Newly installed Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau, The Most Rev Kenrick John Forbes told the hundreds gathered at the Roseau Cathedral that in the short time he has been in Dominica, many have told him that “he has a lot of work to do.”
However, he stated that while he embraces that, he will seek to enlist the participation and the involvement of all the faithful. “Because we, emphasis on we, we have plenty of work to do,” he stated.
He said that as Catholics, including himself, go about doing their various tasks, they must keep in mind the number one priority of the church.
“That priority is to continue the mission that Christ entrusted to her…we must make a priority the Holy Father’s insistence that we rediscover the word of life that resonates in the church and not be overwhelmed by the barrage of words about the church. That word of life is the word made flesh, Jesus the Christ,” Bishop Forbes told the faithful.
“When I visited you in May of this year, I shared with you that I will seek to do most of all in your midst one thing, to proclaim Christ crucified, risen from the dead, our salvation, hope, and life. I recommit myself to that pledge. If we keep Christ at the center, as our focus, then everything else will fall into place.”
“To the faithful of this diocese, when the dust settles, we will turn our attention in earnest to the work that needs to be done but we will strive to do this work together. The Holy Father wants a synodal church, a church that walks together,” Bishop Forbes stated.
Meantime, in his final address to the Diocese of Roseau, as he formally handed over the administration of the Diocese of Roseau to the new former Bishop of Roseau who is now the Metropolitan Archbishop of Castries St. Lucia, Gabriel Malzaire told Bishop Forbes that “he was inheriting a mature diocese with great and conscientious people”.
“I want you to know Bishop Forbes that you are inheriting a mature diocese and, I am certain you have already begun to see that the people are hot and welcoming,” Archbishop Malzaire stated.
He stated that with 15 parishes, Bishop Forbes will have the opportunity to meet people on an intimate, community level.
“I am handing you a great and conscientious people ready to build the church spiritually and otherwise…love them and they will love you in return.”
“However, do not fear taking some time to study the people and the situation that you are about to embrace and serve,” he said.
Archbishop Malzaire told the newly installed Bishop, that his new diocese is the only one in the region to have a Cardinal to watch over it referring to the late Cardinal Kelvin Felix, who passed away recently and is buried on the grounds of the Cathedral.
“He was the first son of the soil to be ordained in this Cathedral may he intercede for you and for your diocese while he enjoys his peaceful and eternal rest with our Father in Heaven,” Archbishop Malzaire stated.
He also reminded Bishop Forbes, that like Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica is celebrating 174 years as a diocese and Dominica should start to plan for 175 years in 2025.
The elaborate ordination ceremony, which was filled with ancient Catholic traditions and symbols, was attended by the President of Dominica, Sylvanie Burton, Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit, over 10 bishops from the Antilles Episcopal Conference, and priests and religious leaders from across the region. He became the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Roseau.