Rosemarie Siewnarine
A journey, which began with one single step and bore fruits of hope, joy, peace, love, ministry and healing to people, continued on the opening of the 10th annual outreach sanctioning the awesome power of God in the lives of his people. The parish of Carapichaima RC held its 10th annual crusade and outreach ministry on Monday, March 12, 2019 to Friday, March 14, 2019, with the theme Let not your heart be troubled (Jn 14:1). The crusade commenced at 6:00 p.m. with the rosary, followed by prayers of intercessions and praise and worship led by Dominic Nelson and members of the Carapichaima RC parish choir.
On Monday, March 11 Fr Robert Christo encouraged all present to read the Word of God and reverently had the Bible processed into the crowd accompanied by altar servers. He told the congregation that Christ loved the poor and so if you want more of anything give it away—love, peace, joy. The night ended with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and healing as he processed throughout the crowd and invited all present to come forward to reach out and touch Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Fr Urban Hudlin gave the analogy of boats wrecked on a reef on the Tuesday night. Yet in all the trouble in our lives, Christ shows up: “Let not your hearts be troubled”. He used the rains that fell to tell the congregation that night to encourage seeking shelter in God and ended by saying when our wrecked ship is fixed, returned or moves again we rejoice, therefore we must rejoice when the lost is found and let God have His way.
Fr Ransom shared in his testimony Wednesday 13 on his studies in Canada and how he prayed specifically about passing his Hebrew and Greek. He did his thesis, worked hard at it but was crushed when it was shredded. However, God never left him and guided his decisions. He told the congregation to always tell God that He is in charge in our lives and God will take control.
On Thursday, March 14. Sr Deborah De Rosia reached the hearts of all present: “Let not your hearts be troubled with God’s business”. God, she reminded us, from the Old Testament to today has always taken care of His people—just like Moses leading the Israelites. If we place all our burdens in His trust and care our lives, jobs, homes, school, country and world, He will remove all the fear in our hearts. Sr Deborah then invited all to prayer and together with members of the prayer Group laid hands and anointed all.
The final night, Friday, March 15, was a night of culmination, blessing and celebration of Holy Mass. Fr Simon Peter Ango and Bishop Galt brought crusade number ten to an end with the celebration of Holy Mass. Fr Simon Peter in his homily reminded the faithful that we ought to live in Christ, forgive in Christ, be at peace in Christ, and love in Christ. He invited all to let leave their burdens at the feet of Christ. He then took all the prayer requests gathered and burnt them, offering all the prayers to God. The night ended with the Eucharist. It was indeed a successful and spirit-filled five nights as everyone left with hearts freed instead of troubled as God’s people said: “Amen”.