As the readers of this column know, each year after the Annual General Meeting of the Antilles Episcopal Conference I provide a summary report on the non-confidential issues decided at the meeting for the information of the Archdiocese.

The bishops discussed the following issues:

1) The Papal Nuncio attended the opening day of the meeting. He informed the bishops that, in October 2006, there would be a formal visitation of the Regional Seminary by the Holy See. The visitation was called for by Cardinal Sepe who is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples in Rome . The Antilles Episcopal Conference is under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.

While the visitation was not requested by the bishops of the Conference, they understood that similar visitations are being conducted throughout the Catholic world.

A team of three visitors appointed by Rome will conduct the visitation. The visitation will open with a meeting with the entire Bishops' Conference. It will be followed by meetings with each bishop of the Conference.

The visitators will then spend three days at the seminary meeting with the seminary community. Before filing their report to Rome , the visitators will have a concluding meeting with the Bishops' Conference.

The bishops are proud of the Regional Seminary and anticipate that the visitation will be a positive experience.

2) There have been some administrative changes at the Regional Seminary:
1) Bishop Reece has completed two terms as Chairman of the Seminary Board. Bishop Robert Rivas was elected as the Chairman of the Regional Seminary Board.
2) Dr Everard Johnston has completed 12 years as Academic Dean. Father Edward Bermingham, SJ has been approved as the new Academic Dean.

3) Each year, the Permanent Board of Bishops reserves places on the AGM programme for outside speakers. This year two speakers addressed the Bishops' Conference.

3.1- The first speaker was Sir Dwight Venner, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. He spoke to the Bishops on the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CMSE).

He provided interesting input on the fundamental premises of development. In a reference to a recent meeting of the Prime Minister of Canada and the Presidents of Mexico and the United States , he noted that one border was missing at the meeting – the Caribbean . He pointed out that frequently the Caribbean is not included in the geo-politics of financial planning.

He sees the CSME as an opportunity for a new beginning, not just financially, but also for Caribbean solidarity. He urged the Bishops' Conference to assume a role of mediation for the issues that will flow from an acceptance of the CSME e.g. the movement of people throughout the Caribbean , improving the life options for the Caribbean people and helping Caribbean workers with self motivation.

3.2 – The second speaker was the executive Secretary of the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), Mr Gerard Granado. He gave a summary of the history and contemporary programmes of the CCC. One development of particular interest was the development of a distance learning programme leading to a Masters Degree in Ecumenical Studies.

Mr Granado also mentioned that certain unfortunate developments are a challenge to ecumenical ministry, namely, an indifference to ecumenism and some anti- ecumenical initiatives e.g. the publication, From Ecumenism to Silent Apostasy by the Priestly Society of Pius X.

4) The bishops accepted the resolutions submitted by the participants in the catechetical workshop sponsored by the AEC Catechetical Commission on lifelong catechesis with special emphasis on adult education/formation. The bishops agreed to place the theme of lifelong catechesis and adult formation on the agenda for the Permanent Board of Bishops as it prepares for the next AGM of the Conference.

5) The Chairman of the AEC Education Commission reported on the meeting of the Commission. Each member of the Commission received a copy of the document, Characteristics of Catholic Schools from the Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome.

The following issues were discussed: the goals for maintaining the Catholic identity of the Catholic schools; the need for formation in the faith for staff and students; the need for more collaboration between priests, religious and lay staff; syllabi for religious education in Catholic schools are to be collected; the Commission should be in dialogue with the Associations of Catholic Teachers in the various dioceses of the Conference and also the Caribbean Association of Catholic Teachers.

6) The Chairman of the AEC Youth Commission reported to the bishops on the Youth Commission's Mission Project in Guyana. Sr Kathy Joseph OP made a visitation of the programme to the missionaries prior to the bishop's meeting.

Her report was the basis of Bishop Rivas' discussion with the bishops. A second visitation is scheduled for May by the Spiritual Director of the Missionary Institute, Fr Christian Chambers.

Bishop Rivas announced that there will be a special meeting and Formation Institute for all diocesan youth coordinators from July 11-15 in Trinidad. He also informed the bishops that planning has already begun for the World Youth Day scheduled for Sydney , Australia in 2008.

7) The report from the French bishops contained the very positive announcement that a pre-seminary programme would be opened in Martinique. In his report, Archbishop Meranville stressed that the emphasis in all catechetical programmes in the Ecclesiastical Province will be on facilitating an encounter for those being catechised with the person of Jesus Christ, which is mediated through the community.

Conclusion

A lack of space makes it impossible to report on all the issues discussed at the meeting e.g. the report on the visit to the Haitian Bishops or the reports given to the bishops by the Diocesan Priests Association and the representative from the Conference of Religious of the Antilles.

It was an excellent meeting with a heavy agenda that was balanced by wonderful hospitality.