Last Sunday morning during Mass, about 37 teens were confirmed into the church at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Bishop Clyde Martin Harvey opened his Sermon by telling the congregation that he’d just returned from Florida where he and other regional Bishops were meeting benefactors of the church (wealthy people who donate to Church efforts).
He told us that Grenada is now in stiff competition with one other Caribbean county as being most in need of the limited financial aid available for different projects.
Each country had to make strong arguments as to why they should be given the aid. He then asked us to guess the country we are competing with. Some said Dominica, some said Trinidad, while others said St. Lucia.
“No, guess again” he said. I blurted out: “HAITI!” He looked in my direction and said: “Yes, HAITI. Someone over there got it right”. “Wow!” the lady next to me exclaimed.
Isn’t that something? The only Caribbean country we are doing better than in the global ease of “Doing Business” ranking and in the rate of poverty is Haiti?
It therefore makes sense that we are also competing with them for being most in need of charitable aid from the Church. Another thing the Bishop said is that every year, the church in Grenada gives away $4 million worth of food to those in need. So, in this so-called booming, fastest growing economy in this Caribbean, for many, the realities of life tells a different story.
This is not me, the opposition politician speaking. This is me the concerned citizen accurately reporting what His Lordship, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Saint George’s in Grenada shared with his congregants last Sunday morning.
Hon. Oliver Joseph was present and can confirm this. We can do better Grenada. We are leaders. We are revolutionaries. We are world class. Let’s do better. Let’s open our eyes and make the shift.
His Lordship said all of this as part of his plea to those confirmed that Grenada needs them and wherever life takes them they must never forget or forsake Grenada. Of course, that message is for all of us.
Congratulations to my goddaughter and to Eric Parker and Adrian Thomas Jr, the children of my comrades Adrian Thomas and Fred Parker who were all confirmed that morning.
The Faithful One