January 10th 2025_Catholic Standard

Pope opens Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, launching ‘Jubilee of Hope’

pushes open the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2024, inaugurating the Holy Year 2025. (CNS photo/ Romano Siciliani, pool)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) In the quiet of Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, launching what he calleda “Jubilee of Hope.”

As the doors opened, the bells of the basilica began to peal.

After the reading of a brief passage from the Gospel of John in which Jesus describes himself as “the door,” Pope Francis briefly left the atrium of the basilica, creating some confusion. But when the cardinals in the front rowsatdown,theothersdidlikewise

Three minutes later, the pope returned. He was pushed in his wheelchair up the ramp to the Holy Door. In silence, he raised himself from the chair to knock five times, and aides inside slowly opened the door, which had been framed in (please turn to page 10)

Year with Mass at Brickdam Cathedral

On Sunday, December 29th 2024, Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB welcomed the Holy Year of the Jubilee 2025 locally witha Mass at 9am at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, Georgetown. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Francis and concelebrated by Fr. George Kaiprampatt Poulo SJ and Fr. Santiago Felipe Lantigua Santana SJ. The Jubilee Year was declared by Pope Francis in Rome on December 24th and in each Diocese in the world on December 29th - the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus,Mary and Joseph. Faith communities throughout the entire Diocese joined in one celebration on that day by gathering for worship in their churches at 9am, and participated virtually in the mass livestreamed from the Cathedral, viewing it via projector or TV.

The launch of the Jubilee Year began with Bishop Francis and the faithful (including representatives of various parishes in the Diocese) processing around the Cathedral compound before entering the church.

At the start of the liturgy, several passages (please turn to page 13

At age 116, religious sister from Brazil is the oldestpersonon the planet - p2

On New Year's, pope calls for real commitment to respecthumanlife- p3

Pope praises Jimmy Carter’s ‘deep Christian faith’ - p3

AChristianPerspective on Social Issues - p4

Sunday Scripture - p5

AEC Permanent Boardmeets - p6

St. Peter’s Holy Door sees more than half a millionpilgrims in two weeks - p7

Baptisms inRegion8 - p8

Why does the Christmas seasonend withJesus’ baptism? - p8

Children’s Page - p9

Growingin Grace Week 49 - p10

Polish Three Kings Parades attract 2 million in Jubilee Year - p11

Pope's January prayer intention: 'for the right to aneducation' - p12

Nativity Pageant at Sacred Heart - p14

Christmas Concert at Mara - p14

Sunday, January 12th - Travel to Peru

Monday, January 13th to 14th - Meeting with CEAMA (Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon)

Wednesday, January 15th to 19th - Attend 35th

Anniversary of Obra de Maria, Recife, Brazil

Sunday, January 19th to February 2ndRetreat for Bishops, Belo Horizante, Brazil

Monday, February 3rd - Return to Guyana

During my absence for the period January 12th to February 3rd all matters relating to the Diocese could be referred to my Office and ReverendRonald Fernandes, SJ - Vicar General.

The Jubilee Prayer

Dear Editor,

In his Advent Message for 2024, His Lordship Bishop Francis Alleyne reminded us that while the formal phase of the Synod on Synodality has concluded, we now face the crucial implementation phase. A week later, in announcing the launch of the Jubilee Year, the Bishop urged the Faithful to allow the insights from the Synod’s final document to inspire a renewed energy, fresh expressions of faith, and fuller ways of being Church. His call emphasized the importance of building Participation, Communion, and Mission within the Church.

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

Establish a Catholic Lay Movement in Diocese

Bishop Alleyne’s words invite lay members of the Church to take an active role in this journey, consistent with the spirit of Synodality. It is a call that lay Catholics in our diocese shouldembrace wholeheartedly. However, the Catholic Church is not immune to the challenges of clericalism a tendency that can foster structures discouraging or even obstructing lay involvement. To counter this, I propose the establishment of a Catholic Lay Movement (CLM) within our diocese, with cells inevery parish.

The primary aim of this movement should be to animate greater lay participation in the life of the Church, in alignment with our Bishop’s vision. Among its goals, the CLMcouldwork to:

• Increase church attendance.

• Revitalize Church organizations focused on aiding the needy, the poor, orphans,and the elderly.

• Foster initiatives that promote active engagement among lay members in the Church’s mission and ministries.

Such a movement could be transformative, encouraging lay Catholics to take ownership of their role in building a vibrant and missionfocused Church. I sincerely hope this suggestion will be taken seriously and that local lay Catholics will recognize the urgency and necessity of establishing a strong Catholic Lay Movement and, in so doing respond affirmatively to the Bishop’s call for a more participatory Church.

Yours faithfully, William Cox

Brazil is the oldest person on the planet

Brazilian Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, 116, poses for a picture in Porto Alegre Feb. 16, 2024. As confirmed as confirmed Jan. 4, 2025, by LongeviQuest, the soccer-loving nun is the oldest living woman and the oldest living person in the world, following the death of Japan's Tomiko Itooka Dec. 29, 2024. (OSV News photo/Carlos Macedo/LongeviQuest, handout via Reuters)

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (OSV News)

Teresian Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas from Brazil has become the world’s oldest person, reaching 116 years and210 days.

She now holds two groundbreaking titles: the oldest living woman and the oldest living person in the world, following the death of Japan’s Tomiko Itooka onDec. 29.

The record broken by the sister was confirmed Jan. 4 by LongeviQuest, a nonprofit that documents the world’s oldest people.

Sister Inah, born on June 8, 1908, in Sao Francisco de Assis, Brazil, was originally considered too frail to survive childhood, Guinness World Records website said. However, she went on to lead a remarkable life, and she says it’s thanks to the rosary she is seen holding in her hands on pictures that went viral since she

was announced arecord-breaker. She lives a daily quiet routine at a convent of the Congregation of Teresian Sisters, located in downtown Porto Alegre, as the Brazilian daily newspaper Folha de São Paulo described it. The sister called the supercentenarian, a term for those over 110 years old was recovering after a hospitalization at the end of 2024,the paper said.

The sister’s nephew Cléber Canabarro Lucas told Folha de São Paulo, “She was in pain, so they did a lot of tests and found that she has no illness, that everything is a consequence of her advancedage.”

The local paper said that while Sister Inah has difficulties speaking, seeing and hearing unless spokento in close distance to the ear, she celebrated her 116th birthday on June 8. At the time Porto Alegre was recovering

from massive floods that hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Sister Inah, Folha de São Paulo said, was attentive to the damage caused by the floods, including in the blocks

Her prayer is powerful’

My aunt was already in poor health, but she prayed a lot. Her prayer is Canabarro Lucas said.

Knowing that Sister Inah was praying for everyone brought comfort to

Sister Inah began her religious journey when she was 16, in 1924, studsa de Jesus boarding school in Santana do Livramento, Brazil, before moving to Montevideo, Uruguay, where she took her vows as a nun 10 years later. She was baptized at age 17 and confirmed in the Catholic Churchwhenshe was 21.

She returned to Brazil, where she taught Portuguese and mathematics in Rio de Janeiro for many years, later working at the Provincial House in Porto Alegre from 1980, the Guinness World Records website said.

In 2018, Sister Inah received an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis on her 110th birthday. According to LongeviQuest, Sister Inah is the last living person born in 1908 and one of just three people alive today born inthe 1900s.

Sister Inah is also the second oldest nun in documented history, after Lucile Randon, known as Sister André of France, who died in January 2023 at 118 years and 340 days old.

Sister Inah is also known to be an avid soccer fan, LongeviQuest said, calling her “a devoted supporter of Sport ClubInternacional.”

“Whether rich or poor, it doesn’t matter it’s for the people,” she said in a news release on LongeviQuest’s website.❖

On New Year's, pope calls for real commitment to respect human life

feast of Mary, Mother of God, and the start of the new year, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for a "firm commitment" to respect all human life worldwide.

"May we learn to care for every child born of a woman, above all by protecting, like Mary, the precious gift of life: life in the womb, the lives of children, the lives of the suffering, the poor, the elderly, the lonely and the dying," he said in his homily during Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Jan. 1.

"All of us are invited to take up the summons that flows from the maternal heart of Mary: we are called to cherish life, to care for wounded lives so many wounded lives, so many to restore dignity to the lives of everyone" because it is the basis for building a culture of peace, he said, highlighting that the feast also marks the World Day of Peace.

The pope's message for the World Day of Peace was published in December and is shared with heads of state

dors. In it, Pope Francis called on all nations to eliminate the death penalty, to divert a fixed percentage of arms spending to a global fund to fight hunger and climate change, to cancel the international debt of developing nations and to respect human life.

After praying the Angelus in St. Peter's Square following Mass, the pope urged the leaders of countries with Christian roots and traditions "to set a good example by canceling or reducing as much as possible the debts of the poorest countries." The Jubilee Year focuses on the "remission of debts" and it also "asks us to translate this remission on the social level, so that no person, no family, no people will be crushed by debt."

He also expressed his "grateful appreciation to all those in many areas of conflict who are working for dialogue and negotiations. We pray that fighting will cease on every front and there will be a decisive aim for peace and reconciliation."

While Pope Francis presided over the morning liturgy and gave the homily, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, was the main celebrant at the altar. He was joined by Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister.

The pope took a moment before the Mass to pose for a photo with more than a dozen young people dressed as the three kings who visited Jesus. In Germany, Austria and other regions of Europe, children known as "sternsingers," or star singers, sing carols and raise money for charity between Christmas and Epiphany each year. And, after the Mass, Pope Francis spent nearly 10 minutes greeting children and handing them chocolate Santas as his aide pushed him in his wheelchair down the central aisle of the basilica.

In his homily, the pope reiterated his proposal in his peace day message for

"a firm commitment to respect the dignity of human life from conception to natural death, so that each person can cherish his or her own life and all may look with hope to the future."

"Let us entrust this new year to Mary, Mother of God. May we learn, like her, to discover God's greatness in the little things of life," he said.

God chose to act "through littleness and hiddenness" by coming into the world as a tiny helpless child born of a woman in a manger to be "one of us and, for this, he is able to save us," the pope said.

"Jesus never yielded to the temptation of performing great signs and imposing himself on others, as the devil had suggested," he said. Instead, "by the frailty of his humanity and his concern for the weak and vulnerable, Jesus shows us the face of God," who is always near, compassionate and merciful "to those suffering in body and spirit."

Mary reminds the faithful "that Jesus came in the flesh, and that we encounter him above all in our daily life, in our own frail humanity and that of all those whom we encounter each day," the pope said.

"If he, who is the Son of God, became so small as to be held in a mother's arms, cared for and nursed, this means that today, too, he comes among us in all those who need similar care: in every sister and brother we meet, in everyone who needs our attention and tender care," he said.

The pope asked the faithful to entrust to Mary "this new Jubilee Year. Let us entrust to her our questions, our worries, our sufferings, our joys and all the concerns that we bear in our hearts" and to "entrust to her the whole world, so that hope may be reborn and peace may finally spring up for all the peoples of the earth.❖

Pope praises Jimmy Carter’s ‘deep Christian faith’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) Offering his condolences, Pope Francis praised former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s Christian faith and his lifelong mission to advance peace.

The pope “was saddened to learn of the death of former President Jimmy Carter and offers heartfelt condolences,” said a telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, on behalf of Pope Francis. Carter died Dec. 29 at age 100 in his hometown of Plains, Ga.

The Vatican telegram, released Dec. 30, said the pope recalled President Carter’s “firm commitment, motivated by deep Christian faith, to the cause of reconciliation and peace between peoples, the defense of human rights and the welfare of the poor and those in need,” the telegram said. “The Holy Father commends him to the infinite mercies of almighty God and prays for the consolation of all who mourn his loss.”

An evangelical Christian, Carter became the first U.S. president to welcome a pope to the White House when he met with St. John Paul II in the Oval Office for over an hour in 1979. However full diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See were not established until 1984. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement that Carter’s “lifelong work on behalf of peace among nations will continue to serve as an inspiration for a world in need of peacemakers.”❖

A Christian Perspective on Social Issues So

many things new

By GHK Lall

Over a week later, the midnight chimes greeting 2025 are still fresh and thrilling. May it be a blessed and delightful New Year for all in this society, including migrants. Give thanks to God Almighty for bringing us to this new secular beginning, with an even greater grace garlanding its arrival. Jubilee 2025. A torn and tired world needs the peace and restoration of a Jubilee interval. A world where its elements are at war must hear the call of Jubilee, respond to its divine pull. Mercy, love, hope. May each one of us be a Pilgrim committed to extraordinary effort. God will guide along the paths, grantthe results.

A New Year has the fresh and true about it. The spring of a new beginning, the joy of starting over clean, new, and reenergized. God is kind and compassionate; God cares. What will be done beyond the resolutions? How about those commitments made to the Father, as we await the return of Jesus? Though they may be faded and worn within the swarm of events, God remembers them. Some of the quiet commitments made by Catholics will be put to the test repeatedly as this year lengthens. It is the season of elections in Guyana, and no citizen of this Republic should need a reminder or primer onwhat thatmeans.

The stresses multiply, the tensions build and, all too frequently, many Guyanese forget God, because they are so focused on the priorities that consume narrow men. With all the God-given bounty, much of it out at sea [and under it], the struggle will be fiercer, the yanking and tugging even

more bruising than normal. In the season of elections in Guyana, nothing is normal. This is the cauldron in which the Roman Catholic finds himself and herself. Who comes first should be easy for the devoted; they know to give Caesar what is his due (and no more), and God the fulness of their hearts? What is the priority in the spasms of events, the march of passions, when the local environment savages itself into numbness, the mind splits into fragments? The Catholic man and woman knows where Jesus is, where the Holy Spirit resides. It is not in any national estate, but in the vineyards of the Lord.

I foresee that kind of year, and I am also bold enough to expect that Roman Catholics will do their duty as citizens, then remove themselves from the worldly fray and focus fulltime on doing works of the Lord to complement the springs of prayer that bubble continuously deep inside. In a year like 2025, with its streams of fevered activities, Guyanese need God more than at any other time. And if Guyanese take it upon themselves to craft human images as their gods, then the Roman Catholic worshipper must remember who is his or shepherd, the one teacher and master. Men will fight for power. It would be mostwholesome if they dedicated the same energies, brought the same spirit, to the delivering of what is caring and generous, what is expansive and leaves not a single citizen on the outside, feeling neglected, or wronged. One does not have to be a Christian to be about Christlike standards. All of us have been given the hard duty of speaking for Christian truths, spreading and emphasizing Catholic social teachings. I try to do my part, no matter the level of difficulty, resistance. Often, the resentments are inthe Churchitself.

Away from the glare of the world, yet very much a part of it, there is the grace of Jubilee 2025. It is about the timely mercy that makes a difference in a world awash with bitterness and strife. It is about kindling some hope in those who are lost, or have lost

hope. We must bring them back to the love of God, inspiring them to that state of faith through our own quiet, sustained efforts. There is joy in God, seek comfort in God because he is true to His promises. Unlike man, Goddoes notgo back on his word. In an environment more committedto hostility andnegativity than tranquility, God blesses us to be merciful to others, including those who detest us, revile us. Hate for hate only breeds more rage, expands the discontents that are now firmly rooted. On the other hand, forgiveness is godly, opens the door to peace, helps to lift not just individuals butwhole communities. In ways great and small, Jubilee 2025 features these Christian qualities; it provides the opportunity for refinement of our way of life, to be perfectinJesus.

Gracious and loving God, we thank your for the gift of our priests.

Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments. Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.

January Monthly Intention: For the Right to an Education

Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.

Set their souls on fire with love for your people.

Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.

Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.

Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.

Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest. Amen

Counselling Services at Brickdam Presbytery

Carmelite Sisters are available for counselling on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 12 noon and 1:00pm to 2:00 pm, at theCathedral Presbytery. They are also available by appointment. Persons are encouraged to avail themselves of these services. Kindly contact the Cathedral parish office on tel. no. 226-4631fordetails.

FIRST READING Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it.

‘Console my people, console them’ says your God.

‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her that her time of service is ended, that her sin is atoned for, that she has received from the hand of the Lord double punishment for all her crimes.’

A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wilderness a way for the Lord.

Make a straight highway for our God across the desert.

Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low, let every cliff become a plain, and the ridges a valley; then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’ Go up on a high mountain, joyful messenger to Zion. Shout with a loud voice, joyful messenger to Jerusalem. Shout without fear, say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God’.

Here is the Lord coming with power, his arm subduing all things to him. The prize of his victory is with him, his trophies all go before him. He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 103

Response: Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are.

1. Bless the Lord, my soul!

Lord God, how great you are, clothed in majesty and glory, wrapped in light as in a robe!

You stretch out the heavens like a tent. Response

2 . Above the rains you build your dwelling. You make the clouds your chariot, you walk on the wings of the wind, you make the winds your messengers and flashing fire your servants. Response

As we celebrate this feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we can study His actions at the Jordan River as a powerful example of servant leadership. We

3 . How many are your works, 0 Lord! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your riches. There is the sea, vast and wide, with its moving swarms past counting, living things great and small. Response

4. All of these look to you to give them their food in due season. You give it, they gather it up: you open your hand, they have their fill. Response

5. You take back your spirit, they die, returning to the dust from which they came. You send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. Response

see in Jesus a type of leadership that is characterized by humility and leading by example.

Certainly the sinless Saviour did not need a baptism of repentance! But Jesus humbly made Himself one with his people to draw us to Him and create a relationship with us so that we would be open to His teachings and influence.

As a servant leader, we also see that Jesus leads by example. He doesn’t

SECOND READING Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7

He saved us, by the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit.

‘God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good.

When the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

The heavens opened and the Father’s voice resounded:

‘This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.’ Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

While Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened.

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you’.❖

just tell the people they need to be baptized. He shows them how and does it Himself to teach them. To lead like Jesus, we, too, must “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk.” If we want those we lead to be generous and hard-working, then we must show them how to do this by demonstrating generosity and hard work ourselves.

Immediately after His baptism, we learn of the powerful affirmation of the Father who opens the heavens,

sends the Holy Spirit upon Jesus in bodily form and says audibly, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.” Let us be filled with gratitude for our amazing God and be reminded that when we are grateful followers of Jesus and servant-leaders in imitation of Him, the Father will be well-pleasedwithus, too ❖

[www.catholicsteward.com/blog/ ]

AEC Permanent Board meets Gospel Reflection

John the Baptist baptised the people with water while standing in a river. It was a simple, no-frills ceremony marking a new attitude of repentance and freedom from sin. On the other hand, our modern baptism is a beautiful ceremony, full of meaning and symbol. At the ceremony we are formally given a name and welcomed with prayers into the family of God’s people. What is clear here is that we are not just baptised, but we become a part of a supportive community from where we can effectively witness to Christ. Our bodies are signed with the cross of Christ and water is poured over us. The water here is symbolic of death and life – death to the old way of living while moving into new life in and with Christ. We are anointed with oil, twice, and as priest, prophet and king, to strengthen us for the struggles ahead against the evils of the world. And we are given a lighted candle as a symbol of our call out of the darkness into the wonderful light of Christ. All of this points to the kind of life we are expected to live as a result of the decisionto be baptised.

Another name we sometimes hear for baptism is “christening” which indicates being made like Christ. But being made like Christ is not an automatic change resulting from the ceremony. We have to learn to be a Christian and this is a task of a lifetime. It becomes a vocation to be a disciple of Christ as we answer his call to “Come, follow me.” We know that sometimes we will not be exactly what we should be as disciples and that we may fall away. But we know that we can pick ourselves up at anytime and start again. We have the opportunity to say we are sorry, to be reconciled with God and others and we know that God will be there for us as we go about learning to be like Christ; to be “christened.”❖

[From: Journeying with the Word of God, The Religious Education Department, Diocese of Georgetown, Guyana ]

The Permanent Board of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) convened for a two-day meeting in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain January 8-9, 2025. The meeting brought together key members of the AEC, including the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Metropolitan Archbishops, alongside two elected members from the wider Conference membership.

The gathering was led by Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon, President of the AEC, and included significant participation from Bishop John Persaud, Vice President, Bishop Robert Llanos, Treasurer; Archbishop Kenneth Richards of Kingston, Jamaica; Archbishop David Macaire of Fort-de-France,

of

St

and Bishop Karel Choennie of Paramaribo, Suriname. Also present were Bishop Alain Ransay of Cayenne, French Guiana; along with Fr Donald Chambers, General Secretary of the AEC; and Fr Peter Mcisaac SJ, Director for Synodal Transformation.

According to information from AEC Communications, the President will convoke the Permanent Board "as often as necessary", but generally there should be at least two meetings a year.

It is the responsibility of the Permanent Board to continue the work of the Conference between Plenary

Meetings. This includes "furthering" the execution of various projects, implementing Conference decisions, and preparing the agenda for the next Plenary Assembly. The Board also plays a key role in supervising the work of the General Secretariat.

While the Permanent Board is a "purely administrative body", it is important to note that it "cannot be delegated decision-making" authority for the Conference, as outlined by CanonLaw.

Updates on this meeting are available on Facebook @aecbishops or the website, aecbishops.org. (From The Catholic News of T&T).❖

Priests and Religious New Year’s get together

St. Peter’s Holy Door sees more than

VATICAN CITY (CNS) More than half a million pilgrims crossed the threshold of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the first two weeks after Pope Francis opened it.

From Dec. 24, when the pope inaugurated the Holy Year, to Jan. 7, the Vatican said, 545,532 people from around the world have made the journey along the lengthy boulevard leading to St. Peter’s Square and crossed through the basilica’s HolyDoor.

“This is a very significant beginning,” Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the chief Vatican organizer of the Jubilee Year, said in a statement.

“The groups crowding Via della Conciliazione are giving an important testimony, and this is also a sign of the great perception of safety and security that pilgrims experience in the city of Rome and around the four papal basilicas.”

A tunnel diverting vehicle traffic underground at the beginning of Via Della Conciliazione the street leading to the Vatican was completed just before the start of the Holy Year. A pathway extending from the new pedestrian square at the start of the street to the Holy Door also was set up exclusively for pilgrims walking individually or in groups to St. Peter’s Basilica.

Archbishop Fisichella acknowledged, however, that there were some “difficulties” in managing the flow of pilgrims and tourists through St. Peter’s Basilica, a problem thatwouldbe studied.

The city of Rome has estimated that more than 30 million people

Journeying with the Word of God

MAKING THE WORD OF GOD YOUR OWN

Step 1: Lookattoday’sReadingsprayerfully.

1st Reading: The prophet Isaiah tells the people to prepare away for the Lord.

2nd Reading: Jesus Christ saved us and renewed us withhis Holy Spirit.

will travel to the city during the Jubilee.

Based on the number of pilgrims that crossed the Holy Door in the first days of the Holy Year, “a steady increase in pilgrim turnout is expected,” the Vatican said in its statement, noting also the many children, youth, adults and elderly who participated in Jubilee celebrations at the diocesan level Dec. 29.

The Vatican said that the “great desire to participate in the Jubilee was also visible in the thousands of people who filled the four papal basilicas on the days celebrating the opening of

the Holy Doors, often filling the squares in front of them.”

While Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and another at a Rome prison complex, he did not attend the opening of the holy doors at the other three papal basilicas in Rome: St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran and St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The first major event of the Holy Year is the Jubilee of the World of Communications Jan. 24-26, which will bring to Rome “thousands of journalists, experts and communications workers from all over the world,” the Vatican said.❖

Archbishop Gordon appointed Apostolic Administrator to the Diocese of Willemstad, Curacao

The AEC has given the following press release announcing Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon as Apostolic Administrator to the Diocese of Willemstad, Curaçao:

Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon as Apostolic Administrator to the Diocese of Willemstad,Curaçao.

An Apostolic Administrator is a bishop appointed by the Holy Father to see to the good order and administration of a diocese that is awaiting the appointment of apermanentbishop.

Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon is the President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) and the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, under which the Suffragan Diocese of Willemstad belongs. The Province of Port of Spain also includes the Suffragan Dioceses of Georgetown, Guyana, Bridgetown, Barbados, and Paramaribo, Suriname.

Given at the Office of the Antilles Episcopal Conference Secretariat, Port of Spain, Trinidadonthe 7thJanuary 2025. ❖

Gospel: John the Baptist preaches that he is in no way equal to the Messiah who is to come. Jesus receives a confirmation from the Father after his baptism.

Step 2: ApplyingthevaluesoftheReadings toyourdailylife.

1.Jesus heard the wonderful words from the Father: “You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.” God also says to us: “You are my beloved son/daughter”. How should these words affectyour lives?

2.“God does not have favourites.” In fact, Jesus’ life shows that if God does have favourites, it is for the poor, the lonely, the sick and sinners. How, then,shouldwe behave towards these people?

3.John tells us that Jesus baptises with the Holy Spirit and fire. What does such a baptism demand of us as his disciples?

4.From Isaiah we hear the words: “I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right.” How would you say your community has been doing this?

Step 3: Accepting the message of God’s Wordinyourlifeoffaith.

Our baptism as Christians demands that we show a serious concern for the less fortunate, the despised, the kinds of people Jesus went out of his way to help. Our lives as disciples will be judged, not by the amount of prayers said or how many times we attended Mass, but by how we have lived out our baptismal commitments.

Step 4: Somethingtothink&prayabout

1.Baptism is a serious step in a person’s life and must not be entered into for the wrong reasons. How serious is your baptism to you? How has it affected, and continue to affect your life? Can infant baptism make sense in the light of the commitments it demands?❖

[From: Journeying with the Word of God, The Religious Education Department, Diocese of Georgetown, Guyana ]

Baptism at Kanapang

Baptism at Itabac

By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News

Q: I always thought the end of the Christmas season came with Epiphany and the arrival of the Magi. A priest recently said the season doesn’t end until a week later with the Baptism of the Lord. What has the baptism of the adult Jesus got to do with Bethlehem? If it’s supposed to mean a “turning of the page” in the life of Jesus, wouldn’t a better event be the last scriptural appearance of the Holy Family, “the finding of the child Jesus in the temple” (Lk 2:48)?

A: In our current liturgical calendar the last day of the Christmas season is indeed the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Normally, that feast is celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany although if Epiphany falls on Jan. 7 or 8, the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated the following Monday.

But it is interesting to note that traditionally, Feb. 2, the Feast of the Presentation, was considered the end of the Christmas season. We can still see a few echoes of this even today. For instance, the Vatican keeps their Christmas tree and creche up in St. Peter’s square until Feb. 2. And the blessing of candles customarily celebrated right before Mass for the feast of the Presentation opens with a prayer stating: “Brothers and sisters, forty days have passed since the solemnity of Christmas. Today the church once again prepares to celebrate the day in which Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple.” I would say that Jesus’ baptism truly is a major “turning of the page” in Jesus’ life, since, after his baptism at the hands of John the Baptist his quiet, hidden life became one of public ministry, wherein he actively sought to make his saving mission and identity known and proclaimed.

Further, the Baptism of the Lord, the Epiphany, and perhaps surprisingly the wedding at Cana all connect thematically, as they are all about the first manifestations of Jesus as the son of God. That is, they are all instances where the glory of Jesus’ divine nature, which would ordinarily have been obscure and hidden to human eyes during Jesus’ early life, is revealed. At the Epiphany, (a word which literally means “revelation”) Jesus’ glory is revealed to the Magi. Traditionally, the church sees the Epiphany being, by extension, Jesus’ manifestation to “the nations,” or to all the other non-Jewish pagan cultures of the world who would not have previously known the one true God. In the narrative of Jesus’ baptism, it is revealed that he is the beloved Son of God. (See Mk 1:9-11 and Lk 3:22).

The wedding at Cana is the setting for Jesus’ first public miracle, when he changes water into wine at Our Lady’s request, (see Jn 2:1-11) and as such was a revelation to Jesus’ friends and disciples of his glorious divine power over nature.

The connection between these seemingly unconnected events in the life of Jesus is particularly clear and intuitive to those of us who pray the Liturgy of the Hours. For example, the Magnificat antiphon for Evening Prayer for the Epiphany is: “Three mysteries mark this holy day: today the star leads the Magi to the infant Christ; today water is changed into wine for the wedding feast; today Christ wills to be baptized by John in the river Jordan to bring us salvation.”

All these scriptural manifestations, even those that occurred decades apart, harken back to Bethlehem, because the birth of Christ was the first and most radical revelation of the Incarnate Word of God. ❖

Dear Boys and Girls,

This is an exciting time. It is the beginning of a brand new year. It is a time that we can forget our past mistakes and look forward to new opportunities that lie ahead of us. It is a time of new beginnings.

Jesus experienced times of new beginnings in his life too. One of those times was when he was baptized. When Jesus was baptized, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests onyou.”

This event marked the beginning of Jesus' ministry here on earth. Up until that time, he had not performed any miracles, but with God's stamp of approval and with the spirit of God upon him, Jesus began to perform great miracles. From this new beginning, many people began to understand that Jesus was truly the Son of God and they began to followhim.

Our own baptism represents a new beginning for us as well. When we are baptized, it shows the world that just as Jesus rose from the dead through the glory of God the Father, we also live a new life in him.

God gives us opportunities for new beginnings. Let us make the most of them as we live a new life in Christ through the power of his Holy Spirit. ❖

Pope launches Jubilee of Hope

a garland of green pine branches, decorated with red roses and gold pinecones.

Opening the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica has been a fixture of the Catholic Church’s celebration of jubilee years since the Holy Year 1450,the Vatican said.

Pope Francis chose “Pilgrims of Hope” as the theme for the Holy Year 2025, which began Dec. 24 and will run throughJan. 6,2026.

The rite of opening the decorated bronze door began inside the basilica with the reading in different languages of biblical passages prophesying the birth of the savior “who brings his kingdom of peace into our world,” as the lector explained.

Then, to emphasize how the birth of Jesus “proclaims the dawn of hope in our world,” the Gospel of St. Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus was proclaimed.

Introduced with a blare of trumpets, the choir sang, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”

“The steps we now take are the steps of the whole church, a pilgrim in the world and a witness of peace,” the pope told the assembled cardinals, bishops, ecumenical guests and lay faithful in the atrium of the basilica.

“Holding fast to Christ, the rock of our salvation, enlightened by his word and renewed by his grace,” the pope continued, “may we cross the threshold of this holy temple and so enter into a season of mercy and forgiveness in which every man and woman may encounter and embrace the path of hope, which does notdisappoint.”

Echoing the biblical jubilee themes of reconciliationand forgiveness, Pope Francis

prayed that the Holy Spirit would soften hardened hearts so that “enemies may speak to each other again, adversaries may join hands and people seek to meettogether.”

“Grant that the church may bear faithful witness to your love and may shine forth as a vital sign of the blessed hope of your kingdom,” he prayed.

Normally the Holy Door, to the right of the basilica’s center doors, remains sealed with bricks, a symbolic reminder of the barrier of sin between people and God. The 16 panels on the bronze doors illustrate key moments in salvation history, including the fall of Adam and Eve, the annunciation of Jesus’ birth, Christ presented as the shepherd rescuing a lost sheep, the crucifixion and the risen Jesus appearing to the disciples.

Ten children from 10 different countries, holding hands with their parents, crossed the threshold after the pope and the altar servers, but before the cardinals and bishops. Then 54 people from 27 nations including the United States and Canada, Australia, Tanzania and Togo, Venezuela and Vietnam passed through.

Many of them wore the traditional dress of their nations or ethnic groups.

Neither the Vatican press office nor the Jubilee press office released the names of the pilgrims or explained howthey were chosen.

Also among the first to cross the threshold were representatives of other Christian churches. The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity said in an explanatory note, “Entering through the Holy Door expresses the willingness to follow and be guided by the only begotten Son

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of God.”

Especially during the year that will see the celebration of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which solemnly defined the basics of Christian faith, the ritual “is a manifestation of the faith that all Christians share in Jesus, the Eternal Word made man,” the note said.

However, it added, the ecumenical guests’ participation “must not be interpreted as an attempt to associate them with elements of the jubilee, such as the jubilee indulgence, which are not in line with the practices of their respective commu-

nities.”

In fact, the “selling” of indulgences helped spark the Protestant Reformation; the practice was later banned by the Council of Trent. The Catholic Church believes that Christ and the saints have accumulated a treasure of merits, which other believers who are prayerful and repentant can draw upon to reduce or erase the punishment they are due because of sins they have committed. Making a pilgrimage, going to confession, receiving Communion and offering prayers to receive an indulgence is a key part of the Holy Year.❖

By Renika Anand

Honest Prayers

Ziad K. Abdelnour, an author and financier, once said “Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.”

The prayers we have made to God are perhaps some of the most honest things we would have ever said. Prayers are often admissions to our weaknesses and downfalls that are made with the humble hope that we will be guided through them by God.

As we grow up, we will soon realise that the world is truly filled with people who may act as messengers and workers of God even if they themselves do not realise it. Sometimes, we must make our honest admissions not only in our prayers, but also to people who we believe can helpus.

Asking for help whenever we need it is just as important as helping others. God can bless us through the actions and words of the people around us. We only need to look at them and recognise his presence within them during the times that we make our honest prayers.

The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him - Psalm37:40 ❖

Polish Three Kings Parades attract 2 million in Jubilee Year

crowd on

as the

a

KRAKOW, Poland (OSV News) Three Kings Parades across Poland Jan. 6 broke records in the Jubilee Year as 2 million people marched down the streets of 905 cities and towns in an initiative that spread abroad from the European country with vibrant popular faith.

Every year on the feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, Polish cities are flooded with joyful Three Kings Parades. Designed as theatrical performances that recall the historical event of Jesus’ birth and the visit of the Magi who worshipped him 2,000 years ago, the parades’ purpose is to familiarize their audiences with the Gospel tradition.

A massive crowd followed the three Magi in the Polish capital with hundreds of kids marching dressed as knights, representatives of all continents and angels.

On Jan. 6 during his Angelus prayer, Pope Francis said: “I extend my greeting to the participants in the great ‘Procession of the Magi’ in Poland, who with this initiative bear witness to the faith in the churches and streets of Warsaw and many Polish cities, but also abroad, even here in Rome!”

“A greeting to all the Polish,” the

pontiff said.

“The Holy Father not only greeted us, but also sent a letter to the participants, which brought us great joy,” Giertych told OSV News.

A ‘public tribute’ to the ‘newborn Son of God’

Pope Francis in his Dec. 30 letter to participants of the parades said that “it is a great joy that in the Jubilee year the newborn Son of God receives public tribute on the streets of so many cities of the world.”

He added, “This common joyful testimony of faith in God unites families and various local communities living in Poland and other countries.”

“The weather was gorgeous, 80,000 crowns were distributed among the crowd,” Giertych said with one of the crowns decorating the head of the new metropolitan of Warsaw, Archbishop Adrian Galbas, who joined the procession with the apostolic nuncio to Poland, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, and Bishop Wieslaw Lechowicz of the Military Ordinariate.

“Jesus makes himself known not only to those who were closest to him on the day of his birth, but also to those who are far away. Anyone can come to

The Magi, or three kings, are seen in Warsaw on the stage of the Three Kings Parade Jan. 6, 2025, in the Polish capital's Castle Square as a record 2 million people marched in 905 cities and towns in Poland for Three Kings Parades in the Jubilee Year. Pope Francis greeted the parade participants and organizers in a special letter ahead of the event and during the Angelus prayer Jan. 6. (OSV News/courtesy Orszak Trzech Kroli)

Jesus. The crowds of people we see today during the Epiphany procession are a testimony to this,” Archbishop Galbas, who was installed as the metropolitan on Dec. 14, told PAP Polish Press Agency. “It is worth asking myself in my daily life. Am I guided by the light of faith in my daily life, just as the Wise Men were guided by the star?” the archbishop asked.

Two million people participating this year is not a surprise to Giertych.

“I honestly think this huge turnout is due to the fact that we are very authentic we preach Christ and don’t get involved in politics. We just remind people of the history of 2,000 years ago, encourage them to come, worship and sing carols,” he told OSV News.

Blending tradition and theater

The parades put together two centuries-old Polish traditions of “jaselka,” or Christmas theatrical performance of Christ’s birth, and carol singing, or “koledowanie.”

The event traces its history to 2009, when students in Warsaw decided to perform a live Nativity scene in the “Sternik” association Catholic school, run by Opus Dei.

“But then we thought that the school is to serve not only the school community, but is to emanate this spirit and joy to others, and this we are realizing,” Giertych said.

Within two years, other places had joined Warsaw in holding the parades. Ukraine held the first Three Kings Parade outside Poland in 2013. In 2019, the parade was held in 752 places in Poland and in 22 places abroad, including in Chicago and New York, where smaller parade were organized by the cities’ Polish communities. The parades in 2025 were organized for the 17th time in Warsaw and for the 15th as a broad country-wide initiative

Giertych sees it “certainly with great

pride and joy, and a sense of responsibility here in Warsaw, the vast majority of the acting and organizational tasks are on the shoulders of parents and children from our schools,” he said.

“I was also certainly moved by the fact that there are so many volunteers and social activists in Poland who take the challenge to organize the parades, devoting their time and effort, which shows that Poland has a social strength, community and drive for social action,” he told OSV News.

A mission of evangelization

Eliza and Piotr Niemczyk, a couple married for 13 years and parents of six kids Maksymilian, Ignacy, Stanislaw, Roza, Konstanty and little Franciszek, who played Jesus took on the acting task of being the Holy Family during the Jubilee Year Warsaw central parade.

Starting their life together, they didn’t realize that they “would be given the opportunity to have such a rich parenting experience, as well as to be the parents of a son with Down syndrome,” the Three Kings Parade website said. The experience “on the one hand completely changes the attitude to life,” they say, “and at the same time allows you to focus completely on the here and now.”

Giertych added that young adults, many of them alumni of Opus Dei schools in Warsaw also bring the “amazing testimony of faith,” with them as they engage in organizing the parades.

“It is really moving what they say about the mission of evangelization, that they want to testify to the faith in Christ, and these are young people who have already left our schools and all the more they see the value to testify to Christ in their new university environments that are often very far away from God,” Giertych told OSV News.❖

Pope's January prayer intention:

(Vatican News) - Pope Francis' monthly prayer intention this January is for "the right to an education."

The Pope invited the Church to pray for this intention in this month's The Pope Video entrusted to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope wide Prayer Network.

In The Pope Video for January, the Holy Father warned that today, "we’re experiencing an educational catastrophe," and underscores, "This is no exaggeration."

250 million without Due to wars, migration, and poverty, the Holy Father decried, some 250 million boys and girls lack education.

"All children and youth have the right to go to school," the Pope insisted, adding, "regardless of their immigration status."

Education, he went on to say, is a hope for everyone. In addition, he reminded, "it can save migrants and refugees from discrimination, criminal networks, and exploitation."

Tool for integration

"So many minors," he decried, "are exploited!"

Education, therefore, is essential, the Holy Father suggested, because it "can help them integrate into the communities who host them."

A better future

'for the right to an education'

Education, the Pope underscored, opens the doors to a better future. "In this way," he explained, "migrants and refugees can contribute to society, either in their new country or in their country of origin, should they decide to return."

The Holy Father concluded his Video with some food for thought, saying, "let’s never forget that whoever welcomes the foreigner, welcomes Jesus Christ."

With this in mind, Pope Francis urged faithful to join him in praying for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, "that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a more human world, might always be respected."❖

Bishop Francis launches local Jubilee Year with Mass at Brickdam Cathedral

The processional cross from Meadow Bank Parish (depicting the image of the resurrected Christ) used at the launch of the Jubilee Year in the Diocese at Brickdam Cathedral.

were read from Spes non confundit (Hope does not disappoint) - the pope’s Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025, declaring “For everyone, may the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the “door” (cf. Jn 10:7.9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere and to all as “our hope” (1 Tim 1:1)” and “For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewedin hope”.

Bishop Francis began his homily by welcoming everyone, both those present in the Cathedral and those joining virtually. Noting the theme of the Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims of Hope”, the bishop said that the Jubilee Year is an opportunity to be renewed in hope. He said that the procession included representatives from various communities, and that they had processed under the cross borrowed from Meadow Bank Parish – one of the oldest parishes in the Diocese. He

only see that image of hope, but remind ourselves that that hope comes alive out of our very selves –what is ours, a local church. We are the artisans of that hope – we fashion it, nurture it, celebrate it. That way, we are Pilgrims of Hope – we are on themove,notstaticorjustbidingtime”

Bishop Francis spoke on pilgrimages, both physical and the inner journey, noting the image of pilgrimage is moving from one place to another. During this Jubilee Year, the bishop called for us to grow in our prayer lives, for the renewal of relationships and family, and for us to embrace the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

After speaking on the Holy Family, the bishop called for a culture of family, a culture of belonging, of being responsible for each other, and together moving – pilgrimage, journey – to a better place, a better state, a better witness of life, of fullness of life. He concluded by saying “May this mark our journey and our pilgrimage of hope over this Jubilee Year”.

A jubilee year, also known as a “Holy Year,” is a special worldwide celebration that usually occurs every 25 years within the Catholic Church. It is a tradition rooted in a similar practice of ancient Judaism. Pope Boniface VIII called the first jubilee in 1300, with Holy Years offered at various intervals ever since.

Nativity Pageant at Sacred Heart

Christmas Concert at Mara

The life of Anthony will remind many people of St. Francis of Assisi. At 20, Anthony was so Go, sell what (Mark 10:21b), that he actually did just that with his large inheritance. He is different from Francis tude. He saw the world completely covered with snares, and gave the Church and the world the witness of solitary asceticism, great personal mortification and prayer. But no saint is antisocial, and Anthony drew many people to himself for spiritual healingand guidance. At 54, he responded to many requests and founded a sort of monastery of scattered cells. At 60, he hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311, fearlessly exposing himself to danger while giving moral and material support to those in prison. At 88, he was fighting the Arian heresy, that massive trauma from which it took the Church centuries to recover. “The mule kicking over the altar” denied the divinity of Christ. Anthony is associated in art with a T-shaped cross, a pig and a book. The pig and the cross are symbols of his valiant warfare with the devil the cross his constant means of power over evil spirits, the pig a symbol of the devil himself. The book recalls his preference for