As crime escalates, St Lucia Catholics hold march for peace

Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire of Castries called on all St Lucians to join in a “prayerful battle” Sunday, April 16, Divine Mercy Sunday for a prayerful march of solidarity and peace in Vieux Fort, St Lucia, a declared escalated crime area according to several media reports.

In a media release dated April 12, the Archbishop stated that he, the clergy, religious and faithful of the Catholic community, members of other Christian denominations and the general citizenry of St Lucia, are all “very perturbed” by the escalation of violence in the country, and more particularly in the town of Vieux Fort in recent time.

“This, no doubt is a cause of immeasurable pain to our entire country, but especially the immediate families, friends, and relatives of the victims of these crimes. Even harder to console would be the loved ones of those who were innocent victims,” the Archbishop said in the release.

The march began at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption where there was a period for reflection and prayers. Following this was a procession with the Blessed Sacrament through Vieux Fort’s main streets. Invited to wear something white to symbolise peace, marchers stopped at intervals along the way, to offer special prayers for God’s guidance, deliverance, and protection.

“Please come and be united in prayer: for the families directly affected by this present scourge; for the repose of the souls of those who have perished, especially the innocent; for the conversion of the perpetrators and their enablers and for the protection of all of us, who are also in danger,” the release said. Until everyone is safe, no one is safe the Archbishop underscored. —KJ