Members of the Conference of Religious of the Antilles (CRA) came from the Dutch Antilles, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia, Belize, Antigua, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Martinique to join the delegates from Dominica at the Holy Redeemer Retreat House in Eggleston from Monday, April 13 to Saturday 18.

They were priests, brothers and sisters of many different religious orders and the Most Rev Francis Alleyne, OSB, DD, represented the Antilles Episcopal Conference.

They came to reflect on the mystic-prophetic role of religious in the Caribbean today, and after a welcome by the president, Sr Barbara Flores, SCM, they were assisted in this process by two facilitators, Sister Caroljean Willie, SC from New York and Fr Frank Power, SVD from Antigua.

In his opening presentation, Fr Power used the three letters CRA to indicate that it was hoped that the Conference would be a time of contemplation, reflection and attention. The Conference proved to be just that. Periods of prayer and reflection were followed by sharing by the participants in answer to the questions proposed by the facilitators. All listened attentively to the experiences of their fellow-religious throughout the Caribbean. A sense of solidarity was established with the overwhelming support and affirmation the participants gave to one another. Though it was acknowledged that numbers were dwindling, it was felt that religious life was alive and well and was continuing to play its prophetic role in the Caribbean countries.

All present felt the need for a revitalising of CRA and the new executive - the president, Fr Peter Mc Isaac, SJ, and the three vice-presidents, Sr Marie Chin, RSM, Sr Barbara Flores, SCM, and Fr Michel Favalier, FMI - have been charged with the responsibility to involve all the religious of the Caribbean in any changes that may seem feasible to bring new life to the Conference.

Participants at the CRA conference in Dominica, April 13 to 18.