DEAR EDITOR: I would like to join the debate on the Fatima devotions initiated by Prof Bartholomew in the Catholic News. I think it is quite edifying to see lay persons raising and discussing issues of concern to the Church. In fact Canon Law imposes this very obligation on the laity (Canon 212 no.3 of 1983).

The concern raised by Prof Bartholomew involves the question of the location of the monthly Port of Spain Fatima devotions traditionally held at the Marian Shrine in Laventille.

I have deliberately identified these specific devotions as the Port of Spain devotions having regard to the fact that decentralised Fatima devotions are also held monthly in other locations of the archdiocese such as Petit Valley , Siparia, and Valsayn. There may even be others of which I am unaware.

I have myself been quite concerned as to the suitability of Laventille for the Port of Spain devotions, if these devotions are designed to attract an archdiocese-wide congregation, as distinct from a Laventille-parish congregation).

Let us face it honestly and squarely, and prudently too. The Laventille location presents a number of very serious practical problems today, if the idea is to attract large numbers of persons of all ages, and from all walks of life, from throughout much of the archdiocese, in response to the several fervent exhortations, made by His Grace the Archbishop every month from May to October, that as many of the faithful as possible should make an effort to attend these devotions.

So far the response has been evidently quite poor. My family and I do not ever go. We consider the location to be quite unsafe, even if we were to find satisfactory parking for our car. Walking up the hill is entirely out of the questions for obvious reasons.

We used to do it at one time, and then one evening on our way down from the devotions we were attacked and abused by a group of men loitering at the side of the road. That was the very last time we ever went to the devotions at that location.

We need to consider that prevailing circumstances have made it necessary for the Church to make a number of significant changes in the arrangements for some of its traditional practices and devotions in the archdiocese.

For example, there was a time when all of the Catholic churches were left open all day for the faithful to drop in for some quiet prayer. Those days are now long gone as the church doors are now tightly shut right after morning Mass, even on Sundays!

Then again we have had to abandon the beautiful custom of Christmas Eve Midnight Mass and the New Year's Eve Midnight Mass and the Easter Vigil Midnight Mass, all for obvious reasons.

Even the traditional Lenten retreat services in the parishes are no longer held at nighttime. Existing arrangements for the handling of cash collections at Masses would now have to be revised.

And soon I can foresee it is going to become necessary to review the existing practice whereby Eucharistic Adoration chapels are left open throughout the night, in view of the serious risk of monstrance theft, sacrilege and banditry against nighttime adorers.

What an awful shame all of this is! But then we should see all of this as a chastisement for our collective failure to respond to the many gifts and graces, and warnings too, which we have been receiving from Heaven.

For this reason I would like to suggest to Prof Bartholomew, and to all devotees of the Fatima message, that we now attempt to move the debate, beyond the relatively lower level question of the mere physical location of the monthly devotions, to the yet higher realm of the quality of our response and fidelity to Mary's several specific requests and warnings given at Fatima.

I have in mind here Prof Bartholomew's insightful observation made in his last Catholic News contribution, January 15, 2006 when he asked the question: “what would Our Lady of Fatima prefer?”

The short answer of course would be that she would most certainly like us to heed seriously her many requests and warnings, before it is too late. As Mary herself has warned: the very salvation of souls is what is at stake here!

Hollis Malins-Smith, Woodbrook

DEAR EDITOR: I returned to Valencia for Christmas only to realise that Fr Peter de la Bastide had been transferred to the Arouca parish. I know this was not his doing so I won't quibble about not being able to say goodbye officially.

Fr Peter, I would like to say your time in Valencia was like a gentle roller coaster ride. You made your presence felt without too many thrills, and a few spills along the way. You did much teaching on the importance of the liturgy and its attendant reverence.

You also tried to empower parishioners through the pastoral councils and thus let us see that indeed we are “the Church”, which makes it imperative to give of our time, talent and treasures. The seeds of the servant leadership concept were also planted and I trust that those seeds will bear much fruit.

I learnt that there was a concert as part of your farewell and I hope you surprised the parishioners with a potent karaoke performance.

I trust that as you settle into your new parish you would let your penchant for media surface. Remember that the road to heaven is paved with many good intentions, so don't add any more paving stones.

As I sit here in Tortola writing this, I can almost hear your hearty laugh, followed by “Oh Lord, ah go dead.” Some of us used to laugh so much when you laughed, that we almost perfected the art.

I would like to thank you for deepening my sense of “ belonging” and more than that, giving me a greater appreciation of who we are as Catholics.

I trust that by now you have settled somewhat into your new parish, and practice what you taught us; to listen well, observe, then step out in faith. I practice that strategy and I know it works. May God continue to bless you as you labour in His vineyard.

Lynette Rodriguez, Tortola , BVI