Greater cooperation in the areas of training, care of immigrants, ministry to Amerindians and strengthening of family life were high on the agenda of the recent meeting between the Catholic bishops of the Guyanas which took place in the last week of December in Georgetown.

Bishop Francis Alleyne

Bishop William de Bekker the bishop of Paramaribo in Suriname, Bishop Emmanuel La Font the bishop of Cayenne in French Guyana and Bishop Robert Pierre Sarrabère, Bishop Emeritus of Aire (- Dax) in France along with Bishop Francis Allyene of Georgetown attended the meeting.

In an interview with the Catholic Standard the bishops also felt if the cooperation between the churches in the three states becomes stronger, relations in other areas will also intensify for the benefit of the populations in the three countries.

The Church leaders noted that increasingly lay people are playing much more prominent and important roles in the various apostolates of the Church. However the areas and ways in which they function vary significantly in each diocese.

It was therefore felt that the Church in these countries would derive much benefit from sharing each other’s experience in this field.

More collaboration in the care of immigrants was another area explored in the meeting. It was pointed out that there are large numbers of immigrants including a significant number of Guyanese particularly in Suriname and French Guyana.

The population of French Guyana for example has grown five-fold over the past 35 years moving from 50,000 in 1972 to over 250,000 today. More than half this growth was due to immigration. Since many immigrants are illegal they are very vulnerable and precariously positioned.

Many of them also need to connect with their families and relatives in other countries and are often unable to do so. The meeting examined how the Church in these territories can cooperate in their care for such people.

Communities of Amerindians exist in each of these three territories. However the Church’s pastoral care of these communities differ in the various territories. The sharing of help in experience in this area was also considered important.

A wide difference in the responsibilities and areas in which the Church in these three countries is deeply involved was also noted. For many years Dutch priests from Holland have formed the backbone of the clergy in Suriname. Recently however they have been joined by priests and brothers from Brazil and Belgium.

Half the priests in French Guyana come from France where Catholicism is the dominant religion. The other half according to Bishop La Font come from all over the world Laos, Vietnam, Nigeria, Gabon, Congo Senegal and Slovenia.

While the Church in French Guyana runs nine schools in Suriname this number is increased to 75. This includes seven secondary schools. The Catholic Church in each of these territories also runs a 24-hour radio station. In Suriname the Church also has regular programmes on national television.

The Church in French Guyana has also recently launched a new initiative, which resulted in the building of three new colleges, two high schools and one technical college.
Church and state remain autonomous in both territories.

However relations between the two entities are very good in both Suriname and French Guyana the bishops say the two work together in a number of areas in both countries.
(From Catholic Standard)