Make ordination a spiritual experience – Bishop-elect Harvey

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Make ordination a spiritual experience – Bishop-elect Harvey

GRENADA

Bishop-elect of St George’s-in-Grenada, Msgr Clyde Harvey said that he hoped his Episcopal Ordination may be a deep spiritual experience for all, and an awareness that God is in everything. He said that he wants to live by the watchwords ‘Look, Listen, Learn, Love and Laugh’, to see the humour in all situations and know that God always laughs with us.

Msgr Harvey urged the faithful to be enthusiastic and patient in meeting the challenges of the upcoming months, adding that one such challenge is the hosting of his July 29 ordination, one he described as a call to renew one’s commitment to Christ and His Body.

“Every situation you face these days can draw you closer to God, to love more truly our brothers and sisters. This requires spiritual preparation. You have already received the prayer for your new bishop (see prayer); pray it every day. Take some time to add each day, a prayer for your own- – for the diocese,” he said in a message to Grenada Catholics in the July issue of the Catholic Focus publication.

The bishop-elect urged the faithful to welcome visitors as “brothers and sisters in Christ” noting that host and guest are primary realities in the Christian encounter. “All of us must see those who join us from other places as guests in whom we see Christ Himself,” he said.

A message from the Ordination Preparation Committee (OPC) stated that in order to cater for the very large numbers expected to attend the ordination ceremony, the OPC is “seriously considering holding it at a venue other than the Cathedral”.

The committee extended warm hospitality to visitors and urged parishioners to “open their homes to visiting Catholic brothers and sisters for a four-day Catholic home stay.”

It mentioned that Msgr Harvey will take the Oath of Allegiance which all bishops-elect are required to take on July 27 at St Mark’s RC Church where he was ordained a deacon years ago by then Bishop Sydney Charles. Other bishops are expected to attend, and Evening Prayer of the Church will be celebrated.

Before the midday Mass in the Cathedral on July 28, Bishop-elect Harvey will pray at the tombs of his predecessors, Bishop Justin Field and Bishop Vincent Darius OP and the graves of the five other priests who are buried there.

Bishop Harvey will celebrate Mass at the Missionaries of Charity home for the aged on July 30, and all are invited to a social gathering titled ‘Beach with the Bish’ at 2.30 p.m. later that day.

Pre-Ordination Prayer for Bishop-Elect

A special prayer has been done as Bishop-elect Clyde Harvey prepares for his episcopal ordination on July 29.

Gracious and loving God, Thank you for choosing Clyde Martin Harvey to be the shepherd of your  people in Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Fill him with your Spirit, enfold him in your love.  May he always be Your LOVING KINDNESS  for our islands and for all our people. Give him an abundance of your wisdom so that he may look, listen and learn to see you  in every person and your Reign in every situation he meets. This we ask through JESUS  your Son and Son of Mary Immaculate. AMEN.