Visit of Our Provincial

We of the Irish Vicariate hear in Trinidad and Tobago was full of joy due to the visitation of our provincial fr. Pat Lucy.


Diary - Places Visited and People Met
Wednesday, 26 January:
On arrival at Piarco Airport, Port of Spain, Ben Moran and I were met by Tom Lawson who drove us to St Finbar’s, Diego Martin. There we were greeted by Karol Wielgosz as well as John O’Connor and Tim Calvert, both of the Province of England, who were on a pastoral visit to Grenada and Trinidad.
Thursday, 27 January:
Before lunch we were brought on a tour of St Dominic’s Pastor Centre by Tom Lawson and the manager, Karen Montbrun, and we had the finances of the centre and the community detailed for us by Karen Yetming. In the afternoon I had discussions separately with Michael Hayden and Karol Wielgosz.
Friday, 28 January:
In the morning I met with the superior of the community, Tom Lawson. In the afternoon I had an appointment with the Archbishop of Port of Spain, Dr Edward Gilbert.
Saturday, 29 January:
At 11.00.am Ben and I were invited to speak to the 140 boys and girls who were preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. I celebrated the Vigil Mass in the Lady Hochoy Home, a home for disabled adults and children. It is in the care of the Carmelite Sisters. Later that evening Ben Moran, Tom Lawson and I had dinner in the home of the Martinez Family, who live in the parish. Matthew Martinez is a simply professed student in St Saviour’s, Dublin.
Sunday, 30 January:
I celebrated the 8.00am. Mass in St Finbar’s. In the homily I thanked the people of the parish and, indeed, the people of Trinidad, for their support of the Irish Dominicans down through the years. At 10.00am I said Mass in Rosary Monastery. This is a community of enclosed Dominican nuns. In the evening we attended a concert under the baton of the internationally renowned conductor, Pat Bishop. The concert included the Missa Cubana and was held in the church of Rosary Monastery.

Monday, 31 January:
I had a meeting with the Vicariate Council from 11.00 to 12.15. It was agreed that Ben Moan would be secretary for the meeting. The agenda dealt mainly with the state of the vicariate and topics arising from the recent Vicariate Chapter. In the afternoon it was golf with Patrick Brennan and Leo Donovan.
Tuesday, 1 February:
At 11am we, Tom Lawson, Ben Moran and I, met Mgr Jason Gordon, Vicar for Administration in the archdiocese. Afterwards I had a discussion with Donie McMahon. In the afternoon we took part in a Celebration for the Consecrated Life. This took place in Mount Saint Benedict and Mass was celebrated by the archbishop. The occasion gave us the opportunity to meet sisters from the Dominican Sisters of the Siena and Sinsinawa Congregations. On coming down from the Mount we went to St Joseph where we were to be based for the next two days.
Wednesday, 2 February:
Sr Columba, an Irish Holy Faith sister who has worked in Trinidad for nearly forty years and a good friend of the late Stephen Doyle, joined us for Mass and lunch in St Joseph. In the afternoon we visited Toco where we met two more Dominicans, Srs Martin and Christine of the Sinsinawa congregation.
Thursday, 3 February:
In the morning we had a meeting with the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Gullickson, at his residence. After lunch in St Finbar’s, Ferdi drove us to Holy Cross, Arima, which was to be our base until the weekend. At 6.30pm we joined Dwight Black in concelebrating Mass in his church in Malabar.
Friday, 4 February:
It being the First Friday the 450 boys and their teachers of Holy Cross College gathered for Mass in Holy Cross church. Ben and I gathered with them for the concelebration. I spent the day meeting Brendan Ryan, Patrick Brennan and Matthew Ahye individually. I also devoted part of the day to writing this visitation charge.
Saturday, 5 February:
Morning Prayer and Office of Reading were at 7.30. The morning was spent interviewing Dwight Black ad Br Navis. During the day I also visited the cadets (junior volunteer members of the Defence Forces) attached to the college. I also paid a courtesy visit to the Prioress General, Sr Jeanette Leger, and the Provincial, Sr Therese Antoine, of the Dominican Sisters of the St Catherine of Siena Congregation. The congregation is to relocate its generalate from France to Trinidad later this year. I said the 6.10pm Mass in Holy Cross church.
Sunday, 6 February:
I celebrated the 7am Mass in Malabar church where Dwight Black is Parish Priest. The afternoon gave me an opportunity to meet, share prayer and exchange conversations with the members of the Dominican Laity from the various chapters around the country. That done, I accompanied Corine, one of the St Finbar’s lay Dominicans, in driving back to St Finbar’s.
Monday, 7 February:
The brothers gathered in St Finbar’s for a second meeting of the Vicariate Council. I sought the views of the brothers on who I should present as Regional Prior to the Provincial Council for appointment. I then read the visitation charge. This signalled the close of the canonical visitation of the vicariate.