Over 60 priests of the Archdiocese gathered in Mayaro for three days last week, seeking to discover the mission of our local Church and ways to fulfil it.

Fr Gordon addresses fellow priests at the retreat

Following the Lord’s example of withdrawing from the crowds to pray and reflect, the retreat also provided an opportunity to cultivate and deepen spiritual friendship and bonding and to prepare for Synod 2008.

In his opening remarks on Monday afternoon, Archbishop Edward Gilbert said priests had asked for this extended time together to plan for ministry and that the laity was grateful that their tired and stressed priests were able to have the time away.

The Archbishop announced that Fathers Peter de la Bastide CSSp, Dexter Bereton CSSp and Henry Charles will be returning to serve in the archdiocese and repeated the good news that in July two more priests will join the archdiocese – one a Redemptorist, the other a Carmelite Friar.

The first topic for discussion was “Care of the Priests” which reviewed a draft handbook on Benefits for Priests that considered such details as sabbaticals for priests and retirement income.

In subsequent sessions the group, which included several religious and laity who administer parishes in the absence of a resident priest, examined much socio-economic data as part of the process to arrive at the mission for the archdiocese.