My early years with Archbishop Pantin

In this three part series, Msgr Christian Pereira shares more personal memories of Archbishop Anthony Pantin.

Part 1

While I was a student of St Mary’s College (CIC) in the mid-sixties, Fr Anthony Pantin CSSp was transferred from Fatima College to join the CIC teaching staff and to live as part of the Spiritan community on Frederick Street.

I was a Form Four student in the English class of Fr Pantin when the Nuncio called him for a secret and confidential meeting (December 1967). The Nuncio informed him that the Holy Father had chosen him to be the new Archbishop of Port of Spain. He was given very little time to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

After indicating his acceptance, he was sworn to confidentiality and secrecy. He could not mention this to anyone (not even to his mother, his superior, or his brother who was also a priest at St Mary’s College) until the Holy Father had made the official announcement in Rome.

The weight of those moments were carried to his heavenly Father in prayer as Fr Pantin waited patiently for the official announcement. During this time, he developed the motto for the first half of his episcopy: ‘All things to all men’.

Once announced in mid-December 1967, there was a great rejoicing across the nation, from then Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams, the Governor General Sir Solomon Hochoy and all the citizens of the nation (Catholics and all other persons). Immediately, Fr Pantin started visiting parishes, schools, various Catholic organisations and all significant and not-so-significant groups across the nation. The Catholic News of this period had all these visits well-documented. While he was busy, clergy and some lay officials began planning his ordination at the Cathedral as our new Archbishop.

There is a significant moment to note: March 19, 1968, was the last day of a major cricket test match at the Queen’s Park Oval. Gary Sobers was the captain of the West Indies team and he made a declaration giving England a significant number of runs for them to score to win the match.

In the opening procession Fr Anthony Pantin asked the Governor General, “who won?’”. The Governor General quite simply replied, “that damn fool Sobers gave the game to England”.

As West Indies lost, the Archdiocese was preparing for a major step forward, the ordination of our new bishop. As a young boy accompanying my father, we were not allowed inside the Cathedral but had to stay in the forecourt to follow the proceedings. The St James Tripolians Steelband, led by Keith Simpson, was serenading us from Independence Square.

The changing social climate and personal growth

Soon after this moment, the people of God lived a kind of ‘honeymoon’ following the many moves of our new Archbishop (also well-documented in the weekly Catholic News of this era).

In the wider society, there was civil unrest brewing. The student protests at Sir George Williams University, Montreal gave rise to many national protests; there were the bus workers’ strike, the birthing of the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), the 1970 attempted mutiny, and many street protests.

In this period, the NJAC (in the North) and the sugar workers (in Central and South) decided to have a joint march on March 12, 1970. The new Archbishop decided to join this march to the great satisfaction of all the workers.

However, for various reasons, he changed his mind at the last minute. The march went off very peacefully and he later shared with me that he was saddened by the fact that he did not attend.

The Archdiocese continued to grow in fervour and the society continued to grapple with its justice issues. During this time, I was employed at the Huggins Travel Service when I became convinced that I would like to respond to the ‘call’ to be a priest.

I went to the very approachable Archbishop for guidance and direction. He introduced me to the Rector of the Seminary, Dom Ildefons Schoots OSB who welcomed me and I was invited to spend some weekends at the Seminary between my working days.

On May 11, 1970, after completing various requirements, I received a letter from the Rector informing me that I had been accepted to begin my priestly journey on September 12, 1970.

It was during these years that I became more acquainted with Archbishop Pantin. His regular visits to the Seminary, his personal interactions with the individuals and various groups of students were always an instructive and enriching experience.

I was ordained a Deacon by him of May 18, 1975 (Pentecost Sunday). I still had some studies to complete but the Archbishop asked Rev Benedict Hilaire, Rev Carlos Roberts and me to provide some pastoral care to the community of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, New Grant. We did this for three months before returning to the Seminary in September.

This was a great experience not only in learning the demands of the parish but also in learning to collaborate with each other.

The time for our priestly ordination was drawing close. Rev Hilaire was ordained in November 1975 and Clyde Harvey (who was studying abroad), joined Carlos Roberts and me for our ordination on June 27, 1976.

As part of our preparation, we had two special retreats. First, with Fr Gerard Pantin at the Veritas House in Point Fortin and then one with Archbishop Pantin at the Emmaus Centre in Arima.

On the day of the Ordination, we (Carlos, Clyde and I)  entered the Cathedral about ten minutes before the liturgy was to begin due to a special visit we had paid to the Rosary Monastery nuns, to the angst of the Archbishop and concelebrating clergy. Archbishop Pantin was much more collected than most of the clergy.

The theme of the Archbishop’s sermon was based on the three Cs. Not merely Clyde, Carlos and Christian but the many virtues and challenges represented by the letter C.

I was given two weeks ‘holiday’ and expected to begin my priestly assignment on July 12, 1976, as assistant to Msgr John Mendes who was the Administrator of the Cathedral.

While I was assistant, I was not expected to participate in his duties as Vicar General or to learn ‘exorcism’. My clear assignment was to work in the Beetham Estate, the Sea Lots area and around the ‘John John’ area. I had the respect and support of the Administrator and the Archbishop.

During my first year, the Archdiocese hosted a major youth conference for representatives from all the Caribbean islands. I was asked to represent our Diocese.

This was then followed by the invitation to attend the Antilles Episcopal Conference annual meeting in Belize, as the diocesan priest delegate from the Caribbean. The Archbishop then asked me to attend a special Ecumenical Biblical Programme at St Georges College in Jerusalem (September – December 1978).