Pope Benedict XVI’s representative to the region has challenged Arima’s Catholic faithful to take example from their patron saint and embrace the Cross of Christ.

Preaching the sermon at last Sunday’s annual feast day celebration of Santa Rosa – St Rose of Lima, Papal Nuncio His Excellency Archbishop Thomas E Gullickson said while many people remained passionate about politics, they had become indifferent towards religion.

He referred to the March 2007 Archdiocesan Census results which showed that just about 17% of Catholics in this country attended weekly Mass and, using a verse from one of the day’s readings, he remarked that, based on the statistics, “People are not exactly hustling to ‘enter by the narrow door’.”

Archbishop Gullickson said Arima’s patroness, from an early age, “lived simply, did penance constantly, prayed intensely, and loved the Blessed Virgin Mary…. Almost 400 years have passed since her death and she’s still a light and an example for others”.

He challenged the gathering to do their best “to convince other people not to put off until tomorrow entering into the sheepfold”, by giving good example as St Rose did.

“How do you communicate to your family, to your friends and neighbours that knowing, loving and serving God is serious business which cannot be put off until tomorrow? …Don’t underestimate the power for good in the world of your good example at home. Child, youth, aged – it makes no difference – as you eagerly seek to know, love and serve God and all those who cross your path, starting right at home like she did, you’ll light lights just like St Rose,” he said.

He suggested daily prayer, attending Sunday Mass, going regularly to confession, learning about the faith and being charitable to others, the poor and helpless as ways to imitate her.

Lay ministers carry the statue at the beginning of the procession, accompanied by female members of the Carib community

Members of the Carib community march in the annual feast day procession, carrying a flag with an image of Santa Rosa or St Rose last Sunday

Archbishop Gullickson, who has been stationed in the region for three years, drew reference to the well-known children’s book The Little Engine That Could and said, like the train engine, Catholics must simply try living out their faith daily.

He advised: “Just like St Peter stepping out of the boat to walk on the waters to Jesus, we need to just do it, that is, live the faith to the full, with our eyes fixed on Jesus. We cannot let ourselves be impressed by the wind and the waves.”

Archbishop Gullickson said many married couples and parents failed “to love and to try to understand both each other in marriage and the children given to them by God in sacred trust”.

He contended that this failure was passed on to their children who failed to try in school. “Even children have responsibilities, even children need to do their part - need to start up that hill,” said the Papal Nuncio.

But he added that while many might be pessimistic about the future of society, he remained convinced “that things don’t necessarily have to go bad at home, at school, in the neighbourhood or in our world”.

“The lesson of the saints, our faith in the power of God to save if we but cooperate with His grace, should tell us that everything is possible for those who love God. We just need to be ready to embrace the Cross of Christ if its shadow falls on us,” he said.

Archbishop Gullickson concluded by noting that St Rose of Lima entered by the narrow door and that nations of every language, from east and west, from north and south, have recognised this and followed her example.

“Rose lived a hidden life on earth, but from heaven she shines from end to end. She belongs to Lima, she belongs to Peru and Latin America, she belongs in a special way to the native peoples of the Americas, and she belongs to you – people of Santa Rosa RC Church, Arima. Don’t stay behind at the bottom of the hill. Start the climb. Just do it! Be lights for the world in our day and time. Follow her example and try to enter by the narrow door,” he said.

Concelebrating the Mass with Archbishop Gullickson were parish priest and Vicar General, Msgr Christian Pereira, Msgr Urban Peschier and Fr Dwight Black OP. Occupying the front pews were Arima’s Member of Parliament Pennelope Beckles and Mayor Adrian Cabralis.

As usual, seated in front of the statue of St Rose of Lima, were members of the Carib community led by an ailing titular Queen Valentina Medina.

The Prayers of the Faithful were said by representatives of the various parish communities, as well as by two members of the Carib community – Deputy Mayor Ricardo Bharath-Hernandez and Beryl Almarales. Bharath-Hernandez spoke in the Arawak language, while Almarales prayed in Spanish. El Padre Nuestro or The Lord’s Prayer was also recited in Spanish.

After the procession through the borough’s streets with the statue, Benediction closed the special liturgy. Many later joined the Carib community at their centre to continue the celebration. -RS