The preacher at last Sunday’s Marian Devotions at Laventille believes intercessory prayer with the Rosary can be part of the answer to the gang violence in his community.

“Pray, pray the Rosary…. Is that enormously difficult to do?” asked Fr Dwight Merrick, priest for the Laventille-Morvant Pastoral Area.
Fr Merrick’s sermon was a sobering look at the situation in his community, which is a hotbed of gang violence. Police usually classify murders in the area as gang-related.

He said the Rosary and the Eucharist were our weapons in the spiritual battle against evil and reminded the congregation that through the Eucharist, Christ has always been there with us, “filling us, nourishing us, sustaining us.” We were never utterly alone, and nothing was bigger than our God, he said.

Fr Merrick cited the messages of Fatima, in which Mary urged the world to pray the Rosary to prevent wars and other evils. He said “the evil one is doing his job well to enslave many” and the simple solution was to follow Mary’s advice to pray the Rosary.

He said many were disappointed in the nation’s leaders today, and we must pray the Rosary for them as well. “They need to know God, humble themselves, repent, seek God’s wisdom, so that they may be His instruments.”

Sr Katrina Charles, O Carm and residents of St Jude's Home for Girls lead the singing during the Mass

Fr Merrick reminded the congregation that through the Eucharist, Christ has always been there with us, "filling us, nourishing us, sustaining us."

Members of the Souther Vicariate Association of Men's Groups greet each other at the sign of peace during the Mass at last Sunday's Laventille Devotions. The association led the devotions.

Focusing on the gang violence, Fr Merrick said with so many “sons of the soil leaving their families to grieve”, we were all challenged to pray.
He said while he has had little personal contact with gang members, he felt the need to do something.

He challenged Catholic faithful to join him in intercessory prayer through a project called Prodigal Sons. As teenagers walked around with clipboards, he invited pilgrims to sign up to become part of this intercessory project.

He related that a gang member who was reported to be dead was in fact alive. He said the young man told him he had been wearing rosary beads around his neck at the time and he believed Mary saved him.

Fr John Theodore often likened the rosary to a lasso around evil, Fr Merrick recalled, and if so, “all we need to do now is pull… our pull will be prayer” so that the gang members could be converted.

He said many of those caught up in the gang culture were illiterate and were perhaps victims of society because of their upbringing. They were prepared to die at a moment’s notice because they had no self-worth, he added.

“It is not something easily understood and we are called to stand in the gap for these young men.” He debunked the notion that those who wanted to leave gang life were murdered for wanting to do so.

He urged all to pray for parents as well. “Our young men are precious. I’m not saying our girls aren’t, but our boys are more vulnerable.”

Fr Merrick ended by inviting the faithful to offer Masses in their parishes for conversions. “We need to implement the weapons that we know because the fight is not of flesh and blood.”

The monthly walk to the National Shrine began at St Martin de Porres church in Gonzales and despite the inclement weather there was a good turnout.

Members of the Southern Vicariate Association of Men’s Groups led the devotions.The association comprises the parish men’s groups of La Brea, Siparia, Point Fortin, South Oropouche and Erin. Residents of St Jude’s Home for Girls led the singing during the Mass and did the Readings and the intercessory prayers.

Fr Mulian Stowers of Samoa, who has been here since March and who returns to his homeland at month’s end, was the main celebrant. Msgr Urban Peschier, Frs George Pritchett, Ian Taylor and Merrick concelebrated.

Fr Taylor conducted Benediction in the absence of a vacationing Archbishop Edward Gilbert.

Next devotions are set for September 10.