Bishop’s Lenten Message
His Lordship Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB has given the following message for Lent 2025: Promote the emergence of new “sowers of dialogue and culture of encounter” who collaborate, each in their context, to reduce polarization and catalyze processes of reconstruction of thesocialfabric”.
This was the theme and objective of a meeting held last month in Mexico and attended by Bishops and lay persons from our own region - the Antilles - and from Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama. The Gospel calls us all to promote dialogue, to foster a culture of collaboration, to reduce polarization and to be builders of sound social structure.
The theme and objective and the main body of reflection and content of the meeting in Mexico were drawn from Pope Francis’ Encyclical “Fratelli Tutti”. The Encyclical is filled with profound insights (please turn to page 10)
Pope’s ‘complex’ condition remains stable; he continues to rest, work - p2
After 75 Years of tireless service, Carmelite Sisters prepare to say goodbye to Guyana - p3
A Christian Perspective on Social Issues - p4
Sunday Scripture - p5
Message for the First Sunday of Lent from Sister Julie Matthews RSM - p6
International Women’s Day Message from Sister Elizabeth Small RSM - p7
The suffering Holy Father gathers us around Mary when we're helpless, cardinal says - p8
Children’s Page - p9
Growing in Grace Week 54 - p10
Dailyat-home Lenten activitiesforfamilies - p11
Apostolic Nuncio to visit Guyana p12
VATICAN CITY (CNS) In a world where people are tempted to build walls to exclude others, Christians and Muslims are challenged to build, through dialogue, a shared future based on fraternity, leaders of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue said in a message to Muslims around the world.
“We do not want simply to coexist; we want to live together in sincere and mutual esteem,” said the message for the month of Ramadan, which began Feb. 28 in many countries and ends March 29.
“The values we share, such as justice, compassion and respect for creation, should inspire our actions and relationships, and serve as our compass in constructing (please turn to page 11)
Mass at the Cathedral of the
15:00hrs – Annual Bible Quiz - First Round, 29 Brickdam, Stabroek
Tuesday, March 11th
18:00hrs – Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting
Sunday, March 16th
07:30hrs - Mass at St. Joseph the Worker Linden
10:00hrs - Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Wismar
15:00hrs - Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, Silver Hill
Francis Alleyne OSB
Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB administers ashes to a student of Marian Academy on March 5th - Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent.
The dome of the Istiqlal Mosque across from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption is seen at sunset in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 4, 2024.
(CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope’s ‘complex’ condition remains
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
Drawings for Pope Francis are placed at the base of a statue of St. John Paul II outside Rome’s Gemelli hospital March 6, 2025, where the pope has been hospitalized since Feb. 14, receiving treatment for double pneumonia.
(CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope Francis continues to rest, pray, follow his doctors’ prescribed therapies and work a bit throughout the day, the Vatican press office said March 7.
His overall clinical condition continues to be “stable” and “complex,” and his prognosis remains “guarded,” which means the pope is still not out of danger, the press office said during an evening briefing.
On his 22nd day at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the 88-year-old pope spent 20 minutes praying in the chapel that is part of the suite of rooms reserved for the popes on the 10th floor of the hospital.
His prescribed therapies include breathing exercises and physical therapy to prevent problems associated with limited movement during a prolonged hospital stay.
Pope Francis continues to receive high-flow oxygen through a nasal cannula during the day and to use “noninvasive mechanical ventilation” to help him breathe through the night, the press office said.
The last official medical bulletin was early March 7 with doctors reporting that Pope Francis had a peaceful night and woke shortly after 8 a.m.
His doctors have said that as long as his lab tests and condition remained “stable” and there was nothing new to communicate, there was no need to keep issuing the same reports each day, a Vatican source said. It is a “wait-and-see” situation to see how his condition and treatments evolve. The next medical bulletin was expected to be published the evening of March 8.
The evening rosary March 7 to pray for the pope and all people who are ill was being led by Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, prefect of the Dicastery for Clergy.
hundreds of people in the square applauded before and after listening to the pope, who said, “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the square; I accompany you from here. May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you.”
The message had been recorded in the hospital earlier in the day, the Vatican press office had said. It was the first time the public had heard his voice since he was hospitalized Feb. 14 for bronchitis and difficulty breathing. The pope, who has been battling double pneumonia, had difficulty speaking in the recording.
Matteo Bruni, head of the Vatican press office, told reporters March 7 that the pope wanted the audio with his greeting to be broadcast “to thank people for their many prayers for him.” It is thanks to these prayers that the pope “feels as if he is ‘carried’ and supported by the whole people of God.”
Pope, in audio message, thanks people for their prayers
Pope Francis recorded an audio message in Spanish March 6 that was played before the nightly recitation of the rosary in St. Peter’s Square that same evening. The
The pope also thanked his @Pontifex followers on X March 7, saying “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health. May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you.”❖
ByJoshuaVan-Sluytman
Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB, was the main celebrant on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, as he joined the Carmelite Sisters in celebrating and giving thanks to God for the 75th anniversary of St. Bernadette’s Hostel, located on Lamaha Street, Georgetown. St. Bernadette’s Hostel was established in 1950 as a ‘home away from home’ for young women. The majority of the women at St. Bernadette’s were formerly under the care of the St. Anne’s Orphanage.
In his homily, Bishop Alleyne said, “We give God thanks for the Sisters for their 75 years, along with the witness and testimony of life that has blossomed from here.”
In her address to the faithful, the Superior of the Carmelite Sisters in Guyana, Sr. Antionette Dickie, O. Carm, expressed her gratitude to all those who contributed to the growth and development of the hostel.
The celebration was a bittersweet one however, as the Corpus Christi Carmelites, who came to Guyana 75 years ago from Trinidad to manage St. Bernadette’s Hostel, are returning to Trinidad, as the majority of the five Carmelite Sisters serving in Guyana are elderly.
After 75 Years of tireless service, Corpus Christi Carmelites prepare to say goodbye to Guyana
After touching many hearts, whether through educating, counseling, praying, or providing shelter for young women from all walks of life, the Corpus Christi Carmelites, fondly known for managing St. Bernadette’s Hostel, prepare to say goodbye to the Diocese of Georgetown.
The idea of a hostel for working young women was first proposed by Jesuit Priest Fr. Francis Fenn, who encouraged the “Sword of the Spirit” to act. Initially, a small house on Croal Street, run by the Ladies of Charity, housed a
few young women.
The hostel began with the purchase of a property at 105 Lamaha Street, generously offered by G.A. Gomes Ltd. Funding for the project came from John Fernandes Snr, who donated his monthly salary from the then Legislative Council to the hostel. Fundraisers, including raffles and a fair, were organized by the Sword of the Spirit Group and Mr. Jorge Jardim. Construction on the hostel began in 1949. Mr. John Fernandes Snr, who was also interested in bringing the Carmelite Sisters from Trinidad to oversee the hostel, contacted the then Mother General, Mother Mary of the Blessed Sacrament, initially by letter and later with a personal visit to Trinidad to appeal for the sisters to come to Guyana. After much work and prayer, and with the blessing of the then Bishop of Georgetown, the sisters arrived to take charge of the hostel.
On February 11, 1950, the hostel was blessed by Bishop Weld, SJ. At the time, the building was not yet complete, but the then Mother General, Mother Teresa Johnson, and Mother Rita De Souza traveled to British Guiana for the blessing. On the feast of St. Bernadette, February 18, 1950, the doors of the hostel were officially opened. The hostel was meant to be a ‘home away from home.’
In addition to managing the hostel, the Sisters were also asked to teach catechism classes in several parishes, including Our Lady of Fatima; Peters Hall, EBD; Victoria and Mahaica, ECD; Malgretout, WBD; and Springlands, WCB. It is important to note that since the founding of the Corpus Christi Carmelites, over 47 Guyanese have joined the religious order.
In 1975, the Sisters celebrated their Silver Jubilee, with congratulatory messages shared by various individuals. Bishop Benedict Singh said, “Today, as we look back with grateful hearts on 25 years of work for the Lord, we look forward also confidently to new opportunities and new challenges. The Sisters' care for the girls
has borne fruit. They have been an inspiration to many young women and have set them on the way to becoming good citizens, good wives, and mothers, who in turn will build up Christian family life in our country.” In his message, Fr. Francis Fenn, SJ, said, “I was the first Chaplain at the Hostel, which opened with the late Sister Rita De Souza, a Guyanese Superior. I can testify to the good work done by the sisters until I left Guyana in 1968.” Mr. John Fernandes Snr remarked, “Twenty-five years ago, young girls struggled to support themselves when entering the world, especially those from the Orphanage. The Ladies of Charity, with the help of the Corpus Christi Carmelite Sisters and the Catholic community, established St. Bernadette’s Girl’s Hostel to provide them with shelter and support. Today, thirty girls continue to receive the help they need, and with God’s guidance, this good work will endure, relying on our continued support.”
Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB, was the main celebrant on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, as he joined the Carmelite Sisters in celebrating and giving thanks to God for the 75th anniversary of St. Bernadette’s Hostel. In his homily, Bishop Alleyne said, “We give God thanks for the sisters for their 75 years, along with the witness and testimony of life that has blossomed from here.”
In her address to the faithful, Sr. Antionette Dickie, O. Carm., expressed her gratitude to all those who contributed to the growth and development of the hostel. Former and past residents of the hostel poured in remarks of gratitude for the shelter that was provided to them. Among those in attendance was Dr. Christopher Fernandes, A.A., son of the late John Fernandes Snr, who was instrumental in the establishment of the hostel. In her written message celebrating the anniversary of the hostel, the Prioress General of the Carmelite Sisters, Sr. Cathrina Charles, O. Carm., said, “Seventy-five years ago, the
Carmelites took over St. Bernadette’s Hostel from the Ladies of Charity, serving young women through generosity and cooperation. We give thanks to God, Bishop Alleyne, benefactors, Sisters, and all who made this mission possible. May St. Bernadette’s continue to be a shelter for the young. Thank you to the sisters for their spirit of hospitality and perseverance. Thanks to all the young women who passed through these august walls. Thank you for becoming part of our lives.” In an exclusive interview with the Catholic Standard, Sr. Antionette Dickie, O. Carm., said that over the years, the hostel produced well-rounded academic women in fields such as Business, Medicine, and Information Technology. She is proud to know that they have all continued to assist in the development of the country. Sister Antionette, who joined the order in 1960, first came to Guyana in 1963. In 2010, she settled in Guyana and took over the management of the hostel. She said one of the main works of the Carmelites is to respond to the needs of the Bishop and to assist the poor, and that St. Bernadette’s hostel will always hold a place in her heart.
When asked to sum up her time here in Guyana, she paused for about five seconds, smiled, and said with a tear in her eye, “Guyana! I enjoyed Guyana. As a Geography teacher by profession, I love nature, and Guyana provided that for me. I grew up in the countryside, and I love traveling to Berbice. Seeing the scenery was a breath of fresh air. Guyana provided beautiful memories, peaceful memories that I will cherish forever. I met friendly people from all walks of life, and I will forever be grateful to them.” Sister Antionette noted that the hostel is currently in a transitional stage of management, and a few Sisters will remain in Guyana until this process is successful.
We thank the Sisters for the unconditional love they have given to the Diocese over the last 75 years. ❖
The Corpus Christi Carmelites of the Diocese and the bishop
A section of the gathering for the 75th anniversary of St. Bernadette’s Hostel
A Christian Perspective on Social Issues
By GHK Lall
Thank God for Lent. I look at it from the first step in the first day. It does have a long string of days and weeks. I say why not? Further, Lent doesn’t have a beginning; nor does it really end. For a believer, the truly committed to the commandments, Lent is what and how the journey of life is lived every day. The love of God and neighbor that are values and standards struggling for a toehold. The reciprocal regard that inspires the participants in such a humble undertaking to be better citizens, better worshippers of an unseen divine presence in our lives. For sure, Lent is long. But it is not enough time for stocktaking. Ah, stocktaking. What is on the shelf of virtues, where things have been neglected, how much has been lost. To disinterest. To competing forces. To those siren calls of money, closeness to power and, hence, personal prestige. When God should be glorified, Lent presents me with an opportunity to look inwardsincerely and deeply - to determine how much I am about self-glorification. We all should walk this road of introspection and self-examination. Recall what was written a few sentences back: stocktaking. For what is one of the compelling forces of Lent, if not in repentance, then prostrating of self for the mercy of divine providence?
If we as citizens, we as followers of the one called the Christ, are living the right way, walking the straight path, then there is no need for the long Lenten Season. What would there be to confess? What merciful, reconciliatory grace would anyone of us need from God? I know better, so I readily admit, that I need Lent. If I may be so presumptuous, all of us, from pious to perverse-need Lent. To empty ourselves before God, and appeal for his cleansing power to operate within us, and purge the darkness out of us.
There is a considerable amount of darkness that hangs like a blanket over Guyana, over the world. It is more shroud than blanket. What suffocates thinking, what impairs truth, what blocks the light. Look around. Listen. Raise a hand to present truth or fairness or justice, and the darkness rolls in like some towering wave, seeking to snuff out one call, one cry, for a little light. Say a little righteousness, and the
demons of hell would break free and hunt down with fangs bared, and blood in their eyes. They are not all in invisible and inaudible spirit form. But, distinct as a bell, and if one is not constantly vigilant, rushing forward to overpower and devour.
See why I write from deep inside that Lent is needed so much? It is to push all the negatives aside with the firmest arm, and to draw closer to celestial grace. Can be done from right here on earth. I call it connectivity with a difference. There are no wires, but there is the unbreakable attribute, an unearned and undeserved gift, to be perfectly frank. It is known as faith; blind, self-surrendering faith, but with a little uniqueness about it. Blind faith, not in flawed and folly-infested man, but faith in the unseen Father, through the seen and known Jesus. How about that, sisters and brothers, for what sets apart, part of a special wisdom?
In the wash of events, foreign and domestic, I often wonder if Jesus and belief and faith still hold their usual strength. Lent gives time and opportunity to identify the missing parts and seek ways to put them back together. Perhaps, even better than before. My
faith tells me that Humpy could be made whole again. When I believe that, then there is the willingness to believe that all can be forgiven, regardless of the stench of their wrongdoing, fall. Lent is about extending that hand for friendship in times of distress, being a genuine brother when others shun doing so, being seen as such for fear of condemnation. If God doesn’ be any care about what man can dump on the head, when the circumstances support doing what is right.
In this Lent, I pray that it will be different, a time of peering into the darkness, and seeing how we fit into its clutches. And what each of us must fervently commit to doing to represent a little light. This one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church needs a considerable am walls. This society needs it urgently, could only be better when I am (we are) the flagbearers that gleam with authentic light. The light of Jesus, which means that it is the light of righteousness.
Lent has begun. Let us give of our all, so that we are representative of all that it demands.
Gracious and loving God, we thank your for the gift of our priests. Through them, we experience your presence inthe sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need tofollow inthe footsteps ofJesus. Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spreadthe Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments ofyour divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our EternalPriest. Amen
FIRST READING Deuteronomy 26:4-10
The creed of the chosen people.
Moses said to the people: “The priests shall take the pannier from your hand and lay it before the altar of the Lord your God. Then, in the sight of the Lord your God, you must make this pronouncement:
‘My father was a wandering Aramaean. He went down into Egypt to find refuge there, few in numbers; but there he became a nation, great, mighty, and strong. The Egyptians ill-treated us, they gave us no peace and inflicted harsh slavery on us. But we called on the Lord, the God of our fathers. The Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, our toil and our oppression; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with mighty hand and outstretched arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonders. He brought us here and gave us this land, a land where milk and honey flow. Here then I bring the first-fruits of the produce of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.’ You must then lay them before the Lord your God, and bow down in the sight of the Lord your God.”
RESPONSORIALPSALM Psalm 90
Response: Be with me, O Lord, in my distress.
1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High and abides in the shade of the Almighty says to the Lord: “My refuge, my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!” Resp.
And so it begins the holy and, for some, daunting, season of Lent. This is the season in our liturgical year
2. Upon you no evil shall fall, no plague approach where you dwell. For you has he commanded his angels, to keep you in all your ways. Response 3. They shall bear you upon their hands lest you strike your foot against a stone. On the lion and the viper you will tread and trample the young lion and the dragon. Resp. 4. His love he set on me, so I will rescue him; protect him for he knows my name. When he calls I shall answer: “I am with you.” I will save him in distress and give him glory. Resp.
SECONDREADING
Romans 10: 8-13
The creed of the Christian. Scripture says: The word, that is the faith we proclaim, is very near to you, it is on your lips and in your heart. If your lips confess that Jesus is Lord and if you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. By believing from the heart you are made righteous; by confessing with your lips you are saved. When scripture says: those who believe in him will have no cause for shame, it makes no distinction between Jew and Greek: all belong to the same Lord who is rich enough, however many ask for his help, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Gospel Acclamation
Mt 4:4
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory! Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
GOSPEL
Luke 4:1-13
Jesus was led by the Spirit through the wilderness and was tempted there.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days. During
when the Church encourages us to increase our prayer, fasting and almsgiving in order to enter more deeply into the mystery of our Lord’s Passion and Death and to celebrate more fully His Resurrection.
Jesus, by His own example in today’s Gospel, demonstrates the necessity of setting aside a period of time devoted especially to prayer and fasting as a means of strengthening our spiritual muscles. Just before the launch of His public ministry, He is “led by the Holy Spirit into the desert for forty days, to
that time he ate nothing and at the end he was hungry. Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.” But Jesus replied, “Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.”
Then leading him to a height, the devil showed him in a moment of time all the kingdoms of the world and said to him, “I will give you all this power and the glory of these kingdoms, for it has been committed to me and I give it to anyone I choose. Worship me, then, and it shall all be yours.” But Jesus answered him, “Scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.”
Then he led him to Jerusalem and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here, for scripture says: He will put his angels in charge of you to guard you, and again: They will hold you up on their hands in case you hurt your foot against a stone.”
But Jesus answered him, “It has been said: You must not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Having exhausted all these ways to tempting him, the devilleft him,to return at the appointed time. ❖
be tempted by the devil.” In imitation of Jesus, we should ask the Holy Spirit to lead us into the desert, too the desert of our interior lives where our thoughts and desires reside.
While our Lord was strong enough to withstand the temptations of the devil on His own, we most certainly are not!
We must turn to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to show us where we need to grow, and then rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance throughout these 40 days of growth. Perhaps we will be led to take on a spiritual read-
ing program, or a daily time of meditation on the Scriptures. Maybe we’ll be inspired to fast from our favorite food or social media fix and find a project thatserves thepoor inour community
If these spiritual exercises hurt a little, that means we are doing them right! At the end of this season, we will be prepared to enter into the grace-filled days of the Triduum and we will, through the power of the Holy Spirit, be resurrected as a new creation with our Lord come Easter. Let us begin!. ❖
[www.catholicsteward.com/blog/ ]
Gospel Reflection
It is no surprise that Jesus was tempted because temptation is part of human life and he was fully human. If we have to make a decision on some matter, it means that we have to make a choice. To have a choice means that there are alternatives from which to choose. Because we can say yes or no, we can be swayed to one side or the other. In other words, we can be tempted. The free person always has a choice, which carries with it great responsibility. Some choices are to our advantage while others are to our detriment. There is always the danger of being pulled towards what is attractive and satisfying for the moment without taking into account what is of more permanent value and benefit. The challenge of the Christian life is making choices that do not lessen our humanity or endanger our relationship with God.
The temptations of Jesus that we read about in today’s Gospel are the temptations every Christian faces. These temptations can be summed up as living for material things only, seeking one’s own glory over God’s glory and abandoning the worship of God in favour of the worship of worldly power and fame. Such temptations are always possible because we are all weak and prone to evil. This is a truth we cannot ignore. And we can sometimes fail to recognise the evil that is within ourselves. While we have to struggle with the evil in others and in society, our hardest battle is against the evil that comes from within. What is comforting, though, is knowing that God is with us in our struggles, helping us to conquer them.❖
[From: Journeying with the Word of God, The Religious Education Department, Diocese ofGeorgetown, Guyana ]
Message for the First Sunday of Lent from Sr. Julie Matthews RSM
The Interim Evangelization Commission has shared the following:
As we journey through this Lenten season of grace, we recognize the need to encourage each other. Especially in this year of Jubilee when our Holy Father has called us to be pilgrims of hope.
Each week during this season of Lent, we will share a short message of encouragement from our Religious Sisters. This week we have a message from Sr. Julie Matthews RSM:
Message for the First Sunday of Lent
As we begin this season of Lent in this Jubilee year of Hope, we are invited to be hopeful in the midst of these very troubling times. We are living in a world of violence, oppression, widening disparity in economic and social conditions, environmental degradation and discrimination in all various forms. The list can go on and on. At times, we can feel that we are at the edge of despair and hopelessness at the enormity of injustices. It is at this particular time that we are called to be persons of Hope and to have faith in the promise of Life.
On March 8th, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. As we celebrate and honour women who have made significant contributions to our society, we also grieve the number of women who are beaten and even killed by their spouses, the girls who are raped, the women who struggle to eke out a living to support their families. It seems that in any crisis that we see in our world, women fare worse. We may ask ourselves, “Why do these injustices persist?” Today’s Gospel may enlighten us. The Gospel is about the temptations of Jesus. These temptations are around greed and lust for power. Greed and power are very seductive. None of us is exempt from those temptations. Greed and lust for power give rise to oppression, exploitation, patriarchy, racism, sexism and all the other isms that enslave us.
As people of faith, we are called to
resist the pull of greed and abuse of power. Jesus was able to withstand the temptations because he remained faithful to the call to love. He held on to the words he heard before entering the desert, “You are my beloved son, whom I love and with you I am well pleased.” When we are tempted, we
too need to recognize that we are God’s beloved, and we are called to be that love in our world. This love will challenge us to speak out against injustices, to always work for peace and systemic change. May the Holy Spirit fill us with the strength and courage to be Pilgrims of Hope. ❖
Dear Editor,
Man is invited to keep some time free for God. He turns away from his daily work, and visible things, and clasp his hands together, elevates his mind in prayer to God. We acknowledge the presence of God and we try to speak to God, but we must also listen to God. Allow the life and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ alive and present in the Gospels, to sink their roots deep into
our life. We must allow his Spirit to flood the thoughts, words, and actions of our daily lives. In order to do all this is necessary that we come to know the Gospels intimately. Let us read the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, over and over, and constantly examine the way we live, love, work, think and speak under the piercing light of the Gospels. They call us to a way of life that is both more challenging and more rewarding, an advanced way of life that requires all of our being. “Avoid anything in your everyday lives that would be unworthy of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:27)
Leon Jeetlall
On this International Women’s Day, I celebrate the beauty, strength, and resilience that God has placed within each of you. As women, we are bearers of life, love, and hope, called to reflect God’smercyintheworld.
In the Gospels, we see how Jesus honored and uplifted women, recognizing their dignity and calling them to be witnesses of His truth. As a sister of Mercy, I am inspired by the legacy of women like Catherine McAuley, who devoted her life to service, education, and compassion. Today, I encourage you to embrace your unique gifts and to know that your voice, your presence, and your contributions matterdeeply.
Whether you are a mother, a daughter, a sister, or a friend, you are an instrument of God’s grace. In the challenges you face, remember that you are never alone God walks with you, and His mercy is ever present. Let us continuetoupliftoneanother,to stand for justice, and to build a
world where every woman and girlcanflourish.
May Our Lady, the model of faith andcourage,intercedeforusall. Withloveandprayers, Sister Elizabeth Small, Sisters of Mercy ❖
Journeying with the Word of God
MAKING THE WORD OF GOD YOUR OWN
Step 1: Lookattoday’sReadingsprayerfully.
1stReading: By offering the first fruits of the harvest to God, the people recognise all that God has done for them. Our worship of God is also a recognition of God’s favour to us.
2ndReading: The core of Christian belief is that Jesus is our risen Saviour. Paul offers this as a profession of faith for Christians. If anyone can say this and live by it, he or she will be saved.
Gospel: Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus is led into the wilderness where he spends forty days. He is tempted by the devil but does not give in.
Step 2: ApplyingthevaluesoftheReadings toyourdailylife.
1.“It is because we have the freedom to choose that we are open to temptation.” What is this statement saying to you?
2.Why do you think that for human beings doing good is always possible but never easy?
CELAM expresses solidarity
(Vatican News) - TheLatinAmerican and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) has written a letter to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to express closeness and solidarity in light of the country's evolvingmigrationpolicies.
In the letter, addressed to Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the USCCB, the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops write that “the people of Latin America and the Caribbean embody an identity shaped over
five centuries, forged by the contributionsofboth theregion’s Indigenous inhabitants and the millions of men and women who arrived, either freely or through hardshipandsuffering".
The message continues, stating that “for years, many Latin Americans and Caribbeans have been forced to leave their homelands,displacedbyviolenceanda lack of opportunities, in search of a better life. The United States remains one of the main destinations for those undertaking the
painful journey of uprooting themselves in pursuit of human development - something our own governments have too often failedtoprovide".
CELAM also acknowledges the vital role played by the US Church, expressing gratitude for “the longstanding support offered to our brothers and sisters arriving in your countrywelcoming them into communities, providing spiritual guidance, and assisting with both immediate needs and pathways to economicstability.”
Finally, the statement reads that the Church in Latin America further reaffirms its commitment to standing in solidarity with migrants, pledging to work together “both to support those who wish to remain in their home countries - affirming their right not to migrate - and those who must leave in order to protect their lives and secure a futurefortheirfamilies.”❖
3.What, in your opinion, makes it so easy for us in these days to neglect the spiritual side of life?
4.It is said that temptation in itself is not a sin. The sin occurs when we give in to temptation. Why do you think this is so?
Step 3: Accepting the message of God’s Wordinyourlifeoffaith
Today’s Readings provide us with a fitting start to the season of Lent. We learn that we can approach Jesus with confidence knowing that he shared our weaknesses and experienced our temptations. Yet he did not sin but remained faithful and true to the Father. Therefore, he will help us especially when we know we have sinned and ask for his help.
Step 4: Somethingtothink&prayabout
1.The traditional Lenten practices involve fasting, prayer and charitable works. Fasting is for the good of the body, prayer is for the good of the soul and charity is for the good of others. This is an excellent time to pause and reflect on what you intend to do this Lent to make yourself a better person.
2.Make a great effort during this Lenten season to find the time to be alone with God, to reflect and find out what God wants you to do and to make those changes in your life that will be in keeping with what God wants.
3.Pray for the strength to say “No” when temptation tries to lead you astray.❖
[From: Journeying with the Word of God, The Religious Education Department, Diocese of Georgetown, Guyana ]
The train that many Mexican migrants travel on (ANSA)
The suffering Holy Father gathers us around
Votive candles and flowers are seen at the base of a statue of St. John Paul II outside Rome's Gemelli hospital March 6, 2025, where Pope Francis has been hospitalized since Feb. 14, receiving treatment for double pneumonia. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
(OSV News) Since Feb. 24, the faithful, led by cardinals and bishops, have prayed the daily rosary in St. Peter's Square for Pope Francis' recovery. "It is the pope who gathers us here," Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, one of the papal right-hand men, told OSV News.
"In this situation, we're helpless, so prayer is the only solace," he said, adding that it only seems like it's business as usual at the Vatican, "but it's not, because it feels very empty, without a spirit."
The Polish prelate, who heads the Vatican's Dicastery for the Service of Charity, is the pope's point man for distributing alms to the poor and needy those that Francis put at the center of his papacy. Cardinal Krajewski led the rosary March 2.
He said people rush to pray every night at St. Peter's Square "the heart of Rome, where everything is accomplished" because "this is where martyrdom takes place. St. Peter's Square is the cemetery of Christians. But this is also where every election of a pope is announced. So when the pope suffers, it's so very natural that we rush to this very square, where people rushed when John Paul II passed away, when Pope Benedict passed away. So it's the natural thing, it's the pope himself that gathers us here."
Every night for over a week now, thousands of Catholics pray the rosary for Pope Francis' recovery "to look up to the Blessed Mother," the cardinal said. "The Mother of God stood at the foot of the cross. She participated in the suffering of her son. She was helpless. And we too at the suffering of another person, of the Holy Father, are helpless, because we can do nothing. We can send him well wishes, but the only thing we can really do in terms of action is to simply come together," Cardinal Krajewski told OSV News.
A person holds a picture of Pope Francis and a rosary during a prayer service in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Feb. 25, 2025, as Pope Francis continued his hospitalization. (OSV News photo/Dylan Martinez, Reuters)
literally a river flowing," Cardinal Krajewski said.
Recalling the Gospel of Matthew passage "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," the cardinal said that Catholics, worried about the Holy Father, feel the presence of God during the rosaries.
"We cannot afford to do anything else, there are no sermons, no speeches, no greetings during those nightly prayers," the pope's almoner said. "Like Mary, we stand under the cross of suffering, because it is the cross of suffering in which the Holy Father participates."
In the rosary "we repeat the angel's greeting, and interestingly enough when we pray Hail Mary we pray for ourselves, for us sinners, now and when it will be most difficult, in the hour of death," Cardinal Krajewski said.
Stressing that the rosary is "the best prayer for this time," the cardinal told OSV News: "I'll honestly admit that as I'm in this square, I'm reminded of how much good has been done over these 12 years by Pope Francis. During this prayer, Lord Jesus reminds us of that and we would like this pontificate to continue.
"But before each decade of the rosary, there is also the Our Father prayer, and it has such an amazing overtone 'Thy will' not mine. That is, we give ourselves completely to the Lord Jesus. Let it be as God wills."
He stressed that the prayer, which gathers by the cardinal's count at least 5,000 faithful every night, including Jubilee pilgrims, is powerful as it "is beautiful to just stand together with Mary before the great mystery of suffering.
"Nobody tells those people to come. Everyone just runs to that square driven by his or her own necessity. It is
"Most of them are young people, which means how much they need a guide today, how much they need the sign of such a man in white, who they know is a man of prayer, they know that his logic is the logic of the Gospel, and who tells them about Jesus," the prelate stressed.
"That's why I think we are starting to miss this pope so much."
Cardinal Krajewski said that while "the city, the state, the Vatican functions normally," it "functions without a spirit. We all feel that someone is missing."
This evening prayer is much needed for the faithful worried about the pope "and as if all these invocations in the rosary were not enough, then the Litany of Loreto is also sung, he said. Among invocations sung "are those that affect us greatly," the cardinal pointed out. He said the invocation "Mother of the Church, Mother of Mercy, Mother of Hope which reminds us that even though the Blessed Mother suffers terribly, but she still had hope."
Pope Francis taught us that three words describe the "style of God," the Polish cardinal said. "It's closeness, it's tenderness and it's gentleness."
"So every evening, when we gather for prayer, we represent God's style, because we want to be close, close to the suffering person. In this way we show tenderness. We can't just go to Gemelli and enter the Holy Father's room. But by gathering even at the end of the world we show our closeness and tenderness. And we do it in the most gentle way possible, because we pray together with Mary, who has experienced all this suffering before."
Pointing out that Pope Francis "has given us so many sermons to remember," the cardinal said what especially stayed with him was this one: "I well remember as priest that I have to smell like the sheep, those in pain, those after divorce, those who love
differently," the cardinal said, adding that the ailing pope reminds the world that in such moments "what's left is only to draw near to the Lord God."
Cardinal Krajewski said the evening rosaries will continue "until the pope returns to the Vatican."
He said that while the atmosphere reminds him of the spring of 2005, when the ailing St. John Paul II was reaching his last days, it's different now for him personally. "With John Paul II I was at his bedside when he was dying, I had an amazing privilege to be in his suite, to be close to him. Whereas now I am among the people. I am one of those who feels helplessness." And that's also a privilege, he stressed.
He said that the sense of beauty, goodness and unity is palpable in St. Peter's Square during the prayers. "It's just complete silence here. You can only hear a steady rhythm of prayer."
He also said people appreciate clear communications from the Vatican on the pope's health status.
"It is known to everyone that this illness is very tiring for him, so tiring that he needs to rest after the night. So while these messages seem laconic, they are very balanced and they are true. Because if the pope didn't need to rest, he wouldn't be in the hospital."
The cardinal said that for him, "it's very, very wise these announcements are not sensational, they are true. I think it's also just very beautiful that the pope is telling us what we don't need to guess, there is no need for any speculation."
Cardinal Krajewski concluded that while journalists are trying to find out what will happen, "the only thing we have is our prayer. And the Lord God is already directing the fate of the church. We are not alone."❖
Dear Boys and Girls,
All of us have faced temptations haven't we? Did you know that Jesus was tempted just as we are? The Bible tells us that after Jesus was baptized, he was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.
During those forty days, he ate nothing. As you can imagine, he was very hungry. That's when the devil showed up, picked up a stone, and said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
Jesus was hungry, so it was very tempting, but he answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone.'"
Well, stones weren't the only lure the devil used. Next, he led Jesus up onto a high place and showed him all of the kingdoms of the world. He said to Jesus, "All of these kingdoms belong to me, but I will give them to you if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus replied, "The Scriptures say, 'You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
The devil still didn't give up. He took Jesus to Jerusalem, to the very highest point on the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! The Scriptures say, 'He will send his angels to protect you; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the Lord your God.'"
When Jesus was tempted, he relied on Scripture to resist the devil. The Bible tells us that we will be tempted, but that God will provide a way out so that we can resist it. God has given us his Word, the Bible, so that, just as Jesus did, we can depend on what the Scripture teaches to avoid the temptations of the devil. Let us pray and ask the Father to help us when Satan tempts us. Father, we know that we will be tempted. Some things may look very appealing to us, but we ask for your help in resisting temptation. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.❖
into many of the realities in our world today but also with profound insights into the ways we are all called to live and witness our Christian vocation. I was pointed to a concise summary of initiatives and ways of being that Pope Francis mentions in the Encyclical inviting us all to reflect on them and offer them to ourselves. For my Lenten Message this year I am listing those pointers especially as they are echoed in the Synodal process, now in its implementing stage, and also offer us ways of being people and pilgrims of hope in their year of Jubilee and beyond.
Promote Dialogue and Encounter: Engage in open and respectful dialogue to understand and appreciate different perspectives, fostering a culture of encounter and mutual respect.
Acknowledge Human Dignity: Recognize and uphold the intrinsic dignity of every human being, ensuring that all individuals are treated with respect and equality.
Support the Vulnerable: Prioritize the needs of the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable, ensuring they are included and supported in society.
Encourage Social Friendship: Build genuine social friendships that transcend borders and differences, promoting a sense of global community and solidarity.
RejectViolenceandWar: Advocate for peace and non-violence, rejecting war and the death penalty as solutions to conflicts.
Foster Political Charity: Encourage political leaders to act with love and charity, focusing on the common good and the well-being of all people.
Promote Integral Human Development: Support policies and initiatives that promote the holistic development of individuals and communities, addressing economic, social, and cultural needs.
StrengthenInternationalCooperation: Advocate for stronger international institutions and cooperation to address global challenges and promote justice and peace.
Embrace Religious Dialogue: Engage in inter-religious dialogue to build bridges, promote understanding, and work together for the common good.
Cultivate Kindness and Forgiveness: Encourage acts of kindness and forgiveness, breaking the cycle of revenge and fostering reconciliation and healing.❖
By Renika Anand
Reaching others with our gifts
Martin Luther King once said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Life proffers a great many things for us to learn. However, the most important thing we can learn during our journey of growth is how to care for each other, and how to serve each other. Human beings are so unique from all the other creatures which populate the planet because we have the special gift of using our knowledge and skills not just to benefit ourselves, but to help others as well. This gift has only been made easier to utilise through the technological developments of the modern world, where we can connect with and help people from all over the world through the use of the internet. As young people, it can be quite easy to become overwhelmed by our own struggles of growth. As such, we may forget to engage in the simple act of serving others whenever possible. Let us use each day as a chance to make the world a happier, more beautiful place by reaching others with our gifts.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45
Vatican’s message for month of Ramadan (From
bridges rather than walls, defending justice rather than oppression, protecting the environment rather than destroying it,” it said.
Cardinal George Koovakad, dicastery prefect, and Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kankanamalage, secretary, signed the letter, which was released by the Vatican March 7.
“This year, Ramadan largely coincides with Lent, which for Christians is a period of fasting, supplication and conversion to Christ,” the Vatican officials wrote. “This proximity in the spiritual calendar offers us a unique opportunity to walk side-by-side, Christians and Muslims, in a common process of purification, prayer and charity.”
“This year,” they wrote, “we wish to reflect with you not only on what we can do together to live better lives, but above all on what we want to become together, as Christians and Muslims, in a world in search of hope. Do we want to be simple co-workers for a better world or genuine brothers and sisters, bearing common witness
to God’s friendship with all humanity?”
“Our world is thirsting for fraternity and genuine dialogue,” they said. “Together, Muslims and Christians can bear witness to this hope, in the conviction that friendship is possible despite the burden of history and ideologies that promote exclusion.”
“Our trust in God is a treasure that unites us, far beyond our differences,” the message said. “It reminds us that we are all spiritual, incarnate, beloved creatures, called to live in dignity and mutual respect.”
“We desire to become guardians of this sacred dignity by rejecting all forms of violence, discrimination and exclusion,” the Vatican officials said.
“We have a unique opportunity to show the world that faith transforms people and societies, and that it is a force for unity and reconciliation.”
Today there is a temptation to “build a culture of walls” to prevent encounters with other cultures and other people, they said. “Our challenge is to build, through dialogue, a common
future founded on fraternity.” “Our faith and its values should help us to be voices that speak out
against injustice and indifference, and proclaim the beauty of human diversity,” they said.❖
A commemorative plaque signed by Pope Francis celebrates his visit to the Tunnel of Friendship, which connects a mosque and a Catholic cathedral, during an interreligious meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sept. 5, 2024. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
His Excellency Archbishop Santiago De Wit Guzmán, JCD, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Antilles, will visit the Diocese of Georgetown from Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, to Sunday, March 23rd, 2025. An Apostolic Nuncio is a diplomatic representative of the Vatican to a foreign country. This role is equivalent to that of an but specifically for the Holy See. The Nuncio represents the Pope and the Vatican's interests in the hostcountryand isresponsiblefor maintaining diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the government ofthatcountry.
Born on September 5, 1964, in Valencia, Spain, Archbishop Santiago was ordained a priest on May 27, 1989, with incardination in the Archdiocese of Valencia, where he served in pastoral ministry for five years. From 1994 to 1998, he attended the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome, studying Canon Law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. In May 1998, he received a
Doctorate in Canon Law (JCD). He joined the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on June 13, 1998, and has served in various ApostolicNunciatures(Vaticanembassies) in the Central African Republic, The Netherlands, Paraguay, Egypt, theDemocraticRepublicofCongo, andSpain.
On March 21, 2017, he was appointed Titular Archbishop of Gabala and Apostolic Nuncio to the Central African Republic. On
March 25, 2017, he was also appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Chad, with residence in Bangui, Central African Republic. He was ordained bishop in Valencia,Spain,onJune10,2017.
On July 30, 2022, Archbishop De Wit Guzmán was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Apostolic Delegate to the Antilles.
On November 12, 2022, he was also appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica,Jamaica,andSt.Lucia.
Saint of the Week
During his visit, Archbishop De Wit Guzmán is scheduled to present his credentials to His Excellency President Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025. His ExcellencyArchbishop Guzmán will also be visiting various communities and apostolic works intheDiocese.
Archbishop De Wit Guzmán speaks Spanish, English, French, and Italian.❖
SIGNIS Caribbean held its 15th AGM recently. A March 5 Media Releasegavethefollowing: A Caribbean Assembly of persons involved in Catholic Communications was among the ideas accepted at the recent 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of SIGNISCaribbean(SC).
SC is an association of Catholic media practitioners and professionals from the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC).
Training is also on the agenda for thenextyear,including continuing formation by an international expert in the field of Crisis Communications, and a workshop on Narrative 4. Led by a global educationalorganisation,Narrative4
uses personal storytelling to build empathy between people so they can improve their communities andtheworldtogether.
SC members also agreed to continue work on creating a cluster structure of dioceses to bolster Catholic Communications intheCaribbean.
The AGM, held via ZOOM on February 20th, 2025, was attended by nine of the 12 memberdioceses, most of which submitted reports ahead of the meeting. The reports outlined the activities and the needs of members in the area of Communications. Those needs included human resources, equipment, and training. SC is working on a funding proposal, with the assistance of SIGNIS World, to fill
someofthoseneeds.
SC President Lisa Bhajan spoke of the symbiotic relationship between SC and the AEC Communications Commission. She likened the Commission to flowers offering nectar, while SC was like bees spreading the stories of hope, the Good News from the various dioceses. She added that the bees the SC members must return to their "hives" to strengthen and sustain their operations, creating a cycle of mutual support where boththebeesandflowersthrive.
Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire, who is chair of the AEC’s Communications Commission, commended SC for the good work it has been doing, pledged his support and blessed itsplans.❖
March 12th
Blessed Angela Salawa
(September 9, 1881 – March 12, 1922)
Angela served Christ and Christ’s little ones with all her strength. Born in Siepraw, near Kraków, Poland, she was the 11th child of Bartlomiej and Ewa Salawa. In 1897, she moved to Kraków where her older sister Therese lived. Angela immediately began to gather together and instruct young women domestic workers. During World War I, she helped prisoners of war without regard for their nationality or religion. The writings of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross were a greatcomforttoher.
Angela gave great service in caring for soldiers wounded in World War I. After 1918, her health did not permit her to exercise her customary apostolate. Addressing herself to Christ, she wrote in her diary, “I want you to be adored as much as you were destroyed.” In another place, she wrote, “Lord, I live by your will. I shall die when you desire; save me becauseyoucan.”
At her 1991 beatification in Kraków, PopeJohn Paul II said: “It is in this city that she worked, that she suffered and that her holiness came tomaturity.Whileconnectedtothespirituality ofSaint Francis, she showed an extraordinary responsiveness to the action of the Holy Spirit” (L’Osservatore Romano, volume 34, number4,1991)
Reflection: Humility should never be mistaken for lack of conviction, insight or energy. Angela brought the Good News and material assistancetosomeofChrist’s “leastones.” Her
Archbishop Santiago De Wit Guzmán