FR CLYDE HARVEY has called for a renewed spirit of love for country as the nation celebrates its 44th anniversary of independence.

“We may come from many tribes but we are one people, one spirit,” remarked the former San Fernando parish priest as he gave the homily at last Sunday’s annual Santa Rosa celebrations.

Fr Harvey, who is on sabbatical from pastoral duties, used the readings of the day throughout his sermon. However, he began by speaking about his former housekeeper in the San Fernando parish, who passed away earlier this year.

He said she would have been present at the day’s celebration as it was people like her, 70 years and over, who attended such events and “kept alive the tradition and passed on the faith”. He invited those in the congregation 70 and over who attend every year to stand and be applauded.

Fr Clyde Harvey

Msgr Pereira greets Minister of Public Utilities Pennelope Beckles at the sign of peace at last Sunday's Mass celebrating the feast of of Santa Rosa. Raymond Syms photos

Drawing from the first Reading (Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18), Fr Harvey said Trinidad and Tobago was a nation of tribes - and many people who emphasise to which tribe they belong. He said it was okay to acknowledge one’s ethnic group, but it was important to remember that “we serve one true God”.

Speaking on the gospel (John 6: 60-69), Fr Harvey said we must identify the spirit that energises and drives us as individuals, communities and as a people.

He told the gathering that a friend recently lamented to him that he was depressed that city and borough days seemed to be celebrated with only street fetes. “The spirit of T&T is not in a Vat 19 bottle,” Fr Harvey declared, adding that Church services as part of these celebrations were “also not enough”.

He said he hoped that the new constitution, still being drafted, would reflect the spirit of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, and that the people would embrace it as theirs.

Fr Harvey noted that many people were today questioning the following statement of former Prime Minister, the late Dr Eric Williams: “There can be no Mother Africa, Mother India or Mother China but only Mother Trinidad and Tobago.”

He suggested that perhaps instead of seeing Trinidad and Tobago as mother, we should view Trinidad and Tobago as a spouse and develop a spousal relationship.

He decried the attitude of many in society as one of ‘take take” or “gimme gimme”; some people were only interested in what they could get. He transposed Trinidad and Tobago into the second reading (Ephesians 5: 21-32), saying it was time that we left Mother Africa and India and be joined to one body, Trinidad and Tobago.

He ended by urging all to take example from and to turn toward Santa Rosa de Lima, patroness of the Americas, the Caribbean and the Philippines, “for intercession and inspiration”.

Fr Harvey, Arima parish priest and Vicar General Msgr Christian Pereira and Msgr Urban Peschier concelebrated the Mass. Msgr Pereira proclaimed the Gospel. Msgr Peschier, who has been ailing, took ill during the Liturgy but was able to return later.

Joining the Carib community and Santa Rosa parishioners for the occasion was Parliamentary representative for Arima, Pennelope Beckles. She participated by offering an intercessory prayer.

Deputy Mayor Ricardo Bharath-Hernandez, acting for the recently installed but absent Mayor Adrian Cabralis, did another intercessory prayer in the Arawak language. Beryl Almarales, a member of the Carib community, also said an intercessory prayer in Spanish and later led the congregation in reciting the Lord’s Prayer in that language.

Fr Harvey led the congregation in a moment of silence in memory of the nation’s second president, Noor Hassanali.