On way to Easter vigil

A CHILD on her way to Saturday night’s Easter vigil at the Santa Rosa Park, Arima, suffered a broken hip, when a car broke a police barrier.

The barriers were placed on the streets surrounding the park, opposite the Santa Rosa RC Church restricting motorists from entering the streets because of the high pedestrian traffic.

The incident occurred approximately half hour before the 7 pm service.

In his homily, Monsignor Christian Pereira told the hundreds gathered, of the incident. He said the child was on her way to the service when the driver of the vehicle knocked down the police barrier, hitting the child. A private car took the child to the hospital. Monsignor Pereira said she suffered a broken hip and the vehicle involved was impounded by the Arima Police.

However the police were unable to confirm the incident, saying they had no reports of such a matter involving a child.

Meantime, Pereira said the incident showed the “lack of appreciation for life and the recklessness of drivers.” He advised persons to be more careful in their use of the nation’s roads.

On another note, he chastised Governments for being afraid of the Catholic church, saying they did not like the competition they felt they got from the church.

Pereira added that Governments in the hemisphere did not want to see the RC church prosper, and accused them of using subtle ways “to eliminate” the church’s presence in schools and everywhere “we have influence.”

Referring to Judas, who was an enemy of Jesus, Pereira said writing stories about people was no big deal, and even priests had enemies. He noted too that even kidnappers wrote stories about their potential victims, “they know of the story of people they are going to kidnap, they have a file of those persons.”

At the vigil, which was held during an almost still evening and a few clouds in the sky, eleven persons were also baptised.

At the start, the Easter fire was blessed and the Pascal candle lit.