Archbishop Edward Gilbert has called for a “new chemistry” among clergy, religious and laity, as part of the drive to deepen solidarity in the Archdiocese.

The Archbishop, speaking at the start of a two-day meeting of Department Heads at Emmaus Centre, September 11, was sharing his vision for the Archdiocese and indicating how he intended to use his energies over the next four years – the final years of his tenure as Archbishop. Church policy dictates that he should offer his resignation when he reaches the age of 75, in four years’ time.

Archbishop Gilbert said his vision was one of shared responsibility, rooted in an understanding of the Church as the People of God. He said since his arrival in 2001 he had tried to involve “as many people as possible in the consultation and dialogue that preceded all decision-making within the Archdiocese”.

The essentials of his vision are contained in his recent Pastoral Letter, the Archbishop said, but “there are some pragmatic issues that affect implementing the vision.” He said “at the heart of the matter” is the need for collaboration, solidarity and “professional productivity” which was spiritually motivated.

Department heads of the archdiocese meeting at Emmaus Centre

Addressing the group that included the Vicars for Family Life, Evangelisation and Communications, Fr Robert Llanos, Fr Urban Hudlin OP, Msgr Cuthbert Alexander; the Chairman of the Liturgical Commission Fr Michael de Verteuil and the Directress of Pontifical Mission Societies Deborah de Rosia, Archbishop Gilbert said if the vision had to be fulfilled clergy religious and lay persons had to work not just for the Church, but must choose to work with one another “to make the Church present to the people”. The observation, he said, “is not as safe as it sounds. It will require change.”

In addition, said the Archbishop, more people have to be involved in the ministry and administration of the Archdiocese, which will require a continuation of training to “professionally certify priests, religious and laypersons to staff the central administration of the Archdiocese and eventually the ministries of the Archdiocese.” He admitted that such a goal would require great sacrifices.

The Archbishop warned about “turf protection” which had to be challenged wherever it might be found since it was the major enemy of collaboration and solidarity. He said “we must create successes which will enable other successes. That means taking prudent risks decided on and responded to in and through community.”

At the conclusion of his remarks, Archbishop Gilbert left to return for the final session and to preside at the closing Mass. But his comments served as a starting point of discussion in the workshop session which followed immediately as members took time to reflect on his words.

The overall purpose of the retreat was to rethink the structure of the Archdiocese, as regards the various departments engaged in pastoral outreach, rework the model of governance for these departments and give clarity of purpose, vision and objectives to the group and to set about ways to implement strategies.

It sought to grapple with the reality of ministry in the Archdiocese where some 90 per cent of the current human and financial ministry resource is being used to reach only 17 per cent of Catholics.

Early in the proceedings the group considered what might be the most productive ways for the body to achieve its purpose. Vicar for Administration Fr Jason Gordon, who chaired the workshop sessions with Selwyn Bhajan, noted that the body when fully constituted would consist of 19 members which it was agreed would prove too unwieldy for achieving the best work.

Members agreed to a system of clustering where there were similarities of mission and focus. At the close of the retreat the group agreed that the official title of the gathering of department heads would be the Archdiocesan Administrative Board (AAB). It further agreed that:

1. The AAB will work with a spiritually motivated collaboration, professional productivity and solidarity.
2. It is to be comprised of all heads of councils, commissions and Secretariats, or other Archdiocesan pastoral entities of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain.
3. Each member of the Board shares in the responsibility for the overall pastoral outreach of the Archdiocese.
4. The Board will recommend Archdiocesan pastoral initiatives to the Archbishop.
5. Each head of a council, commission, secretariat, or other Archdiocesan pastoral entity is accountable for the good management of his or her department.
6. Each head will communicate to his or her department the agreement for governance which the retreat arrived at.

The AAB is to facilitate the collaboration of member groups on specific initiatives, e.g. the Values Formation Program. It will meet once a quarter to review and act as a think-tank to provide grounding and depth for individual ministries.

A brief update by each ministry is to be included in each meeting. The Board will also allow for necessary temporary networks for some specific pastoral need.

The meeting also recommended that in keeping with the solidarity initiative and facing the reality of the deep divisions in the nation and the Church that the Archdiocese appoint a body, or department, or person with the responsibility “to promote community building at the Archdiocesan, vicariate and parish level”, to facilitate mediation, communication, socialisation and reconciliation

The Board also recommended that a package showcasing the initiatives of the Church and aimed at the national community be put together to inform and raise support for the ministries of the Archdiocese.