1. Inculturating the Church in the Caribbeanby
Patrick Anthony
CKFAPC, St. Lucia
September 16, 2014

2. Geographical location of the Caribbean

4. Location of the mainland Caribbean countries Guyana, Suriname, Cayenne
(French Guyana)

7. of the Caribbean mainland country of Belize
Location
of the Caribbean mainland country of Belize

8. Caribbean Cultural Icons
Usain Bolt
Bob Marley

9. Caribbean Faces
Unity in diversity

10. Caribbean Multiculturalism
The Caribbean is one of the only places in the world where one can encounter an individual who may be able to legitimately trace Amerindian, African, Asian and European ancestry in his/her family.

11. Caribbean
Faces

12. RC Churches – Dedication

13. Stages of Colonial Occupation
Before Columbus, St. Lucia was known as “Iouanalao”/”Hewanorra” by the native Amerindians
By 1500 Spain claimed the island. For 100 years it was a venue for water and repairing and supplying passing vessels.
In 1605 Englishmen from the Oliphe Blossome settled there after a mutinuy.

14. From 1605-1732, Amerindians under attack
By 1730 the Amerindians had been decimated.
Between claims and counter-claims of ownership by the British and the French
African slavery introduced into St. Lucia

15. From 1794-1804, The Brigand Wars : French Revolution in St. Lucia
By the Treaty of Paris, 30th May 1814, St. Lucia was ceded to Britain.
Slavery would flourish in the island until Emancipation in 1838

16. Geographic Distribution of Churches, Chapels & Other

17. Catholic Presence in St. Lucia
On May 13, 1819 the first Protestant clergyman arrived in St. Lucia.
First resident Catholic priests arrive in 1749.
Between 1749 and 1763 there were about five priests on the island in the parishes of Castries, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort, Praslin and Gros-Islet.

18. Geographic Distribution of RC Churches
Total No. of RC
Churches=24

19. RC Churches – Dedication

20. PERCENTAGE ROMAN CATHOLICS BASED ON RC POPULATION
1991
2001
DISTRICT
PERCENTAGE
Castries 37
Anse La Raye 4
Canaries 1
Soufriere 7
Choiseul 5
Laborie
Vieux Fort 10
Micoud 11
Dennery 9
Gros Islet
DISTRICT
PERCENTAGE
Castries 37
Anse La Raye 4
Canaries 1
Soufriere 6
Choiseul 5
Laborie
Vieux Fort 10
Micoud 11
Dennery 8
Gros Islet 13
The results remains almost the same since in 1991 pop of Catholics was 105,356 compared to 2001 recording 106,497. A difference of 1,141 Catholics. Only Gros Islet recorded a 3% increase whereas the others shows a slight decreased or remained the same. Important!!!
Census

21. PERCENTAGE ROMAN CATHOLICS BASED ON DISTRICT POPULATION (all religions)
1991
2001
DISTRICT
PERCENTAGE
Castries 74
Anse La Raye 80
Canaries 83
Soufriere 91
Choiseul 89
Laborie 85
Vieux Fort 82
Micoud 77
Dennery
Gros Islet 78
DISTRICT
PERCENTAGE
Castries 61
Anse La Raye
Canaries 81
Soufriere 83
Choiseul 84
Laborie 71
Vieux Fort 70
Micoud 69
Dennery 65
Gros Islet
Although in 2001 the pop of Catholics increased it is also very important to note the increase in the total population of all the districts. Hence the reason for this change. Very, Very Important!!!
Census

22. Crucifix painted black in San Fernando, Trinidad by
Black Power demonstrators, February, 1970

23. “Want to confess here in all frankness and humility, that the record of our Church in this respect has not always been as good as it should have been. In spite of the example of many dedicated priests and religious who have lived among the poor and fully shared in their hardships, too often the Church we represent has seemed to be on the side of the wealthy and powerful.

24. “And in order to maintain a position of privilege, it has sometimes closed its eyes to wrongs and injustices crying out for redress. In the colonial past the Church sometimes acted as if it were a part of the establishment condoning either openly or by its silence the existing order. And in the post-colonial era the Church in some places has not accepted the need for change with sufficient alacrity and good will.

25. Our Church has also been guilty on occasion of acts of racial discrimination and of perpetuating social and class divisions. For these commissions and omissions of the past and present we the Bishops of the Antilles Conference humbly beg pardon from God, the Lord and Judge of history, and from you, the people of the region.”
Justice and Peace in a New Caribbean,
November, 1975

26. “From the customs and traditions of their people, from their wisdom and their learning, from their arts and sciences, these Churches borrow all those things which can contribute to the glory of their Creator, the revelation of the Savior’s grace, or the proper arrangement of Christian life.”
Ad Gentes, 22 (cf. Lumen Gentium, 13)

27. Sir Dunstan St. Omer, SLC,
renowned
St. Lucian artist

28. Derek Walcott
St. Lucian Poet
Nobel Laureate 1992

29. The Holy Family Mural, Church of the Holy Family, Roseau/Jacmel

30. Holy Family Mural, Church of the Holy Family, Roseau/Jacmel

31. Dr. Rose-Ann Walker reads Walcott’s poem as colleagues

32. The La Rose Mural, Church of St. Rose of Lima, Monchy

33. The Black Christ Mural, Church of St. Phillip and St. James,
Fonds St. Jacques, St. Lucia

34. Holy Redeemer Church, Desruisseaux
The Last Supper Mural,
Holy Redeemer Church, Desruisseaux

35. Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Castries
High Altar
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Castries

36. Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Castries

37. Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Castries
St. Omer Murals on the Cathedral Walls

38. St. Omer : Cathedral Murals
Martyrs of Uganda
Sts. Anthony & Jude

39. St. Omer : Cathedral Murals
Commemorative Plaque : Bishop Charles Gachet FMI & Fr. Louis Tapon FMI
The Holy Family

40. St. Omer : Cathedral Stained Glass Windows
Jesus is taken down from the Cross
The Crucifixion

41. The Kevin Jeremie Story
Pope John Paul II acknowledges the sick child, Kevin Jeremie
Papal Visit to St. Lucia , July 7, 1986

42. The Kevin Jeremie Story
Pope John Paul II blesses and kisses the sick child
Papal Visit to St. Lucia , July 7, 1986

43. The Kevin Jeremie Story
Mrs. Marie Jeremie
Kevin Anthony Jeremie

44. St. Omer Murals at the Regional Seminary,
Trinidad & Tobago
Green Madonna
The Black Christ

45. St. Omer :
Yellow Madonna

46. St. Omer :
Gold Madonna

47. St. Omer Madonnas
Black Madonna
Green Madonna

48. St. Omer
Blue Madonnas

49. St. Omer : Red Madonnas

50. St. Omer :
Red Madonna

51. St. Omer : Red Madonna

52. “Holy Family Mural”, Roseau/Jacmel,
St. Omer’s
“Holy Family Mural”, Roseau/Jacmel,
as book cover