reflection was later to be deepened in a Study Day on Pope Benedict’s encyclical, CARITAS IN VERITATE (“Love in Truth”).

Almost everywhere the document has been made available not only to the clergy, but also to the Laity and to political leaders. Of utmost importance is the pope’s insistence that Love in truth – love respectful of mankind’s origin, sacredness and transcendent destiny – should be the driving force of any effort to put development at the service of each human being.
In discussing the implications of the Encyclical for the region the main concerns raised by the Bishops were: 1. That everywhere general elections be fair and an occasion for the people to make use of their political rights; 2. That people be enlightened to elect women and men ready to conduct policies in harmony with the Gospel values of solidarity with the poor, respect for life and protection of nature; 3. That youth be given hope in their future through sufficient job opportunities, a living wage and proper housing, so that our societies overcome poverty, violence, corruption and drug addiction.

The bishops then addressed many concerns that impact upon the church and the society.
1. NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE REGION: Every year the region is affected by disasters which result in loss of lives and homes with the accompanying trauma. The bishops of the AEC have decided to enter into collaboration with the Franciscan Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother to establish a TRAUMA RESPONSE TEAM to minister to those who will be thus affected in the region.

2. CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN THE REGION: Concern was expressed about the socio-economic realities of our day, realities that enshrine materialism, relativism and selfishness. To address these realities the bishops approved a Pastoral Letter on Catholic Education, the objective of which is to accentuate the dignity of the human person and their invaluable worth to self, church and society, and to produce citizens of integrity who are faith-filled, competent and responsible.

3. YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE REGION: Given the various trends in our society that tempt young people to believe that material things and passing pleasure define a person, it is imperative that the Church give greater priority to Youth Ministry. To that end, the bishops encourage the more than 500 youth from across the AEC who will be attending World Youth Day (August 11th – 21st, 2011) in Madrid, Spain where these young missionary disciples will meet and pray with the Holy Father. This religious experience will be followed up with the Regional Youth Rally scheduled for 2012 in St. Lucia, with the theme “Your Word is a Lamp for my Steps and a Light for my Path.”

4. VIRTUS: “Protecting God’s Children” in the Region. The Bishops re-affirmed their commitment to protecting and providing safe environments for children. For this purpose they have introduced the VIRTUS programme into the dioceses of the AEC. VIRTUS is developed by US based National Catholic Risk Retention Group Inc. It seeks to educate and train clergy, staff, parents, volunteers and other adults about the nature of child sexual abuse and how to prevent such harm to children. The goal is to have this programme in place in every diocese of the AEC.

5. VOCATIONS IN THE REGION: The promotion of vocations is an ongoing need in our region as it is elsewhere around the world. In its effort to address this reality the Vocations Commission of the AEC has arranged a two week training session for Vocation Directors. The first week is scheduled for August 8th – 13th 2011, at St. John Vianney Seminary in Trinidad. Throughout the AEC an annual week of Vocation Awareness will be observed in each diocese beginning with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, 2012.

6. SYNOD OF BISHOPS: The World Synod of Bishops will hold its thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly in Rome, October 7th – 28th, 2012. The theme for this Synod is “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.” The Bishops of the AEC elected a delegate and a substitute to attend the Synod. They also began their responses to the initial questions proposed by the Synod Secretariat noting that the theme of the Synod builds upon that of the 2007 Aparecida Conference of Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean and the AEC priority of challenging all Christians to become Missionary Disciples of Christ.

7. ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS: Elections of officers for the AEC took place on Wednesday May 11th. Archbishop Patrick C. Pinder of Nassau, The Bahamas, was elected President, to succeed the outgoing President Archbishop Donald J. Reece of Kingston, Jamaica. Bishop Francis Alleyne of Georgetown, Guyana, was elected Vice President and Bishop Neil Tiedemann of Mandeville, Jamaica was elected Treasurer. The General Secretary of the AEC is Deacon Mike James of Guyana.