(Vatican Radio) Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization
of Peoples, addressed the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles on Saturday,
while on his first pastoral visit to the region.
In his address to the bishops
at the Seminary of St John Vianney and Ugandan Martyrs in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
and Tobago, the cardinal spoke of the three main challenges facing the Church in
the Caribbean: the scarcity of priests and religious, the declining number of Catholics
engaged in the life of the Church, and always decreasing financial resources.
He
encouraged the bishops in facing these problems and urged them to take the necessary
steps in fostering healthy clergy and lay communities, capable of living fully the
faith and mission of the Church.
He also pointed to signs of hope: the re-opening
of the seminary, the presence of new lay movements and religious communities, and
the institution of the permanent diaconate. He later preached at San Fernando Cathedral
in Port Hope.
Cardinal Filoni’s visit began on Friday and will continue until
4 December, with stops in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Martinique and
Guadeloupe. On Sunday, he travels to Jamaica, where the local Church is to hold a
closing mass for the Year of Faith.
Read Cardinal Filoni’s full text to
the bishops below:
Greetings: I will begin by expressing my great joy in
being invited to visit the Church in the Caribbean. It was the first area of the Americas
to hear the Good News of Christ over 400 years ago, and it is the first time that
the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples is visiting the
region. In fact, it will be my very first opportunity to meet with all of you as one
group, and my first occasion to meet with some of you in person. I would, therefore,
like to express my gratitude to Archbishop Patrick Pinder, President of the Antilles
Episcopal Conference, for inviting me and to Archbishop Joseph Harris, for his warm
welcome here, in Port of Spain, the mother Diocese for many of the other local Churches
in the Antilles.
Context: Let me first assure you all of the importance
of the Antilles Episcopal Conference for the Holy See, which is well aware of the
difficulties that you are facing, augmented in part by the great heterogeneity of
the region. You are composed of many different nation states, language groups, and
socio-economic realities. This region’s great cultural diversity is the result of
a rich and sometimes painful history, which has shaped who you are today. Along with
those peoples indigenous to the islands before the arrival of Europeans, one cannot
overlook the millions of Africans that were forcibly brought over as slaves. To these
one must add the many others who have immigrated to the region, from Europe, North
America, Africa and Asia. The resulting ethnic and cultural diversity is of great
significance for the life of the local Church and for the enculturation of the Gospel.
It also poses many challenges in making common decisions and in developing common
strategies for the formation of the clergy and for needed pastoral responses to different
problems. I would therefore encourage you to make every effort to collaborate, on
every level, so as to make the Church’s evangelizing presence even more effective
in the Antilles.
Challenges: After the enthusiasm following the Second
Vatican Council, which affirmed the importance of local cultures in the life of particular
Churches, their liturgies and pastoral programs, there was a period of disenchantment,
which resulted in a drop in vocations, a diminution in the numbers of priests and
religious, a decline in the number of Catholics and a decrease in their zeal for the
faith, and a significant reduction in financial resources available for the sustenance
of the Dioceses. These difficulties are linked to the impact of secularization and
hedonism, more prevalent in this part of the missionary world than in some others,
partly because of the influence of the many North American and European tourists that
have made the Caribbean a preferred destination for their holidays. These realities
have given rise to three major challenges, which you now face as an Episcopal Conference:
a scarcity of priests and religious, falling numbers of Catholics engaged in the life
of the Church, and a constant diminution of financial resources. These challenges
have been a source of discouragement for many of you, especially after many attempts
to confront them with different programs for which economic resources were not spared.
It would therefore be opportune to take to heart the words of Pope Francis to the
Bishops gathered in Brazil this past July: “never yield to the fear once expressed
by Blessed John Henry Newman, that “… the Christian world is gradually becoming barren
and effete, as land which has been worked out and is become sand”. We must not yield
to disillusionment, discouragement and complaint” (Address to the Bishops of Brazil
28/07/13 n.3). Let us remember that, as Blessed John Paul II noted, “the mission of
Christ the Redeemer, which is entrusted to the Church, is still very far from completion…
an overall view of the human race shows that this mission is still only beginning
and that we must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to its service” (Redemptoris Missio
nr.1).
Scarcity of Priests and Religious: The first of the three above mentioned
challenges is the most significant, since it is only with well-formed, competent,
zealous, and holy priests and religious that a local Church can be expected to grow
in enthusiasm for the faith, and be effective in evangelizing those in its ambit.
The scarcity of dedicated apostolic personnel, which you are now facing, is linked
to a number of factors. These include: a) the aging of priests and religious and their
withdrawal from active ministry, including the phenomenon of the departure of religious
communities that were once an essential part of the ecclesiastical history of the
Antilles, b) the departure of some other priests because of discouragement, and others
because of moral problems, and c) the lack of young people answering God’s call to
dedicate their lives exclusively for the proclamation of the Gospel as priests and
religious. In some of the Dioceses active programs for the Permanent Diaconate have
met with some success, providing some help with catechesis, preaching and other pastoral
activities, especially in the service of the poor. The Church cannot live and grow
without priests, who ensure that the Eucharist is celebrated and that the Sacrament
of Reconciliation is provided to the faithful, not to mention the fact that they provide
future candidates for episcopal office. Here I would like to acknowledge the work
you have already done to confront this challenge by appointing vocation directors
in every Diocese and by establishing a vocation commission on the Conference level.
Even though these initiatives may not have yet produced the longed-for results, this
does not mean that they will not bear fruit in the future. Obviously much more must
be done in the area of ongoing formation of priests and their accompaniment by their
Bishop, so that young people might encounter joyful, zealous and faithful priests.
Because only such priests will attract the young to the service of Christ.
Falling
numbers of active Catholics: The second challenge is that of (the) falling number
of Catholics in different particular Churches in the region. It is a complex reality.
In some areas, because of a downturn in the world economy, many people are emigrating
in search of employment and for a better future. In other areas some Catholics stop
practicing their faith because of a lack of priests or the poor quality of pastoral
care: poorly prepared homilies, less than adequate liturgical preparation and animation,
sub-standard catechesis, and a poor sense of community. Often what is really lacking
is a caring shepherd that is (in) their midst, one that bears “the odor of his sheep”.
As a result, some Catholics have been attracted by aggressive Pentecostal-type religious
groups, who offer a very emotional and enthusiastic display of piety and worship.
This phenomenon has also touched the great Catholic educational institutions, which
have seen an erosion of Catholic identity because of the departure of priests and
religious involved in Catholic education. Thankfully there are dedicated lay people,
many of which give clear and bold witness to their faith. Others however become discouraged
and still others are not in tune with the teaching of the Church.
New Lay
Ecclesial Movements: One must add, however, that the Antilles does have a number of
vibrant lay movements and new religious communities, who work for social development
and the care of the poor, such as the Living Water Community, the Mustard Seed Communities,
and the Missionaries of the Poor. Furthermore, I would like to applaud and support
your efforts in reaching out to Catholics who have lost their way, by various programs
and grand socio-ecclesial events. It is vital, therefore, that you do not lose heart,
or become discouraged because of less-than-adequate results of your efforts. In this
regard I would also suggest that you invite into your Dioceses some of the new ecclesial
movements and realities that have provided much needed support for lay people in the
practice of the faith through intense catechesis, joyful celebrations of the Sacraments,
marriage enrichment, and a general enthusiasm for the Faith.
Scarcity of Financial
Resources: These challenges have also resulted in decreasing financial resources
in many of your Dioceses. Notwithstanding the obvious generosity of the Catholic faithful,
who loyally and generously support their Church financially, the diminution of pastoral
personnel and of practicing Catholics has resulted in financial difficulties for many
of you. One of the consequences is not being able to adequately support the clergy,
even in the more prosperous parts of the Antilles. This problem is also being felt
on the universal level, with fewer resources flowing into the Pontifical Mission Societies.
This challenge obviously calls us to be much more attentive to the way we administer
the economic resources of the Church. We must find ways of cutting costs, by living
more simply, taking our example from the Holy Father, and by finding new sources for
financial assistance at home and abroad. Above all, it means that we must be absolutely
transparent in the financial management of our Dioceses. I would, therefore, strongly
recommend that you publish annual financial statements for the Diocese for public
perusal. This will encourage your priests to be more transparent in the administration
of their parishes. After all, how can we ask our priests to be transparent, if we
ourselves do not provide the first example? I applaud the efforts of your Episcopal
Conference, which has made laudable efforts in keeping costs down. Deacon Michael
James, your Secretary General, and his wife, Maria, have been very generous in their
work of the Conference. Thankfully, you also have the support of the Pontifical Commission
for Latin America, which provides much needed subsidies.
The Bishops and their
Ministry: Dear Brothers, it is up to us to confront the challenges with courage.
We are the ones ultimately responsible for the spiritual well-being of the local Church.
We have been chosen by the Lord to serve His flock and to tend His sheep, not our
own. It is up to us to begin the process of revitalizing the Faith in our particular
Churches. It is up to us to find new and creative ways to proclaim God’s Word, in
all its integrity, in a way that will draw people to Christ and to His Church. This
will require great efforts in providing the necessary leadership for our clergy, the
religious collaborating with us, and for our faithful.
Pope Francis, speaking
to the Bishops of CELAM in Rio de Janeiro (July 28, 2013), advised them with these
words: “Please take seriously our vocation as the servants of the Holy People of God…
Bishops must be Pastors, close to the people, fathers and brothers, with much gentleness;
patient and merciful: Men who love poverty, as interior poverty as freedom before
the Lord, as exteriorp overty as simplicity and austerity of life, men who…are husbands
of a Church without waiting for another. Men able to keep watch over the flock entrusted
to them and to their care…who have brightness and light in their hearts.” He further
commented: “The place of the Bishop in standing with his people is tri-fold: in front
of them to indicate the path; in their midst to maintain unity among them; and behind
them to be sure that no one is left behind” (L’Osservatore Romano, July 29-30, 2013).
Our priests and our lay faithful must never feel abandoned by their Pastor.
I would therefore invite you not to absent yourselves from your Dioceses, but rather,
to go out and visit the parishes, not only for extraordinary sacramental celebrations,
but on a regular Sunday, meeting your priest and the People of God, offering to them
words of encouragement and challenging them to be more zealous in the practice of
their faith. Such visits also provide wonderful opportunities for you to speak to
young people directly; inviting and inspiring them to practice their faith and also
to consider follow a vocation to the Priesthood or consecrated life.
Relationship
with the Clergy: Let us also remember the important place that the clergy for our
local Churches. Paragraph 28 of Lumen tells us that priests are “prudent (providi)
cooperators with the Episcopal Order… [and that they] constitute one Priesthood with
their Bishop”. As “collaborators”, they enjoy the right to fully participate in the
pastoral ministry of the Bishop, not only as pastors of parishes and holders of Diocesan
offices, but also through their participation in various Diocesan Bodies that are
mandated by canon law. It is vital, therefore, that each Diocese have an active college
of consultors (c. 502), a functioning presbyteral council (c. 495), and an effective
financial council (c. 492). Above all it is necessary to maintain positive, paternal
and fraternal relationships with your clergy, being firm, when necessary, but always
having at heart the priest’s ongoing spiritual, cultural, and pastoral formation.
The Holy Father’s words addressed to newly appointed Bishops this past September are
very illuminating. “I would like to remember affection for your priests. Your priests
are your first neighbor…— love your neighbor …your priests are indispensable collaborators
of whom to seek counsel and help and for whom you should care as fathers, brothers
and friends. One of your priority tasks is the spiritual care of the presbyterate,
but do not forget the human needs of each individual priest, especially in the most
delicate and important events in their ministry and their life. The time you spend
with your priests is never wasted!” (19/09/2013).
I therefore ask you to
exhort and inspire your priests to a more authentic and sincere obedience to their
Bishops and legitimate Superiors, and to lead the faithful with a humble attitude.
Encourage them to ever greater detachment from money and material goods. Challenge
them also to be careful and faithful to established norms in their celebration of
the Liturgy.
It is also important to remember that because among your clergy
there is much diversity, it is very important that the Bishop promote and cultivate
real communion and mutual respect among the clergy, encouraging them to work zealously
together as an effective evangelizing force. The fact that your Dioceses have both
diocesan and religious priests, some born locally, others coming as missionaries to
the Antilles, can sometimes (be) a pretext for tension and division. But in reality,
this diversity is really a great blessing, because it provides a wider perspective
and an opportunity to appreciate the universality of the Church. Since I will not
be able to meet all of your priest collaborators, please convey to them my cordial
greetings and assure them of my prayers.
Formation: Adequate formation of
the clergy, both initial and ongoing, is another important area of concern. The Holy
Father emphasized this point in his address in Rio de Janeiro this past July, when
he said: “unless we train ministers capable of warming people’s hearts, of walking
with them in the night, of dialoguing with their hopes and disappointments, of mending
their brokenness, what hope can we have for our present and future journey?...That
is why it is important to devise and ensure a suitable formation, on which will provide
persons able to step into the night without being overcome by the darkness and losing
their bearing: able to listen to people’s dreams without being seduced and to share
their disappointments without losing hope and becoming bitter: able to sympathize
with the brokenness of others without losing their own strength and identity ” (loc.
cit. n. 4). In this context, the desire to reopen St. John Vianney Major Seminary
in this Archdiocese is very laudable, providing that it will have an adequate number
of good priest formators, who will mentor the candidates by their own personal example
of priestly integrity and transparency. Furthermore, the seminary must provide a clear
and unambiguous presentation of the Church’s doctrine and moral teaching, especially
in the area of human sexuality and celibacy. Finally, it should inspire the candidate
to mission, to be zealous in the proclamation of the Gospel, and selfless in the service
of the faithful.
Clerical Discipline: Let us now turn to the delicate area
of clerical discipline. You may have in your Diocese clerics who have sadly fallen
into immoral and scandalous behavior. As a father, you must always begin by assuring
the Priest of your paternal concern and compassion for him. Then, you must kindly,
but firmly, call him back, providing adequate time and spiritual/psychological resources
that could be needed to heal the spiritual/moral illness that the priest may be embroiled
in. However, after a prudent amount of time, if the behavior continues, and it is
clear that the priest is incorrigible, it is absolutely essential to take the necessary
canonical steps, either inviting the priest to ask for a dispensation from his clerical
obligations, or to begin the process of dismissal in poenam from the clerical state.
In this matter, the Ordinary must follow all of the canonical requirements, gathering
clear evidence, not based on hearsay, but on actual witnesses, remembering that a
priest accused of serious breaches in his promise of obedience and/or chaste celibacy,
has the right to a regular and serious investigation, which includes the opportunity
for self-defense. If there are any victims involved as a result of a priest’s behavior,
they must be taken care of with compassion. The priest himself should provide help
from his own resources, if at all possible, to such victims. Difficulties with our
clergy must be faced with courage and perseverance, for the good of the faithful,
so that a climate of trust and confidence is provided for in the Diocese.
Relationship
with the Religious: With regard to your relationship with the men and women religious
in your Dioceses, I would strongly encourage an attitude of respect, dialogue, and
collaboration at every level. Local Churches need their unique charisms. Let us, therefore,
remember the principle of subsidiarity, which allows everyone to find their proper
place as they contribute to the common good. Let us not be discouraged by the aging
and departure of some religious communities from our Dioceses, rather, let us notice
many new Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, which are
attracting young vocations and offering wonderful service to the Church. I would invite
you to seek them out and invite them into your Dioceses.
Conclusion: Dear
Brothers, before I conclude, I would like to renew my appreciation for your generous
pastoral care, for your unwavering communion with the Holy Father, and for all of
the good that you do at the universal level to support the missions throughout the
world. Thank you for your positive attitude with which you have met the faithful
in the Antilles, who are, at this very moment, in my thoughts and prayers.
May
Christ, our Master and Lord, bless you, and, as He asked the Father to safeguard the
faith of Peter, may the Father grant that the Episcopal Ministry entrusted to you
be both fruitful and generous. May Mary, Queen of the Apostles, accompany you with
her maternal care and Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, Patroness of the Missions,
inspire you and the Churches that you shepherd to every greater holiness and zeal
for the task of evangelization.