JANUARY

On January 14 Archbishop Edward Gilbert opened the second session of the Synod. Delegates met at the University of the West Indies to assess the progress made on Jan 2003 Synod resolutions The 62 parishes of the archdiocese were mandated to meet annually to implement this year's resolutions and convene in the five vicariates to present follow up reports.

. 24 -Fr Michel de Verteuil launched his book, Lectio Divina with the Sunday Gospels of Matthew - Year A.

On the same day, AEC (Antilles Episcopal Conference) Bishops met in POS, for their bi-annual meeting, The Finance Commission discussed the organisation's budget and other financial matters.

FEBRUARY

. February 6 - The Catholic News looked back at the historic visit of the late Pope John Paul II to Trinidad and Tobago in 1985 with a two-page spread featuring memories of persons who attended the event.

. Archdiocesan Financial Summit was held February 19 at Curepe Parish Hall.

. In mid-February, the women's ministry in the Malabar parish received a boost with its launching of a new outreach organisation, Women on a Mission to Empower and Nurture (WOMEN), which seeks to assist women in their community faced with all sorts of abuses, limited access to education, teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS.

MARCH

. March 19 - Sr Vertley Neptune, SJC made her perpetual profession on this, the feast day of St Joseph at St Francis Church, Belmont .

. March 21 - Archbishop Thomas E Gullickson, new Papal Nuncio for the Archdiocese of the Eastern Caribbean addressed the Archdiocese of Port of Spain for the first time at the Chrismal Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He encouraged worshipers to, "Let yourself be astounded, be amazed. Stir up the flame of faith. Stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit within you. Let the strength of our holiness shine out to the world on every place and thing."

Parish representative greets Bishop Mendes, Archbishop Gilbert and Archbishop Gullickson after receiving oils at Chrismal Mass

Local World Youth Day contingent

Eucharistic Congress at the Hasely Crawford Stadium

Eucharistic Congress at the Hasely Crawford Stadium

Celebration of Bishop Mendes' funeral Mass at the Cathedral.

APRIL

On April 2, the universal Church was thrown into mourning with the death of Pope John Paul II. In the archdiocese, the life of the Pope was celebrated with Saturday evening Masses for Divine Mercy Sunday and continued with special Masses during the week. A large picture of the late Holy Father was placed in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the public invited to sign the condolence book.

The Catholic News editions of April 2 - 17 honoured the memory of the late Pope John Paul II with articles about his life and papacy, capturing personal memories of Pope John Paul II and expectations for the future of the Church.

On April 6 Archbishop Edward Gilbert was the chief celebrant at a Requiem Mass in celebration of the life of Pope John Paul II held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

April 24-25 - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope and chose the name Benedict XVI. A Pontifical Mass was held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate the event and ask God's blessings on his papacy.

The Catholic News for this week featured special articles on the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI including a biography

MAY

On May 12, Msgr Christian Pereira was chief celebrant at a special youth Mass held in memory of the late John Paul II, 40 days after his passing.

. May 23 - Members of the clergy and lay Carmelite Tertiaries gathered at the site of the new Corpus Christi House, Mount St Benedict for the blessing of the new building by Archbishop Edward Gilbert.

JUNE

. 9-16 Seventh General Assembly of the Caribbean Conference of Churches held in Panama City .

. 24 - The Church in Trinidad and Tobago mourned the passing of Bishop John Mendes, one of the first local diocesan priests. His funeral at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on June 29 followed Mass and Vespers Services at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, San Fernando . He was interred in the Cathedral crypt.

JULY

. July 16 - Approximately 100 representatives of the Northern, Suburban and Eastern vicariates gathered at the Our Lady of Fatima Church Hall for the launching of the National Hospitality Ministry intended to build social relationships among parishioners within the Church.

. July 17 - Parishioners of Carapo were pleased to receive Archbishop Edward Gilbert when he visited the parish to bless the newly constructed Chapel of Our Lady of Mt Carmel.

Also in this month Sr Marie Thérèse Rétout launched her book on Venezuela at the Simon Bolivar Auditorium of the Venezuelan Embassy. A series of articles written by the former Catholic News writer was published as a dual-language collection entitled The Land of My Dreams.Just Next Door La Tierra de Mis Suenos.Justo al Lado in recognition of the thousands who have learnt Spanish at classes sponsored by the Venezuelan embassy

AUGUST

. 11-14 - Couples for Christ held its 6 th Caribbean Conference. The theme was God is Enough . It was an opportunity for the organisation's members to catch up with old friends, meet new people and engage in faith-building activities.

. 16 -21 - World Youth Day, Germany: A large delegation of young people from Trinidad and Tobago left our shores for the World Youth Day in Germany where they participated in a special Mass with newly elected Pope Benedict XIV, got a taste of German family life through the Days in the Diocese experience and took part in several other activities to build their Catholic faith.

.31 Sr Petronilla Joseph, O Carm, principal of Corpus Christi College received the Public Service Medal of Merit (Gold) for Education while Catholic News football columnist Sedley Joseph received the Humming Bird Medal for sport.

The Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM) bade farewell to Sr Catherine Therese Mc Comie OP and Joyce Smith. Ms Smith had served the CEBM and Catholic education for 36 years. Sr Catherine Therese had served for some 12 years.

SEPTEMBER

. 23 - Archdiocesan Family Life Commission launched the sale of their wrist- bands at a Mass in the Santa Rosa RC Church, Arima to promote family life and raise funds for the Commission. One of the bands was presented to Archbishop Gilbert.

OCTOBER

12-16 - October saw a slew of activities across the five vicariates, which included Eucharistic rallies held especially for primary and secondary Catholic school children, all leading up to the National Catholic Family Day at the Hasely Crawford Stadium to mark the end of the Year of the Eucharist.

Oct 21 - The Catholic News experienced the loss of one of our distributors. Lennox Lalla who worked with the paper for some 35 years and who was recognised for his sterling contributions, was buried on Oct 24. His funeral took place at Assumption Church and was attended by board chairman, Richard Young, former editor Fr Michel de Verteuil and staff members of the Catholic News .

NOVEMBER

. 11-13 - The Eternal Light Community and the Catholic Bible Institute celebrated the 40 th anniversary of the publication of Dei Verbum (the Word of God) - Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, with a weekend conference.

. Nov 27 - Catholic News welcomed its new Associate Editor, Msgr Cuthbert Alexander.

DECEMBER

At the family life convention held at Emmaus Centre, Arima on Saturday 3, the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission launched its new logo.