Time to act on shortage of priests

“We need to do something, not as individual Dioceses as we have done in the past, but we need to have conferences which will allow us to work together to share all the gifts and talents that are available to us so that we can bring the best to deal with this challenge,” Rivas said.

He was speaking Tuesday at the launch of the first Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) Regional Vocations Commission Conference in TT, held at the Living Water Community, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain. The theme of the conference was “Building a culture of vocations to priesthood and religious life in the region,” and will be held at Emmaus Centre, Arima from July 21 to July 23, 2017.

Rivas said the Commission hopes to cultivate and create a culture of vocations throughout the Caribbean region that will inspire, animate and challenge all the Christian faithful to understand and discern the call to priesthood and consecrated life.

He explained that, “It involves the whole Church, the promotion of vocations and the concern for vocations.

The building of a culture of vocations involves everyone.

It is not just the work of the Bishops, priest or nuns, it is the work of all of us in the church. Each one of us has a part to play.” He said the AEC Vocations Conference will be a collaboration of ideas, strategies and effort between representatives from each member of the AEC, designed to sow the seeds of vocations in families, schools, parishes and youth organisations across the region.