This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC) and its contribution to ecumenism and social development throughout the entire Caribbean Region – Dutch, English, French and Spanish.

Through the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC), the Roman Catholic Church was a founding member of the CCC. As one of its current 32 member churches, our Church remains committed to the CCC and its tremendous work of enhancing the quality of life of so many persons throughout the Region. Over the years, the organisation has worked in a number of areas of development including: appropriate technology (e.g. solar heating); a response to HIV/AIDS; micro-enterprise development and disaster management.
As we acknowledge this significant milestone of the CCC, it seems fitting that, as a member Church, we renew our support for the organisation and its work in a very tangible manner. Toward this end, I have decided to reinstate the previous practice of an annual archdiocesan collection for the work of the CCC. In this regard, I have further decided that the collection taken up in all parishes of the Archdiocese on Pentecost Sunday be given to the CCC for its work in ecumenism and development in the Caribbean. This particular Sunday seems most appropriate, since the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on Pentecost Sunday.
I encourage you to give very generously to this particular cause. We wish the CCC a vivacious renewal in the years ahead.

+Joseph E Harris,

Archbishop of Port of Spain