Friday, March 21st 2025 Established 1905 27 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown, Guyana Year 120, No. 11
Pope’s days are marked by small improvements, work, prayer - p2 European bishops address ‘rising tensions’ as Trump talks to Putin, Zelenskyy - p3 A Christian Perspective on Social Issues - p4 Sunday Scripture - p5 Lenten media fast: Spiritual discipline for a digital age - p6 Message for the Third Sunday of Lent from Mother Sanguinis, SSVM - p7 Chrism Mass to be held April 9 - p7 St. Peter’s Basilica becomes a ‘fixable,’ explorable Minecraft world - p8 Children’s Page - p9 Growing in Grace Week 55 - p10 Shroud of Turin to be digitally showcased - p11 Lenten Mission in the Pomeroon - p12
His Excellency Archbishop Santiago De Wit Guzman, Apostolic Nuncio to the Antilles, is currently in Guyana, having arrived on Tuesday, March 18th, and will depart on Sunday, March 23rd. An Apostolic Nuncio is a diplomatic representative of the Vatican to a foreign country. This role is equivalent to that of an ambassador, but specifically for the Holy See. The Nuncio
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has approved the next phase of the Synod of Bishops on
represents the Pope and the Vatican's interests in the host country and is responsible for maintaining diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the government of that country. On Tuesday, March 18th, a Welcome Mass for His Excellency was celebrated at 5pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, Georgetown. The photo above, taken after the
synodality, launching a three-year implementation process that will culminate in an ecclesial assembly at the Vatican in October 2028. In a letter published March 15, Cardinal Mario Grech, secretarygeneral of the synod, announced that the synod’s new phase will focus on applying its conclusions at all levels of the church, with dioceses, bishops’ conferences and religious communities working to integrate synodality into daily church life before the meeting at the Vatican in 2028.
Mass, shows Archbishop De Wit Guzman (centre) along with His Lordship Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB (left), Msgr. Terrence Montrose (right), and some of the priests of the Diocese of Georgetown, as well as Fr. Josue Frederic Ilboudo, secretary to the Nunciature (back row, third from right). Details of His Excellency’s visit will be in an upcoming issue of the Catholic Standard.❖ (Photo: Catholic Media Guyana)
“For now, therefore, a new synod will not be convened; instead, the focus will be on consolidating the path taken so far,” he wrote in the letter addressed to all bishops, eparchs and the presidents of national and regional bishops’ conferences. Cardinal Grech told bishops that Pope Francis approved the threeyear plan March 11 at Rome’s Gemelli hospital where he has been being treated since Feb. 14. The final document of the synod on synodality, (please turn to p10)
Bishop’s Engagements THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT: Sunday, March 23rd 07:30hrs – Mass at Church of the Annunciation, Malgre Tout, West Coast Demerara. 12:45hrs – Departure of the Nuncio 15:00hrs – Annual Diocesan Bible Quiz Round 2 Wednesday, March 26th 08:00hrs – Antilles Episcopal Conference Meeting via Zoom Friday, March 28th 20:00hrs – Marriage Encounter Circle FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT: Sunday, March 30th 08:00hrs – Attend East Coast Lenten Pilgrimage
Francis Alleyne OSB