St Benedict’s seminary closes
October 13, 2017
Great response to hurricane appeal
October 13, 2017

New Canon Law Society executive

Fr Roger Paponette of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain has been voted in as the new President of the Antilles Canon Law Society. He will lead a new executive composed of Vice President, Bernadette Salandy; Secretary, Ken Chang On; Treasurer, Johanna Gurran (all from the Archdiocese of Port of Spain); and committee members, Frs Carl Haynes (Diocese of St George’s-in-Grenada) and Pierre Tevi- Benissan (Diocese of St John’s-Basseterre, Antigua and Barbuda).

The new executive was voted in during the Society’s annual general meeting held during the 13th annual convention, September 25– 28 at the Benedictine monastery, Mount of Prayer, Coubaril, St Lucia (see CN October 1).

In a letter sent to ACLS members, the outgoing executive – AEC General Secretary Fr John Persaud (President), Elaine Thomas (Vice President), Surendranauth Persaud (Treasurer) and Gillian Van Sluytman (Secretary) – extended its heartfelt congratulations and support to their successors. They also thanked members for the “support and co-operation given to us during our two years”.

In recapping last month’s convention, the statement said it “was a huge success” as ACLS members were fortunate to have Professor Emeritus Fr Frank Morrisey presenting on ‘Mitis Iudex Dominus – The Brief Process’, ‘The Code of Canon Law’, and ‘Amoris Laetitia.

Meanwhile, the presentation by Professor Michael Nobel, ‘Choosing the right Grounds’ and an interactive workshop on ‘The Auditor and instructing a case’ were well received. Another guest speaker, Professor Chad Glendinnings spoke on Ministers of Divine Justice and Mercy, and ‘Pray, Pay and Obey – A Reexamination on the Rights and Obligations of the Laity in the Church’. Fr Persaud spoke on ‘Preparation for marriage’.

The outgoing executive also acknowledged the recent natural disasters, and offered prayers for members affected like Fr Jan Pastuszszak (Virgin Gorda), and Fr Charles Martin and Carnette Pemberton from Dominica.