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Teenager M-Wai Nelson was among 17 new Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist commissioned in the Parish of Tortuga.
The March 17 commissioning ceremony took place at the iconic Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat during the 7 a.m. Mass before a congregation of family, friends, well-wishers, and a group of Siparia parish pilgrims. Parish priest Fr Shijo Abraham MSFS officiated.
At 17, Nelson was the youngest of the new Ministers, but he’s not new to service in the church. He is a Lector, assists with sacristan duties, and plays percussion (African drums and drum set) and the steelpan with the parish youth choir.
Nelson shared what inspired him to volunteer. “What led me to being an Extraordinary Minister was family involvement. My grandmother, God bless her soul, was involved in Extraordinary Ministry and my mom always wanted to be an Extraordinary Minister.
“So part of it was being an Extraordinary Minister for her and also for myself to encourage the youths to get involve in these. Not many youths want to get involve in these because of confidence or how people would look at them. So, I just want to be a face for the youths to get them involve in certain ministries.”
He added, “I also wanted to broaden my horizons and I am glad that I made this decision and I fully enjoy it.”
Apart from Nelson, there was mother Judith Douglas Davis and her daughter, Atisha Hudlin Pierre, and many young adults.
“We have young adults and that was my greatest joy” said Janet Chinnia, who was responsible for the training and preparation of the participants. “When I saw them, I did everything in my power, mainly prayer power, to keep them.”
It all began with a request from Fr Abraham that more Extraordinary Ministers were needed, said Chinnia, “and he asked me if I would train them and we got a very good response.”
“They were very faithful, the time was on Sundays from 4 to 5 p.m., and we began every session with the Lectio Divina and the Gospel of the day and that is what helped them through.”
— Story and photo by Elmo Griffith
