Bishop: catechists, be pilgrims of hope

As the region observes Catechetical Month this September, Bishop John Persaud, Vice President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC), is calling on catechists to use the occasion for reflection and spiritual renewal.

“You may discover that you have become a person of routine… or that social outreach is lacking,” he said, encouraging catechists to re-examine their role as Pilgrims of Hope and anchor their ministry more deeply in prayer, Scripture, and the Eucharist.

Reflecting on this year’s theme—Catechists: Pilgrims of Hope, nourished by the Word and the Eucharist—Bishop Persaud pointed to the biblical account of the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35) as offering “wonderful opportunities for reflection on our role as catechists.”

Looking ahead, he expressed hope for “a new season of greater love” for Sacred Scripture so that the faithful’s prayerful and faith-filled reading of the Bible would, over time, “deepen their personal relationship with Jesus.”

Bishop Persaud underscored that the Jubilee theme and Luke’s account remind us that disciples of Jesus are pilgrims—“one who is on a journey, but no ordinary journey; it has a determined focus, and it is a journey of discovery that brings us to a different physical, psychological, mental, social and spiritual space.”

He said that a marked difference for us as disciples of Jesus who are pilgrims is that we never walk alone.

“Our pilgrimage is one that is undertaken with others. We never walk alone because Jesus, our Master, is always walking with us,” he said.

He however warned catechists that they must not fool themselves that they can attain heaven without others. “We need others to companion us as we make this lifelong journey,” Bishop Persaud said.

He highlighted that as the disciples walked on the road to Emmaus, they made a journey of discovery, emphasising that a pilgrimage is also a journey of reconciliation—one that brings about wholeness and, in turn, leads to holiness.

“Note how He journeyed with the two disciples and brought them from disillusionment and despair to clarity and light: from moving deeper into darkness to a return to Jerusalem and the community,” the bishop said.

He offered a “useful exercise” for every disciple on pilgrimage is to take a serious look at his/her life and make a note of where you are in all the various dimensions of your life.

“For example, look at your life as a catechist and make a note of where you are in your ministry as a catechist,” Bishop Persaud urged.

He then invited and challenged catechists to let this Catechetical Month be a means of recapturing what pilgrimage offers and develop this dimension of discipleship as a constitutive dimension of one’s life in Christ.

“Let it take you places where you can discover new dimensions of your life in new light. Jesus is a companion who helps you make wonderful discoveries and makes life exciting.” (See page 14)

Pope Leo XIV: Caring for Creation is our vocation

Pope Leo XIV on Friday, September 5, inaugurated the Laudato si’ Village (Borgo Laudato sì) at Castel Gandolfo, describing it as a “seed of hope” and a tangible model for ecological conversion.

The project, first envisioned by Pope Francis, brings together spirituality, education, history, nature, art, and sustainable innovation as a living witness of the Church’s commitment to care for creation and for the most vulnerable.

Arriving through the main gate of the complex, the Pope was welcomed by those who daily serve pilgrims and visitors to the Village. Walking along a tree-lined avenue, he greeted families, giving life to what he later described as the central theme of “welcome,” a principle that unites the care of creation with solidarity and human dignity.

The Holy Father continued his visit in an electric cart, a sign of the project’s commitment to sustainable mobility. He paused in the historic Little Madonna Garden, where earlier this summer he had celebrated the first Mass with the new liturgy dedicated to the Custody of Creation.

Calling it a “natural cathedral,” the Pope had, once again, invited all to ecological conversion, urging reflection on lifestyles and greater responsibility in caring for our common home.

Proceeding through gardens and ancient ruins, he met workers and their families, thanking them for their care of the land and the over 3,000 plant species cultivated within the Borgo. He made a stop to feed the Japanese Koi fish in a pond full of water lilies and contemplate the beauty of the gardens.

At the biodynamic vineyard, he greeted farm workers and blessed animals, including some beautiful horses, highlighting integral ecology as care both for creation and for people.

The culmination of the day came in the newly built greenhouse, a multifunctional and net-zero energy complex that serves as the beating heart of the Borgo Laudato Si’ project. It is also the headquarters of a Higher Education Centre destined to host all sorts of initiatives dedicated to ecological sustainability.

There, Pope Leo XIV presided over the Liturgy of the Word and the Rite of Blessing, accompanied in prayer by music offered by tenor Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo.

In his homily, the Pope reflected on the Gospel of Matthew, recalling Jesus’ invitation to “look at the birds of the sky” and “observe the lilies of the field.” Every creature, he said, has an important and specific role in God’s plan, and each is “good”.

“Care for creation is truly a vocation for every human being. We are creatures among creatures, entrusted with the responsibility to care for all that the Creator has made,” he said.

He highlighted that the Borgo Laudato Si’ is intended to be a “living laboratory” of faith and sustainability.

“What we see today is a synthesis of extraordinary beauty, where spirituality, daily life, and technology dwell together in harmony. It is a place of closeness and convivial proximity, and a seed that can bear fruits of justice and peace,” the Pope said.

The liturgy concluded with a prayer for creation, asking God to awaken gratitude for every creature, enlighten leaders to promote the common good, and strengthen humanity’s resolve to protect life and prepare “a Kingdom of justice, peace, love, and beauty.”