Strengthening the Church: An interview with Fr Harold Imamshah

Fr Harold Imamshah, the Parish Priest in Carenage and Chairman of the Association of Diocese and Priests of the province of Port of Spain, offered insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the Catholic Church in the region on Altos.

The province of Port of Spain is one of three or four such provinces in the Caribbean, each led by an archbishop. This province includes the dioceses of Port of Spain, Georgetown in Guyana, Bridgetown in Barbados, Paramaribo in Suriname, and Willemstad in Aruba, Bonnaire, Curacao, and Saint Martin.

He provided a glimpse into the annual conference of the Association, which brings together priests from across this Caribbean province. He explained the distinction between diocesan priests and religious order priests, noting, “Every bishop or archbishop has a squadron of priests, an army of priests of the diocese, and they help him in framing the vision, in completing the work, in caring for the faithful.”

One of the main topics discussed at the recent conference included the importance of friendship and support among priests. As Fr Imamshah explained, “Foremost in our mind might well be the conference given by Fr Martin Sirju, the Vicar General of this diocese, on friendship in the priesthood, friendship and support of one another, friendship of at least one supportive priest in our diocese and lifetime.”

He elaborated on the significance of these themes, noting that cultivating strong friendships and support networks among the clergy is crucial. He said, “Fr Don Chambers did a lot of good work on seeing the Synodal Church as the bus in which all of us travel with different passengers, different time schedules, sometimes a bit crowded, sometimes over-crowded. I myself spoke with the brothers towards the end, looking specifically at the Son, Jesus, as our model of partnership, of relationship, of relating patterns with the Father, never taking credit, but always depending on the Father.”

The Association is working to strengthen the bonds within the clergy and foster a sense of unity in their shared mission. This focus on fraternity and mutual care helps the priests better support one another and effectively serve their communities

In addressing the vocation crisis, Fr Imamshah highlighted the efforts of the Archdiocese to engage young people, stating, “One of the ways that the Association endeavours to meet young people, to introduce vocations, encourage vocations, is to go into the schools in any territory that we visit and make real contact with them.” He noted the importance of making priests more approachable and bridging the gap between the clergy and the youth.

“I would say contact with young people, young adults groups, even in the Confirmation preparation is probably a very good idea to not only prepare young people for the vocation of marriage, but the vocation to religious life, to priesthood, the diaconate,” he explained. By fostering closer connections between priests and young people, the Church aims to nurture future vocations and strengthen the relationship between the clergy and the younger generation.

Recognising the shortage of male participation in the Church, Fr Imamshah advocated for a renewed focus on men’s ministry. “I think we need to revitalise the existing men’s groups. I believe also we need to push a little bit more with those fathers who are married and even those who are unmarried to feel welcome, to feel part of the whole,” he said.

The interview also touched on the issue of crime, which he described as a “cancer in the region.” Sharing his personal experiences, he recounted how he began holding Masses in different areas of Carenage, an area grappling with high crime rates.

“When I first went to Carenage some years ago, the murder rate just began to climb within weeks of each murder. I felt really sorry that as a Church, we weren’t saying anything. So I took Thursdays to begin a Mass in a different area, and I asked people, ‘Let’s have a Mass in a house, especially where somebody has died.’ And we were doing this for six weeks. And one day a lady said to me, ‘Father, the killings have stopped.'”

Father Imamshah underscored the importance of the Church’s presence in the community, meeting people where they are, and bringing the message of prayer and hope to those affected by the scourge of crime. “So it’s clear that when we bring prayer, when we unashamedly bring Church outside of Church into the areas, into the families, that even the gangsters become more familiar with the Church,” he observed.

Addressing any viewers with an inclination to vocations, Fr Imamshah’s message was clear: “Come aboard. You’re welcome. You’re welcome to be part of this great family of priests.”

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