Fr George Pritchett died peacefully in his sleep on Monday 14th July 2014. He was a priest of the Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain, co-founder of Emmanuel Community and spiritual brother of Violet D’Ornellas. The funeral Mass for the late Fr George Pritchett took place on Thursday 17th July at the Church of the Nativity, Crystal Stream, at 9.30a.m. In lieu of flowers, an offering will be taken for charity. Interment will follow at Lapeyrouse Cemetery.

Fr. George Pritchett was born on June 3rd 1938 in Pointe-a-Pierre. He was baptized on April 30th the next year. He began to work in business from the tender age of 16, not unusual at that time, moving from sales to management in just five years. After an experience of Charismatic Renewal, he began working with his prayer group in 1984 to form, with Violet D’Ornellas, what became known as Emmanuel Community. His gentle charity, selfless leadership skills, teaching ability and focused determination made him a valuable team member. For six years he was a member of the CCR National Service Team and for ten years President of the Local Chapter of Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship.

In 1988, he spent six(6) months at the People of Hope Lay Community, New Jersey, USA. After this period of discernment, he felt called to priestly ordination and entered the Regional Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs. He brought his obvious maturity to Seminary life, although he was not afraid of the rough and tumble of youthful seminary camaraderie. He was known as a man of clear principles and deep caring. Although already middle-aged, he entered enthusiastically into his seminary studies, attaining the BA in Theology.

He was ordained by Archbishop Pantin on October 1, 1994, the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux. He always maintained a deep interest in and affection for this patron of his priestly ministry. Upon ordination, he became chaplain to Emmanuel Community. He was parish priest of St. Patrick’s from January to May 1995, but ill-health made full-time parish ministry difficult. Archbishop Pantin agreed that he would make Emmanuel Community his primary ministry while assisting in the parishes mainly on weekends. He once remarked, “My parents and my sister are dead. Emmanuel Community is now my family, always in the family of the Church”. He served St. Anthony’s parish, Petit Valley, faithfully for almost 20 years of mainly weekend masses, before failing health impeded that ministry.

Fr. George’s ministry of teaching, counseling and spiritual direction was sought after by many. He was totally faithful to the teaching of the papal magisterium, willing to explore further whenever he was challenged from any quarter. In his own suffering, he was a model of the priest-victim, uniting himself with Christ into whom he had been baptized. Time spent with him, especially in the latter years was always inspirational and spiritually sustaining. He never complained or made demands for himself, even when he was entitled so to do. Only one thing mattered to him – that Christ should live in him.

He was Emmanuel Community’s gift to the diocese. He was able to ground his priestly ministry in that community and the diocese thanks its members for all the support they offered him through the years. May he rest in peace.

Office of the Vicar for Clergy.