Dominican Vocation of Trinbago

Matthew Ragbir Matthew Ragbir, a Brother of Living Water Community, recently received the ministries of Lector and Acolyte as steps towards priestly ordination. Archbishop Joseph Harris conferred the ministries on July 10 and 17, respectively, during Mass at the chapel at Archbishop’s House. Ragbir graduated from the St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs Theological Institute with a BA (Hons) in Theology in 2012 and is currently studying in Rome at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.

Rev Matthew Martinez is due to be ordained a Dominican friar on August 2. On the wall behind him are the Dominican shield and motto. Photo Raymond Syms Thirty-two-year-old Rev Matthew Russell Martinez OP will become the first Trinidadian in ten years to become a Dominican priest when he is ordained by Archbishop Joseph Harris on August 2 at St Finbar’s RC Church, Diego Martin – his home parish. Associate Editor Raymond Syms interviewed Rev Matthew at St Finbar’s Priory. When he was much younger, Matthew Martinez often went ‘clubbing’ with friends on weekends. Those days are long gone as in a week’s time he will become a Dominican friar. But don’t drop your drink if you see him – white habit and all – in a noisy bar among young Catholics willing to learn more about the faith in a non-church setting. Rev Matthew, who was ordained a deacon last year in Ireland, supports the local Spirit and Lime project of Companions of the Transfigured Christ (CTC), which is modelled on the

Irish Dominicans Luuk Jansen & Colm Mannion were ordained priests at St. Saviour's Church, Dublin, on 5 th  July. The two friars of the Irish Dominican province were joined by brothers of the province, parishioners and their family and friends for the joyous occasion at which the archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, presided. Fr Luuk is originally from the Netherlands and discovered the faith through a colleague while working in the west of Ireland. A number of years after being baptised he entered the Irish Dominican novitiate in Limerick and continued his formation and studies in Dublin which culminated in his ordination as a priest. Fr Colm, from Birr in County Offaly, worked with an international airline and for the Legion of Mary before entering the novitiate with Fr Luuk and Br Matthew Martinez who will be ordained in August in his native Trinidad.

A Mass to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the priestly ordination of Fr Dwight Black OP was held at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Malabar on June 20. It was well attended by parishioners, visitors, and relatives of Fr Dwight, including his father. Fr Dwight Black OP is flanked by Deacon Paul Bousignac (left) and Fr Steve Duncan at the Mass to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his ordination. Vicar for Tobago Fr Steve Duncan, who delivered the homily, described the first Tobago-born Catholic priest as a rare treasure who knew that the priesthood did not stop him from growing or from becoming more and more like Jesus every day in spite of his human failings. Greetings, congratulations, songs and a rendition by young pannists were offered at a ceremony held after the Mass. Ayoola Millington, an altar server who is also involved with the youth ministry, presented the keynote address. Millington thanked Fr Dwight for responding to God with a “yes”, for offering him