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Prime Minister Freundel Stuart (centre), is pictured as he held talks with the clerics (left to right) Archbishop of Castries and Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Bridgetown, Robert Rivas;Archbishop of Kingston and President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference, Donald Reece; Archbishop and Papal Nuncio for the Antilles, Thomas Gullickson and Monsignor Vincent of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church. The delegation is in Barbados for the 55th Annual Antilles Episcopal Conference.
(A. Miller/BGIS)
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Matters of religion took centre stage as senior regional officials of the Roman Catholic Church met with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart yesterday at his office at Government Headquarters, Bay Street.

Archbishop and Papal Nuncio for the Antilles, Thomas Gullickson; Archbishop of Kingston and President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference, Donald Reece; and Archbishop of Castries and Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Bridgetown, Robert Rivas paid a courtesy call on Mr. Stuart. They were accompanied by Monsignor Vincent of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church. The delegation was in Barbados for the 55th Annual Antilles Episcopal Conference.

During the meeting with Mr. Stuart, the ministers of religion reflected on the history of Roman Catholicism in the region, and the impact of new religious movements.

The clerics mentioned that in the past the church was the centre of peoples’ lives, but today as a result of societal changes, church leaders had to find new approaches to evangelising persons.

Archbishop Reece pointed out that the Catholic church was involved in a great deal of community-centred initiatives, including the Food for the Poor programme and underlined that the true test of the church’s role in the community was how to educate individuals to enable them to face life’s challenges in a way that would lead to spiritual happiness and personal fulfillment.

Meanwhile, Monsignor Vincent advocated the presence of the church in schools and expressed the hope that more religious education would be included in the teaching curriculum.

In turn, Prime Minister Stuart highlighted the mission of the church in ministering to persons of every persuasion and encouraged the clerics to continue to touch the lives of persons directly and to cater to their needs, wherever possible.

clashley@barbados.gov.bb

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