“Building up our body of priests” was the main topic of discussion at the Georgetown diocese’s annual priests conference, held at St Paul’s Retreat Centre in Vryheid’s Lust on Guyana’s east coast.

Other matters discussed during the October 6 – 9 clergy meeting were diocesan finances, appointments, the future of diocesan-owned buildings, and strengthening links between parishes in the interior and those situated in the capital.

The first day of the conference was a day of recollection led by Jesuit priest Fr Steve Patterson; his reflection was based on the Aparecida document of the bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, with particular emphasis on the Year For Priests.

The fifth conference of bishops, representing all the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, took place in Aparecida, Brazil in 2007.

Discussions at previous priests conferences focussed on gaining a better understanding of some doctrine or teaching of the Church. Last year’s conference dealt with the Eucharist.

Msgr Terrence Montrose, a member of the 2009 conference organising team, said that this time around the event would be a little different, as this year the priests planned to reflect and discuss their individual ministries in different parts of the country and how this contributed and harmonised with the overall objectives of the diocese and Church worldwide.

Msgr Montrose noted that a large number of priests joined the diocese within the last five years and many of them have not gone through some of the religious, political and social experiences of several of those who had been there for much longer periods.

Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB dealt with pressing matters on the final day.

The October 9 closing Mass of the conference was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, Georgetown with Bishop Alleyne presiding. – edited from Catholic Standard