Saturday, September 8, Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, was a very special day in Cane End, Mesopotamia in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A home under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe was blessed. This home is prepared to receive girls “at risk”, girls abused and abandoned and who need protection and help, and who will eventually find their way again and continue with their lives.

God blessed the day with blue skies and good weather; it was a beautiful, hot day. The event was filled with dignitaries both religious and secular, all had come from near and far to the Marriaqua Valley to be present on this unique occasion.

Coadjutor Archbishop Robert Rivas

Present were Coadjutor Archbishop Most Reverend Robert Rivas, Bishop Emeritus Malcolm Galt, Vicar General Fr Pio, Fr Nonito Barsola, Mrs Eloise Gonzales wife of the Prime Minister, Minister of Education of St Vincent and the Grenadines Mrs Girlyn Miguel, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services Mrs Rosita Snagg, the Japanese Ambassador, the China/Taiwanese Ambassador, the Venezuelan Ambassador, Sr Gabrielle Mason Provincial of the Sisters of St Joseph, Sr Maureen Alexander, Vice Provincial and several sisters.

The presence of Sr Patricia Ann Douglas’ three sisters, as well as three members of the Trinidad Board of Management, Elizabeth Crouch, Dr Maria Byron and Douglas Walker was greatly appreciated.

The programme started with the singing of the National Anthem of St Vincent. This was followed by a minute’s silence in honour of Sr Patricia Ann, who died tragically two years ago in a vehicular accident in Barbados.

This Home was the realisation of her dream. It is placed under the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe Patron of the Americas and is now called the Guadalupe Home

In his address Archbishop Rivas lauded Sr Pat’s initiative and agreed completely with her “that too many children at risk needed a home” He referred to her boldness, her strength and her foresight, not to mention, her love for the abandoned and abused girls. He thanked the Japanese Embassy for its generosity in donating the first sum of money that allowed the construction of the building.

Sr Gabrielle chose as her theme “If Yahweh does not build the home, then they labour in vain who build it” She rejoiced in the completion of the home where young women, fraught with setbacks, would receive the care, love, education and help that they needed.

She thanked the Douglas family for giving the congregation the dynamic person of Sr Pat. Sr Gabrielle expressed special appreciation of Salene Dopwell who had come forward and gave and continues to give her services in an exceptional way to the Home

Several persons pledged their support for the Home and others gave monetary and other gifts to Sr Gertrude who is the first administrator of the Home.

Mrs Miguel spoke on behalf of her Government and assured Sr.Gertrude of its continued support. Many friends of Sr Pat spoke of her in glowing and affectionate terms and they too promised to be generous to the needs of the Home.

This is the first time that the Sisters of St. Joseph have taken on a project of this nature, since they have always been fully engaged in the work of education, but times change and the demands of other needs cannot go unattended God is obviously speaking and attention must be paid to what He is saying.

Even as numbers of Sisters dwindle, we thank the Sisters in all Congregations who have not been timid and diffident in showing their strength and willingness to serve God’s people.