A tribute to Fr Herbert

By Senator Hazel Thompson-Ahye

On Saturday, January 6, 2024, I attended the celebration service to mark the retirement of Fr Herbert Charles CSSp from active priestly ministry. It was a service of thanksgiving for his work in a ministry, where he had served with fidelity and distinction for 51 years. It was held at St Patrick’s RC Church, Newtown, where he served his last assignment as a parish priest.

I have known Fr Charles for almost 30 years. We had met when he became my parish priest in the Holy Trinity Parish, encompassing Arouca, Tacarigua, Lopinot, Surrey and later, Oropune Gardens.

He was much loved in our parish. God had blessed him with many gifts. His inspirational sermons were riveting and memorable. While he was speaking, your mind never wandered from the church to the kitchen. His friendliness, ready smile and hearty, infectious laughter, and penchant for giving practical advice endeared him to us.

He was gently persuasive and caused many of us to get involved in various parish ministries. He recognised the various gifts of parishioners and encouraged them to share their talents with the church.

With his encouragement, I established a Legal Aid Clinic with a team of lawyers to offer legal advice to members of the parish. Today, the Clinic continues with my daughter, Krystle, at the helm.

He persuaded my younger sister, Helena, to become a lay minister and she has been conducting services there for many years.

Fr Charles asked me, as a prelude to the formation of a parish Men’s Ministry, to organise a series of lectures where men would be able to talk to each other on several topics.

I put together a distinguished team comprising the Honourable Justice Rolston Nelson, esteemed psychologist Frank Dolly, and the unforgettable Fr Michael Makhan. No women were allowed to attend, and it seemed to have been a thought- provoking series. Today, the Men’s Ministry continues and the Men’s Choir, which serenades us, mothers, on Mother’s Day is appreciated.

One thing that was noteworthy was Fr Charles’ insistence on showing his gratitude. Thus, he provided me with funding to buy a gift for each presenter in the series of lectures for the men.

Before I left to reside in The Bahamas, he organised a farewell reception and gave me some beautiful gifts, including a gold medal embossed with praying hands. I was saddened when my home was broken into some years later and the medal was stolen.

Fr Charles was a miracle worker who knew the power of prayer. When I was organising a workshop on juvenile justice to be held at Hilton hotel in The Bahamas, my presentation disappeared from my computer as I was about to print the slides.

Several people tried to retrieve it, without success. It was impossible to re-create such a comprehensive presentation in the limited time available. Near tears, I phoned Fr Charles in Trinidad. He said, “Don’t worry. It will be all right. Let’s pray about it.”

In the middle of my prayers, I remembered that I had sent my presentation to the paediatrician who was lecturing on child and adolescent development. I immediately contacted her, and she sent it to me.

I called Fr Charles and told him the problem had been solved. I later reported to him that the workshop had been a tremendous success.

Over the years, I have benefitted from his words of wisdom. In return, I have prayed for and visited him through his bouts of illnesses and the recovery process. Priests are human and as he grieved over the death of his beloved brother, Fr Henry Charles, I tried to console him.

My mother always urged us to pray for priests as she said they would be under attack as they do God’s work. Accordingly, I dedicate the following prayer from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to Fr Charles.

“Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests.

Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.

Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.

Set their souls on fire with love for your people.

Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.

Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.

Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.

Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest, Amen.”