Gilbert seeks more shepherds

ROMAN Catholic Archbishop Edward Gilbert yesterday urged the hundreds of devotees gathered at the Siparia La Divina Pastora Roman Catholic Church, to find the time and give of themselves to look and help each other, to be as shepherds. However, while the Archbishop was delivering his homily at the La Divina Pastora celebrations, scores of beggars — some young, in their teens, some old and others disabled, lined the streets outside of the church’s walls asking everyone that passed their way for alms. Many of them were scorned upon and ignored, but the Archbishop urged people to uplift the needy both in a spiritual and moral way and not merely in a monetary form.

Gilbert noted that people who are suffering from one way or another do not need money. “People who are dying, confused, depressed, searching for positive values do not need money.  They need one’s time, wisdom, love, patience and most of all one’s presence — allowing them the privilege of having one’s self around — in the physical, talking to them, counselling them and praying with them.” Gilbert stated that one of life’s challenges was to have the presence of the church all over, which depends solely on the individual. “Be there for one another, youths for youths, senior citizens for senior citizens — pray for one another and pray for the country.”

He then warned congregants to be wary of the world at its present stage. “Beware of the Pagan age we live in. It is time to reaffirm our Catholic identity. Look at life’s issues and the ills plaguing our society, let us concentrate and build on family life, be shepherds and lift people up, both emotionally and mentally.” Gilbert urged all to follow in the footsteps of the late Pope John Paul II. “It was visible to people throughout the world that the Pope loved them and they knew it and he in return received a lot of love. “Pope John Paul II suffered before the whole world.  Even to death, his last words (were) ‘I have given all that I could ever give and that is for the salvation of the world.’  Let us from today begin to live the best — God’s best and be as shepherds,” Gilbert said.

Hundreds of devoted Roman Catholics throughout Trinidad and Tobago made their way to Siparia, South Trinidad, from as early as 5 am to visit the La Divina Pastora statue, where prayers and gifts of money and jewelry were offered in exchange for a miracle. The statue, that of a woman’s image, represents Mary, the mother of  Jesus Christ. Many persons are of the belief that when they pray to her (the statue) especially on the day of the La Divina Pastora celebrations their prayers would be answered. After the service at the church, the La Divina Pastora was placed on the hood of a car which led a procession through the streets of Siparia. Gilbert accompanied by the parish priest Father Stephen Doyle took part in the procession, in which prayers were said and hymns sung throughout.