ANTIGUA
While the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to threaten future events, the resiliency of faithful of the Diocese of St John’s-Basseterre will not allow anything to thwart its effort in celebrating and preparing for the Diocese’s Golden Jubilee, January 16, 2021.
In fact, according to a report from AEC Communications, there are a few projects being realised even amidst all the uncertainty.
A Golden Jubilee magazine is being prepared. It is intended that this magazine will showcase the history of the churches in the diocese which comprises the islands of Antigua/Barbuda, St Kitts/Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands.
“It will also be an attractive time capsule that will inform how far this diocese has come since 1971,” the report said.
In addition to this magazine, the diocese’s annual Liturgical Calendar is being prepared as an addendum to the chronicling of the diocese’s journey over the past 50 years. An official logo has been designed and this will be showcased on all paraphernalia associated with the diocese’s milestone.
The report highlighted that parishioners have also been “extremely generous” in offering an EC $50 donation as a symbolic gesture for the jubilee. Plans for a full celebration to include the Anniversary Mass and other activities are currently being discussed.
All churches in the diocese are opened with strict regulations/guidelines.
Meanwhile, in John Hughes in Antigua, a Marian shrine is being created on the grounds of the Mount Tabor Retreat Center. This project began in July 2020 and is currently an active project in its last stages.
According to the report, Bishop Robert Llanos’ intricate design ideas and attention to fine details allowed for a transformation “that could only have been imagined by him”.
“Bishop Llanos, who no doubt had spent quite some time to envision and develop this project managed to creatively transform a cultural piece history namely a sugar mill, into a place of meditation and solace where one can pray, reflect and enjoy nature. It is quite calming to see a statue of our Blessed Mother at the top of this sugar mill overlooking the luscious nature of the countryside.”
“The one thing that this project has shown thus far is the many hats he wears—project manager, contractor and even construction worker.”