Friday, September 5th 2025 Established 1905 27 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown, Guyana Year 120, No. 34
Message for Catechetical Month Bishop John D. Persaud of the Diocese of Mandeville, Jamaica, who is the Vice President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) and Chair of the AEC Commission on Doctrine & Faith Formation, has given the following message for Catechetical Month 2025:
“Catechists: Pilgrims of Hope, nourished by the Word and the Eucharist”
On behalf of the Bishops of the AEC, it is with a grateful heart that I, Bishop John Persaud, greet you Catechists of the AEC in these closing moments of the Jubilee Year. In sync with the Jubilee Year of Hope we have chosen for this Catechetical month 2025 the theme “Catechists: Pilgrims of Hope, nourished by the Word and the Eucharist”. The suggested Bible passage to guide our reflection on this theme is Luke 24:13-35 - the “Road to Emmaus”. This theme offers wonderful opportunities for reflection on our role as Catechists. Both our theme, which is rooted in the Jubilee theme, and Luke’s account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, remind us that disciples of Jesus are pilgrims. A pilgrim is one who is on a journey, but no ordinary journey, it has a determined focus, and it is a journey of discovery that brings us to a different physical, psychological, mental, social and spiritual space. A marked difference for us as disciples of Jesus who are pilgrims is that we never walk alone. Our pilgrimage is one that is undertaken with others. We never walk alone because Jesus, our Master, is always walking with us. We see this happening with the disciples as they were walking on the road to Emmaus, they made a journey of discovery. A pilgrimage is also
a journey of reconciliation that brings about wholeness and so leads to holiness. A useful exercise for every disciple on pilgrimage is to take a serious look at his/her life and make a note of where you are in all the various dimensions of your life. For example, look at your life as a Catechist and make a note of where you are in your ministry as a catechist. You may discover that you have become a person of routine, doing things just because you (please turn to page 11)
Vatican issues special stamps for canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati - p2 Pope appeals for end to conflict in Sudan, open paths for aid - p3 A Christian Perspective on Social Issues - p4 Sunday Scripture - p5 Pope prays for US School shooting victims, denounces ‘pandemic’ of gun violence - p6 Pope named as one of the world’s top thinkers on AI - p7 Pope's September prayer intention: For our relationship with creation - p8 Children’s Page - p9 Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati - p10 Growing in Grace Week 67 - p10 Carlo Acutis: Computer programmer, Eucharist devotee, first millennial saint - p12 Season of Creation 2025 Prayer - p13 Mercy Community in Guyana welcomes four new Candidates - p14 Saint of the Week - p14
Sr. Catherine Marie Glyn-Williams RSM Monday September 8th 2025 will mark sixty-five years of religious life for Sister Catherine Marie Glyn-Williams RSM of the Sisters of Mercy. Sr. Catherine began her life as a Sister of Mercy in 1960, when she departed Guyana and entered the Mercy Convent in Dallas, Pennsylvania, USA, on September 8th of that year. Sr. Catherine spent eight years in formation and study at College Misericordia, and in 1968 pronounced her final vows for Poverty, Chastity, Obedience and Service of the Poor, Sick and Uneducated. Two weeks after taking her final vows, Sr. Catherine returned to Guyana to start her Mercy Ministry with
the children of Guyana. A trained teacher, she taught at and was headmistress of several schools. She worked for a year at Bosco Orphanage, Plaisance; for ten years at Hosororo Primary, at Stella Maris Primary for about three years, and at Comenius Primary until retirement. Following retirement, Sr. Catherine spent a year in the U.S. on sabbatical. She then embarked on a new post-retirement career, joining the Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital (SJMH) as its librarian, as well as being a part-time tutor at the SJMH School of Nursing. Sr. Catherine retired from SJMH in June 2023, having served there for thirty years. ❖
Bishop’s Engagements Sunday, September 7th 16:30hrs – Mass and Confirmation at St. Angela Merici, Parfaite Harmonie, West Coast Demerara Tuesday, September 9th 18:00hrs – Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting Friday, September 12th 09:00hrs – Attend St. Stanislaus Alumni Function Sunday, September 14th 09:00hrs – Pilgrimage to Our Lady Queen of Peace, Mahaicony
Francis Alleyne OSB