St John’s, October 2015. The British and Irish Delegation in conjunction with the Delegation for the Caribbean of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George is pleased to report on the ongoing progress of the charitable projects, which were launched in 2014 in partnership with the Roman Catholic Diocese of St John’s-Basseterre.
The Constantinian Order co-financed 2015 edition of the Antilles Episcopal Conference Youth Assembly took place in Antigua between 12-19 July 2015. The Youth Assembly, with the theme ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’, had young Catholics from across the wider Caribbean region attending various workshops and missionary works. Present during the Assembly were HE Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, Apostolic Nuncio, The Most Rev Robert Rivas, Archbishop of Castries, The Most Rev Kenneth Richards, Chairman of the AEC Youth Commission, The Most Rev Jason Gordon, Bishop of Bridgetown & Kingstown, The Most Rev Gabriel Malzaire, Bishop of Roseau, The Most Rev Luis Secco, Bishop of Willemstad, The Most Rev Emanuel Lafont, Bishop of Cayenne, The Most Rev Francis Alleyne, Bishop of St George’s, The Most Rev Jean Yves Riocreux, Bishop of Basse-Terre, alongside over 300 priests and pilgrims from 16 Dioceses and Archdioceses.
The new West Wing of the St Joseph’s Academy in St John’s is now nearing completion, despite the heavy rain and storms that affected the region over the Hurricane season. The original building was demolished and a new two storey administration and classroom block has emerged. The funding of the Order paid for the structural steel frame and concrete for the new building. The official opening of the new block is planned for 13 January 2016, which is the anniversary of St Joseph’s Academy.
The construction works on the Community Outreach Centre in Hatton have been progressing at a steady pace and on schedule. The building of both interior and exterior roofs and walls are continuing and plumbing and electrical systems have been updated. This project is expected to be completed by the end of February 2016, thanks to the valuable support of the Constantinian Order.
After years of being closed to the public, the renovation and restoration of St Joseph’s and St Patrick’s Catholic Church was started in May 2015. Currently the progress is ongoing with the reinforcement of the existing walls and the reconstruction of the choir area. Support columns were previously set up and the whole area has been treated for termites. This project is expected to be completed by mid May 2016.
The Delegate Anthony Bailey expressed his delight at the progress of the projects, stating that: “I am delighted that the Constantinian Order, through the generosity of its members and friends, is funding these worthy projects in Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean region. It is our belief that by supporting events like building schools, training facilities, libraries, places of worship, we provide an opportunity to build development, strong values and a better future for the youth of Antigua and Barbuda and beyond.”
The charitable programme commenced followed the highly successful Official Visit of the Grand Master HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and the Grand Prior, HE Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino, and delegation to Antigua and Barbuda from 1-4 November 2014.
