All things considered, “Pastoral Plan Day” was a resounding success. A jam-packed Cathedral Church on a Tuesday afternoon in downtown Port of Spain during the busy Christmas season was fantastic testimony to the growing importance in the Church of Synod Implementation.
Reception by Archbishop Gilbert of the pastoral plans from all parishes in the Archdiocese, marked a new stage in the implementation process following last January’s Synod at the Centre of Excellence. Focus now shifts to the first of three pastoral initiatives – New Evangelisation.

In his homily, the Archbishop told the congregation the pastoral plans were the first priority of the Archdiocese towards Synod Implementation. He said the preparation of the Pastoral Plans “is to build the future of the Church,” to demonstrate that the Church was alive and to re-mission the Archdiocese.

Touching on the slogan “Called to be Catholic” which has been the buzz phrase in the Archdiocese since the second quarter of the year, Archbishop Gilbert described it as a “call to rise above the comfort and become involved in mission.”

“We share the life of God; we share what is His by nature, we are missioned, sent to do things for the Lord; to proclaim the gospel, share the values and teach. If God gives you a mission, God will give you the grace to mission,” he added.

The Archbishop also thanked all those who had contributed to the realisation of the various pastoral plans and thanked them for coming to the celebration, which is a milestone in the history of the Archdiocese.

As the Implementation process moves into its second year, the New Evangelisation Department is reminding the Church that 2010 is the “Year of the Family” and it dares “Catholic Family, become what you are”. To kick off the year all Catholic families are invited to celebrate Holy Mass with their parish family on the Feast of the Holy Family, Sunday, December 27.