Issued December 2, 2011

When coadjutor Archbishop Joseph Everard Harris is installed as the tenth Archbishop of Port of Spain, during a ceremony at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Thursday, December 8, 2011, his immediate predecessor Archbishop Gilbert will not be in attendance.

Archbishop Gilbert, who has been ill for several weeks, is scheduled to undergo surgery in New York in the coming days. He was due to retire on December 26, the day he turns 75.

In the absence of Archbishop Gilbert, Fr Daniele Liessi, secretary to the Nunciature, will assist with the Installation, in the presence of the clergy, religious and laity. The Mass of Installation begins at 5 p.m.

Fr. Harris, aged 69, was ordained coadjutor Archbishop last September 14 by Archbishop Gilbert during an impressive ceremony at the Cathedral attended by a host of bishops from the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC), local religious and members of the laity from parishes across the Archdiocese.

At the ceremony of installation taking place on the Cathedral’s feast day the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Co-Adjutor Archbishop Harris will become Archbishop Harris and will immediately assume full jurisdiction over the Archdiocese, replacing Archbishop Gilbert.

According to Monsignor Michael de Verteuil, Chair of the Liturgical Commission of the Archdiocese, the ceremony will be simple. Archbishop Harris will be led to the cathedra (The Archbishop’s Chair) and presented with his crosier. Fr Kenneth Assing, Cathedral Administrator, will officially welcome the new Archbishop to the Cathedral.

It is hoped that Archbishop Gilbert will return to Trinidad and Tobago after his recovery for an appropriate farewell after his 10 years of dedicated service to the Archdiocese.