Archbishop Gilbert’s vision for Church leadership became a reality

By Kaelanne Jordan

mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

“The Caribbean Church owes a debt of gratitude to Archbishop Gilbert,” Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon said. “Not many understand what he did. He came to us in Dominica and then from Dominica when he was appointed to Trinidad… his calm demeanor just settled it all and he never engaged with the negativity.”

Archbishop Gordon was speaking at the Funeral Mass for Archbishop Emeritus Edward Joseph Gilbert CSsR, the ninth Archbishop of Port of Spain, held October 31 at Sacred Heart RC Church, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Archbishop Gordon recalled how Archbishop Gilbert, who served as Archbishop of Port of Spain from 2001 to 2011, revitalised local Church life by listening deeply and reopening the Synod initiated by Archbishop Anthony Pantin CSSp.

“He said, ‘No, I want a thousand people at that synod. I want people who don’t normally get a chance to talk. I want them at that synod.’ And that changed the game,” Archbishop Gordon shared.

He recounted Archbishop Gilbert’s transformative vision for leadership succession in the Caribbean. “One day, when we were having lunch, he said, ‘If I am successful, when I retire, we’ll have bishops from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean filling these roles, and you would not need a missionary again. That’s what I came to do.’”

Following Archbishop Gilbert’s retirement, Archbishop Gordon noted, that vision became reality: “After he retired, Joseph Harris and myself were appointed bishops at the same day. Robert Llanos was appointed a bishop a little time after. Clyde Harvey was appointed a bishop a little time after. So out of his administration, four bishops have come from Trinidad and Tobago for our region.”

The funeral gathered Redemptorists, bishops, and faithful from the parish community to honour the former Bishop of Roseau, Dominica and Archbishop of Port of Spain, who passed away October 15, 2025.

Among the Redemptorists were Trinidadian Fr Ako Trevor Walker and Fr Peter Hill from Dominica.

Fr John Collins CSsR, provincial of the Baltimore Province expressed gratitude to the bishops concelebrating—including Bishop John Noonan of Orlando and Bishop Kendrick Forbes of Roseau—and the staff of St Alphonsus Villa, where Archbishop Gilbert spent his final years.

Fr Kevin O’Neil CSsR, provincial consultor, remembered Archbishop Gilbert as both scholar and shepherd, a man whose humour and humanity shone through his teaching.

“Archbishop Gilbert taught us Canon Law which many people say is just this most dry discipline in the world. He made it entertaining first of all, but he taught us. But what I recall is he described Canon Law as structured love.”

Fr O’Neil described how Archbishop Gilbert’s ministry carried him from classrooms to cathedrals, always rooted in service. “He was a good shepherd and it wasn’t easy for him to leave each time and to go to a new place. I remember when he told me that he had been asked to be the Bishop of Roseau in Dominica. He said to me… ‘I’ve spent so many years asking other people to say ‘yes’. How can I not do it now?’.”

Fr Collins read messages of condolence from the Vatican and the Antilles Episcopal Conference. A letter from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, sent on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, conveyed “prayerful solidarity and support as we commend his soul to the mercy of God.”

A Requiem Mass will be said at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Monday, November 24.