Fr (Dr) Donald Chambers is the new regional director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) replacing Msgr Richard Albert, who held the post for 11 years.

In a simple and meaningful gesture, the globe, symbolic of worldwide mission, was presented to the new director, who is parish priest for Holy Cross parish, Jamaica.

The ceremony took place on the final day of the Feb 12-14 annual meeting of PMS directors of the Antilles Episcopal Conference at Stella Maris Pastoral Centre, Kingston, Jamaica.

Also present at the meeting were Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Thomas Gullickson; coadjutor Archbishop Donald Reece of Kingston; Bishop Vincent Darius, OP of St George’s-in-Grenada, mission liaison in the Antilles Episcopal Conference of bishops; Bishop Charles Dufour of Montego Bay, Jamaica; Fr Michael Lewis, pastor of Stella Maris parish, and guest speaker Maureen Heil, director for Holy Childhood, Philadelphia, United States, her husband William and the 15 (arch)diocesan directors.

Archbishop Gullickson, echoing the sentiments of directors, thanked Msgr Albert for his dedicated service to the Church in the promotion of mission and his accurate submission of donation to the PMS.

The archbishop congratulated Fr Chambers and said he looked forward to working with him in the interest of the Church in the region.

In the opening address of the meeting titled The Laity and Mission, Archbishop Gullickson highlighted the role of women founders of two of the four Mission Societies.

In 1822, 19 year old Pauline Marie Jaricot founded The Society of the Propagation of the Faith, which today is the largest Catholic mission aid group world-wide. In 1889, a young lay woman, Jeanne Bigard, with the assistance of her mother, Stephanie, founded the Society of St Peter Apostle.

Archbishop Gullickson also emphasised the importance of involving the laity in mission. Mission, he said, is about life and “we ought to spare no effort in enabling the laity, igniting the fire of our faith and being enthusiastic for its growth among our peoples”.

In her presentations titled Involving the Laity in Mission, and Diocesan Strategies to involve the Laity in Mission, Maureen Heil spoke of the possibilities for greater mission awareness and involvement by the laity.

Following individual diocesan reports and presentations, priorities for the future were set. At the top of the list is the creation of a website to promote a cohesive face of the PMS in the Caribbean. 

- Edited from Catholic Chronicle