Wish you were here (Guyana-style)
Joe Dias SJ
It will soon be holiday time for many people and to get you in the mood - and make you envious- Fr Joe describes his last holiday and retreat to a well-known island off the coast of Guyana
Last August I was away from Guyana visiting the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados for my annual holiday-cum-retreat. Barbados is referred to as the ‘gem of the Caribbean’. With its creamy-white beaches and sapphire-blue waters it attracts a very large number of tourists, especially from Europe. Fr Michael Campbell-Johnston (CJ), who looks after our small holiday house with 5 private rooms, plus the adjoining little Church of St Francis of Assisi, made excellent arrangements for me, and the three other Jesuits staying at St Francis, to visit all the main tourist attractions on the island.
Firstly we visited Harrison’s Cave - an underground cave full of every shape and size of stalactites and stalagmites which have formed over millions of years. The cave is situated in the heart of a lush green rainforest and a toy-train transports 30 people at a time down into the caves, which are illuminated by soft yellow light, whilst a guide rattles off an interesting commentary. Next day at 9am, we went on a trip to the harbour at Bridgetown, the capital, for a journey on the submarine ‘Atlantis’, which descends to a depth of 145ft below the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The water was so clear that, at that enormous depth - and at that time of the morning - we could examine the ocean floor and marvel at the variety of marine-life, coral, sponges, tortoises, fish and even the wreck of an old ship. At the end of the trip we were all presented with a certificate qualifying us as ‘Atlantis Submariners’. We also visited Cherry-Tree Hill - with its sparkling beach below; the beach at Bathsheba Point; the 300 year old St John’s Anglican Church; St Nicholas’ Abbey, named after the church where the first owner was married; the vast cane fields; the statue of Sir Garfield Sobers batting on a roundabout on the road to the airport; the luxury hotels and golf courses dotted about the place - the list goes on and on. The friendly local people are known as Bejans or Barbadians and are mostly of African origin. I saw hardly any Indians during my visit. On Sunday 8th August I celebrated the 8am Mass for about 60 parishioners and tourists. Later I went to the 10.30am Mass celebrated by Fr. CJ, as I discovered that the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and his family would be there. After the Mass there was the usual get-together for the congregation on our modest green lawn overlooking the sea at the back of the Church. About 100 people were present along with the Blairs, who mixed freely with the throng. I was fortunate to meet Mr Blair along with his wife Cherie and he told me that he had heard of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai - my former posting. This was the second year that the Blairs had been to Barbados and their picture appeared with CJ in last summer’s edition of Jesuits and Friends - this year it’s my turn!
After this holiday period, I started my annual retreat on 16th August directed by Fr ampbell-Johnston. He belongs to Guyana Region and has Guyanese citizenship, but has led a very varied life as a Jesuit. He worked in the social apostolate for about 18 years in El Salvador (Central America), he was British Provincial for six years and then appointed head of the Jesuit Social Justice Secretariat in Rome, during which time he visited many Jesuit provinces throughout the world and travelled on the Trans-Siberian Railway through Russia. During his time as Provincial, 6 Jesuits and 2 laywomen were gunned down at the Jesuit University campus in San Salvador for speaking out against injustices to the poor. No wonder I had a fascinating, enriching and inspiring retreat. Since our little villa and Church are situated on a rock (Mount Standfast) just above the sea, I was able to enjoy the contemplation of the mighty ocean, stretching to the horizon, reflecting on the power, greatness and immensity of the Creator. Now and again small groups of flying fish (the national symbol of Barbados and a popular delicacy) can be seen jumping over the placid waters.I am now back at Port Mourant in Guyana, occupied as the acting parish priest and teaching 21 students (just out of school) general chemistry, and 12 others (seniors whom I taught last year) at a more advanced level. Most of them are of Indian origin, although a few are Afro-Guyanese. Last October the new Bishop of Guyana, Francis Dean Alleyne OSB, visited us to administer the sacrament of Confirmation to about 20 candidates between 14 and 22 years of age. A 63 year old ex-Lutheran parishioner, who is a well known educationalist in Guyana, Mr Bissoondyaz Persaud, was also confirmed. His wife is a devout Catholic, eminent educationalist and secretary of our Parish Council. The church was almost full and after the service we entertained the Bishop with refreshments, presentations and displays by the various parish groups. All were eager to be photographed with the Bishop.
Later in the month I attended a three-day conference for all the Guyanese priests, arranged by the Bishop, at St Paul’s Pastoral Centre in Georgetown. It was a wonderful opportunity to interact with the 35 priests present; some Diocesan, some Benedictines, others Jesuits -all totally dedicated. Nearly half of those present were over 79 years of age, which highlighted the main problem of our diocese - the acute shortage of personnel and lack of vocations. We had a busy schedule but the arrangements, food and company were excellent.
Please pray for us in Guyana.
It will soon be holiday time for many people and to get you in the mood - and make you envious- Fr Joe describes his last holiday and retreat to a well-known island off the coast of Guyana
Last August I was away from Guyana visiting the beautiful Caribbean island of Barbados for my annual holiday-cum-retreat. Barbados is referred to as the ‘gem of the Caribbean’. With its creamy-white beaches and sapphire-blue waters it attracts a very large number of tourists, especially from Europe. Fr Michael Campbell-Johnston (CJ), who looks after our small holiday house with 5 private rooms, plus the adjoining little Church of St Francis of Assisi, made excellent arrangements for me, and the three other Jesuits staying at St Francis, to visit all the main tourist attractions on the island.
Firstly we visited Harrison’s Cave - an underground cave full of every shape and size of stalactites and stalagmites which have formed over millions of years. The cave is situated in the heart of a lush green rainforest and a toy-train transports 30 people at a time down into the caves, which are illuminated by soft yellow light, whilst a guide rattles off an interesting commentary. Next day at 9am, we went on a trip to the harbour at Bridgetown, the capital, for a journey on the submarine ‘Atlantis’, which descends to a depth of 145ft below the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The water was so clear that, at that enormous depth - and at that time of the morning - we could examine the ocean floor and marvel at the variety of marine-life, coral, sponges, tortoises, fish and even the wreck of an old ship. At the end of the trip we were all presented with a certificate qualifying us as ‘Atlantis Submariners’. We also visited Cherry-Tree Hill - with its sparkling beach below; the beach at Bathsheba Point; the 300 year old St John’s Anglican Church; St Nicholas’ Abbey, named after the church where the first owner was married; the vast cane fields; the statue of Sir Garfield Sobers batting on a roundabout on the road to the airport; the luxury hotels and golf courses dotted about the place - the list goes on and on. The friendly local people are known as Bejans or Barbadians and are mostly of African origin. I saw hardly any Indians during my visit. On Sunday 8th August I celebrated the 8am Mass for about 60 parishioners and tourists. Later I went to the 10.30am Mass celebrated by Fr. CJ, as I discovered that the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and his family would be there. After the Mass there was the usual get-together for the congregation on our modest green lawn overlooking the sea at the back of the Church. About 100 people were present along with the Blairs, who mixed freely with the throng. I was fortunate to meet Mr Blair along with his wife Cherie and he told me that he had heard of St Xavier’s College, Mumbai - my former posting. This was the second year that the Blairs had been to Barbados and their picture appeared with CJ in last summer’s edition of Jesuits and Friends - this year it’s my turn!
After this holiday period, I started my annual retreat on 16th August directed by Fr ampbell-Johnston. He belongs to Guyana Region and has Guyanese citizenship, but has led a very varied life as a Jesuit. He worked in the social apostolate for about 18 years in El Salvador (Central America), he was British Provincial for six years and then appointed head of the Jesuit Social Justice Secretariat in Rome, during which time he visited many Jesuit provinces throughout the world and travelled on the Trans-Siberian Railway through Russia. During his time as Provincial, 6 Jesuits and 2 laywomen were gunned down at the Jesuit University campus in San Salvador for speaking out against injustices to the poor. No wonder I had a fascinating, enriching and inspiring retreat. Since our little villa and Church are situated on a rock (Mount Standfast) just above the sea, I was able to enjoy the contemplation of the mighty ocean, stretching to the horizon, reflecting on the power, greatness and immensity of the Creator. Now and again small groups of flying fish (the national symbol of Barbados and a popular delicacy) can be seen jumping over the placid waters.I am now back at Port Mourant in Guyana, occupied as the acting parish priest and teaching 21 students (just out of school) general chemistry, and 12 others (seniors whom I taught last year) at a more advanced level. Most of them are of Indian origin, although a few are Afro-Guyanese. Last October the new Bishop of Guyana, Francis Dean Alleyne OSB, visited us to administer the sacrament of Confirmation to about 20 candidates between 14 and 22 years of age. A 63 year old ex-Lutheran parishioner, who is a well known educationalist in Guyana, Mr Bissoondyaz Persaud, was also confirmed. His wife is a devout Catholic, eminent educationalist and secretary of our Parish Council. The church was almost full and after the service we entertained the Bishop with refreshments, presentations and displays by the various parish groups. All were eager to be photographed with the Bishop.
Later in the month I attended a three-day conference for all the Guyanese priests, arranged by the Bishop, at St Paul’s Pastoral Centre in Georgetown. It was a wonderful opportunity to interact with the 35 priests present; some Diocesan, some Benedictines, others Jesuits -all totally dedicated. Nearly half of those present were over 79 years of age, which highlighted the main problem of our diocese - the acute shortage of personnel and lack of vocations. We had a busy schedule but the arrangements, food and company were excellent.
Please pray for us in Guyana.