St Joseph RC, Scarborough to be consecrated on its Feast Day (March 20, 2023)

After being postponed twice, in 2021 and 2022 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the consecration of the St Joseph RC Church, Scarborough will finally take place 5.30 p.m. today, Monday March 20.

Archbishop Jason Gordon will be the main celebrant.

The Catholic News team currently in Tobago spoke briefly to Agnes Murray of the St Joseph RC Parish Office on the significance of the consecration.

The parish celebrated its feast day (the Feast of St Joseph) Sunday, March 19. She describes the event as a “blessing for us all”, referring to faithful and Tobagonians. “It’s a holy place now, but it will make it even holier,” Murray said.

St Joseph RC, Scarborough

She referenced that the “stone was laid since 1963”, an inscription at the front of the church. It was blessed by then-archbishop Count Finbar Ryan OP.

According to Murray, the consecration will include a “full celebration” involving blessing of candles and a “special event”- a sharing following the Mass.

“And Father [Leslie Tang Kai] insists that people not sit for that sharing. [That] they move around and communicate with one another,” Murray said.

She added, another “outstanding” element is that persons from past and present generations will be in attendance. Youth, Murray mentioned, will also be participating.

“And so, you will see aspects such as the male element. You know men for some reason like to take a background, so you will see them participating fully,” Murray said.

The countdown to the consecration begins. Follow CatholicTT for more live updates.