'Serve under God to be great'

The passionate message “If you want to be great, serve under God!” was given by Apostolic Administrator of Diocese of Bridgetown, the Most Reverend Dr. Charles Jason Gordon during the 120th anniversary of the dedication of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church on Sunday.

To a church with standing room only, Dr. Gordon added that the culture Barbadians are living in is a “new paganism” and there is a need for a “new Patrick” in this time to bring a message of hope to the people.

“[This is needed for] a people whose imagination is filled with worldliness, where the Gospel and the messages of the Cross no longer have a central base in the hearts, minds, and imagination of so many of our people,” said Dr. Gordon.

Church and Catholics resilient
The Chief Celebrant preached that the purpose of the church is not to have nice buildings but to house a people whose life is given to God. He reminded the congregation of the history of the church where in the past, in England, it was illegal to be Catholic and in Barbados – the challenges of proclaiming one’s faith. He noted the construction of the church in 1840, destruction by fire in June 1897 and its rebuild in 1899.

“[This] speaks to a resilient people, a people who were not going to be pushed back because the circumstances were not in their favour,” said the Most Reverend Dr. Charles Jason Gordon.

Circumstances of Christianity not in our favour
Despite overcoming past challenges, new ones have emerged. The Most Reverend Dr. Charles Jason Gordon said that the circumstances of Christianity today is not in our favour partly because the bright light of Jesus Christ is not shining out of us by our example and how we are living.

He added on the 120th anniversary, this was a wonderful time to consider the journey; the move from slavery to freedom that each one of us is invited to. He asked the church if they wanted to be religious when it is convenient or did they want to belong completely to God? He noted that the answer was found in the Word of God.

“The joy of the Gospel will bring conversion to the hearts of the people and their imagination about how [they] will face the darkness that [they] are living in and make it out of that darkness, the wonderful, resplendent light that is Jesus Christ, himself,” said the Most Rev. Dr. Charles Jason Gordon.

In his message from the Diocese, the Most Rev. Dr. Charles Jason Gordon said that the ”church is a beacon of hope and a symbol of faith and commitment in spite of many obstacles.”

At the end of the service, in the presence of Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason, Governor General of Barbados, Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and members of her Cabinet, the Most Rev. Dr. Charles Jason Gordon and Father Vibert Stephens unveiled a painting created by renowned local artist, Coral Bernadine. This artwork represented the parishes in Barbados and the existing Catholic churches.