Bishop Persaud for annual Mass

GUYANA

Organisers of what is known as the annual ‘Guyanese New York Mass’ which is held in New York, USA are planning to hold the event later this year. Last year’s Mass was celebrated virtually.

The main celebrant for this year’s Mass will be Guyana-born Bishop John Persaud of Mandeville, Jamaica. The Mass is scheduled to take place 2.30 p.m. Sunday, October 10 at the St Francis of Assisi – St Blaise Parish, Brooklyn, New York.

According to diocesan weekly Catholic Standard, the Mass, which is now in its 31st year, was conceived by Guyana-born Msgr Paul Jervis when he was a priest in New York as an opportunity for Guyanese in the US to come together and pray for their country.

“The first organisers were mainly former altar servers from Brickdam Cathedral, with much assistance from other Catholics from Guyana now based in Canada and the USA. It was customary [to] invite a priest from Guyana to be the chief celebrant at the Mass, or a priest from abroad who has had close relations with Guyana. The Mass is attended by many Guyanese Catholics and their American friends,” the article said.

Even a few Guyanese Catholics who are based in Canada have in the past travelled hundreds of miles from across the border to attend. For all, it is a time to pray for Guyana. It is also an opportunity to donate to a special collection which is taken up every year for projects in Guyana and to contribute to the other fundraising events which are held at this time, the report mentioned.

At the end of the Mass there is a reception and cultural event at which those attending enjoy a variety of Guyanese food and drinks and reminisce about life and living back in their ‘Beautiful Guyana’.