Festive might be an appropriate term for the mood after the ceremony with children running about while youths and adults mingled, exchanging greetings and chatting with each other.

It was a fitting epilogue to an inspiring Mass at the Church of the Assumption on the occasion of the feast day of St Josemaría Escrivá, June 26.

View of the sanctuary at Assumption Church

Msgr Robert Rivas, Bishop of Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines was the principal celebrant on the day that was also the eve of his 35th anniversary as a priest. The other priests and faithful present had the added joy of joining him as he renewed the Eucharistic sacrifice on this occasion.

The theme of the bishop’s homily was the core of the message of St Josemaría: that all are called to holiness. He urged the faithful present to follow the example this modern-day Saint in bearing Christian witness to the people around them.

Closing his homily, Bishop Rivas made a heartfelt appeal for prayers for priestly vocations in Trinidad and the Caribbean.

Saint Josemaría was canonised on October 6, 2002 by Pope John Paul II. His body rests in the prelatic Church of Our Lady of Peace in Rome. Further information on Saint Josemaría can be found at www.stjosemaria.org and www.opusdei.org.