On Friday, August 3, the parish community of St Michael the Archangel in Maracas, St Joseph came out to bid farewell and say thanks to Sadique Samuel a Carmelite pre-novitiate candidate from St Vincent and the Grenadines who entered the formation programme in Trinidad last September.

Sadique Samuel

The procession of 13 altar servers, two Carmelite students and two priests entered to the hymn Praise Him by Stephen Khelawan and indeed continued along with the other parts of the Mass composed by Mr Khelawan.

The congregation “rang out their joy to God their strength” and sang him a new song, according to the response of the psalm chanted by Sadique.

Fr Gerard Tang Choon, O Carm celebrated the Mass and Fr Gabriel Julien concelebrated.

In his homily Fr Gerard reminded Sadique that God was calling him to give of his best to the Church, his new community, his studies and more so to God who has called him to Carmel.

After communion, Sadique was presented with a token of appreciation by his first Spiritual Director, Sr Cheryl-Ann Cumberbatch SJC the first Cluny sister from the island of Barbados. She reminded him of the joy he has brought to the lives of others while working in St Vincent and also encouraged him to continue giving from the depth of his heart.

During the past year under the direction of the first ever Trinidadian Formator for the Carmelite Friars, Fr Garth Eversley, Sadique was involved in various ministries.

He was Youth Coordinator in the parish of St Mary’s in St James; he worked with the altar servers of both St Mary’s and St Michael’s and was involved in other ministries in the St Michael’s parish.

Sadique will be moving on to the Pre-Novitiate stage of formation in Harrison, New Jersey. We wish him all the best in his formation period and promise him our continued prayers and support.

May you continue to be a blessing as you continue to be blessed. We will miss you! Make us and your country of St Vincent proud.