Bishop Ignatius Wong of the California diocese was a special guest at the diocesan celebration of the Immaculate Conception last Sunday at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Grand Anse, St George’s. Bishop Wong served this diocese as a priest for about 12 years during the 1960s and 70s.

At the celebration Bishop Vincent Darius OP officially announced the closure of the Jubilee year of the diocese and at the same time launched “The Year of Evangelisation”.

Referring to the document on the New Evangelisation by the late Pope John Paul II, Bishop Darius said the newness is not so much in content; it is just a new way of performing the task.

His Lordship cited the encounter between Jesus and the woman at the well in St John’s gospel, noting that after the meeting, which led to her conversion, she went and told others.

He emphasised we evangelise because it is the mandate and mission of the Church given by Jesus himself. The Bishop admitted that “we have not been doing a good job” and so there is a need to look at new methods and changes, there must be a new zeal and passion, new ways must be discovered in performing the task.

Bishop Darius said that the new evangelisation focusses on the person of Jesus Christ such that we must aim at getting others to know Him. It is also about personal conversion, he pointed out; therefore it is only when we enjoy a personal and healthy relationship with Jesus will we be able to bring Him to others.

Towards the end of the celebration Fr William “Bill” O’Carroll was recognised for his annual 100 mile walk for Mary, which he started ten years ago, to raise funds for the diocese. It was announced that this year’s walk, which ended two weeks ago, was his last.

Two Sisters from the Carmelite community, who would be leaving the diocese soon to work in other missions, were also recognised for their work in Grenada.