Much fanfare marked the completion of the St Dominic’s Pastoral Centre this week. It began on Monday with Holy Mass at 9.00 a.m. at St Finbar's Church, which was led by Fr Pat Lucey OP, Prior Provincial of the Irish Dominican Province, and concelebrated by all the Dominican friars.

Mass was immediately followed by the blessing of the Pastoral Centre, witnessed by members of the Dominican family - the friars (local and Irish), the sisters and the laity, as well as members of the project team.

Fr Pat again led the official blessing and expressed the appreciation of the Dominican family to the friars who had served tirelessly in Trinidad and Tobago for more than a century.

He dedicated the St Dominic's Pastoral Centre to the memory of the 210 friars, now deceased who served in this country.

Archbishop Gilbert and Fr Tom's mother Mary Alice Lawson among guests at Monday's ceremony.

Dominicans and friends hold hands in prayer as Fr Pat Lucey pronounces the blessing inside the auditorium

After the blessing, there was an outpouring of appreciation in words and music, during which Fr Ferdi Warner, Regional Prior, and the Dominicans were joined by His Grace Archbishop Edward J. Gilbert CSsR and members of the local clergy, dignitaries and benefactors of the Pastoral Centre, members of the architectural, engineering and construction firms that worked on the project, as well as representatives of the various volunteer groups which will now be based at the Centre.

Feature speaker Karen de Montbrun, whose team will help the friars in settling the goals and vision of the Pastoral Centre, gave an insightful appreciation of the work that led to its completion.

Deep appreciation was expressed to the Irish Dominicans for their financial, moral and physical support and their immediate acceptance of the dream presented by Fr Tom Lawson in 2004 in his then capacity as Regional Prior. The Pastoral Centre was financed primarily through the contributions made by the Irish Dominicans.

Following the formal speeches, the fine acoustics of the beautiful auditorium were put to the test by the combined choirs of St Finbar's, with heavenly solo presentations by Debbie Nahous and Joanne Murphy.

Fr Tom’s niece, whose renditions in Irish and English brought the appreciative audience alive, had travelled from Ireland with her husband and grandmother – Mary Alice Lawson, mother of Fr Tom.

A pan solo by 19-year-old Johan Chuckaree was dedicated to this very gracious 91 year old who has been so supportive of the work of her son in our country. A presentation was made to Fr Tom’s mother for her untiring support for the project and for being a benefactress of the centre.

Presentations were also made to other persons whose work was key to ensuring the completion of the Centre.

They were Allison Grosberg – architect extraordinaire of the elegant structure, Karen Yetming – whose project management skills worked wonders, and Fr Tom Lawson, whose unrelenting insistence drove the dream to reality with the help of his brethren and the community.

Following the formal proceedings, guests were invited to tour the premises and were taken through the Dominican Centre for Learning, the St Martin de Porres Social Outreach Centre and the Parish offices. Each room within the Pastoral Centre has been named for one of the great Dominican saints.

An open house was held on the following day, Tuesday, December 11, during which the musical presentations were repeated for the wider community. – Najette Abraham