The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George has outlined its humanitarian mission to the Caribbean that will ultimately lead to a closer unification of the church.
This was emphasised by Secretary General of the Constantinian Order, Sir Anthony Bailey, during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Freundel Stuart by the Cardinal Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, His Eminence Raffaele Martino.
He was on the final leg of a recent tour by the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of the Caribbean.??Sir Anthony said he, along with His Eminence, was pleased to be in the region and added that some ???significant steps had been announced during the meetings with officials in the countries that they visited???.
The Secretary General mentioned the projects to be undertaken by the Order that would ???bring that strong message of Barbados to the international community and its thrust to bring closer unification of the church throughout the Caribbean through charitable, humanitarian and inter-religious endeavour???.
Sir Anthony also announced the projects that were on the cards for the region. ???Having prepared to visit Antigua and other countries over the last six months, we were able to announce in Antigua and Dominica, some significant charitable engagements. These fell into different categories.
One was the restoration of historical religious places. In terms of education, the building of several new wings to schools and also community outreach programmes. In Dominica, the rebuilding of the Diocesan Centre, the construction of a retirement home and in St. Lucia, seven projects have been identified for the next year of funding,??? he stated.
In turn, the Prime Minister described the Sacred Order???s visit as a unique opportunity for Barbados and pointed out that this was the highest catholic official that has ever visited the island.
???I am very pleased that as a country that we can establish a relationship with the Sacred Military Constantinian Order which, from all that I have heard and all that I have read, is doing some excellent work [by] marrying faith to the satisfaction of human need and, therefore, I am very pleased to have you here,??? he added.
Mr. Stuart said that Government had identified a number of projects for their consideration while emphasising the excellent relationship between the State and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George is an ancient and internationally recognised Order of Knighthood, which from its remotest origins has resolved to work for the glorification of the Cross, the propagation of the faith and the defence of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb