ST LUCIA
“There is nowhere else I want to be in the world, right now, because you are my first love” was the assertion made by Archbishop Robert Rivas OP of Castries, St Lucia as he celebrated a Mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Kingstown to mark his 30th anniversary of episcopal ordination January 26.
With his usual spirit-filled sermon, Archbishop Rivas had the congregation singing and dancing as he recounted the experiences of his journey. He shared his readiness to serve upon hearing the news of being appointed bishop to Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, a place he had never visited before. He used this to encourage the congregation to be ready to serve.
In keeping with the first observance of the Sunday of the Word of God, Archbishop Rivas exhorted the congregation to “Give the Word a chance to shape your life”.
Archbishop Rivas was appointed the first bishop of the Diocese of Kingstown on January 22, 1990 the day Kingstown became a diocese of its own. He has since been succeeded by Archbishop Jason Gordon (2011–2016), then Bishop Gerard County CSSp, the present bishop.