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Living Water celebrates 15 years in ‘Bim’

Couples renew their marriage commitment during the LWC Barbados Covenant Night Mass.

The witness of Living Water Community (LWC) for the past 15 years in Barbados has touched many areas of life in that country, said Apostolic Administrator of Bridgetown, Archbishop Jason Gordon.

In his homily at a Mass at the LWC Centre in St David’s, Christ Church, Archbishop Gordon said “Living Water” has flowed to its members, the diocese, the wider society, the poor and Catholic media in Barbados. He added that ecclesial movements like LWC represented a new wave of missionary zeal, a new manifestation of a way of living for Christ, “another way of being Church”.

The 15th anniversary celebration of LWC’s Barbados Mission coincided with its annual Covenant Night Mass on January 26. Covenant Night is when members renew their commitment to the Community, new members are welcomed, and persons make/renew their promises to live consecrated life.

Among other things, LWC’s Barbados Mission is involved in ministry to the poor and homeless; runs groups for women, men, children and youth; offers counselling; and visits homes for the elderly, shut-ins and two youth detention centres. The Mission is also pursuing the construction of a cancer hospice in collaboration with other groups and individuals.

Rose Jackman, LWC Co-Foundress and Director of Missions, said: “We give God thanks for all those persons who have made our Barbados Mission possible and who help sustain our ministries.”

In interviews with Trinity TV, a media ministry of LWC, several persons spoke about the impact the Barbados Mission has had on them. Andrew Foster said community life gave him the opportunity to “stretch”. He explained: “If you don’t stretch, you stay in one position all the time. By getting involved in a ministry…it gives you the opportunity to stretch yourself and that stretch brings growth.”

Allison Pile said Living Water brought her back to the Catholic Church and now she was very active in her parish. Diana Moe, meanwhile, recalled how LWC came to Barbados just at the right time to help build the community of Catholics that had been forming in Beulah, St Philip. That community grew into the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish.

Among those concelebrating the Mass were Vicar General Msgr Vincent Harcourt Blackett, Frs Clement Paul, Vibert Stephens, Peter Clarke OP and Andy Nyga SAC. The congregation included LWC Director and Co-Foundress Rhonda Maingot, Assistant Director Rosemary Scott, who helped start the Barbados Mission in 2003, as well as some Ursuline and Franciscan Sisters.

Mass was followed by dinner.