Coryal community celebrates Feast Day

Sunday, November 9 was a special day for parishioners of St Martin de Porres, Coryal as they gathered to celebrate their patron saint and thank God for His blessings and graces throughout this Jubilee Year of Hope. The theme for the celebration was Sustaining Hope with Gratitude.

The thanksgiving celebration began with the distribution of breakfast to the sick and homebound parishioners.

Parishioners then participated in Holy Mass. The Vicar for the Eastern Vicariate and Tobago, Fr Steve Duncan, was the celebrant. Deacon Cy Moore of the Parish of the Incarnation, Maloney and seminarians Brs David Villafana and Samwel Njoroge, who are assigned to the Sangre Grande/Coryal cluster, assisted at the Mass.

Reflecting on the readings for the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Fr Duncan reminded the congregation that “all of us form part of the Body of Christ and as the Body of Christ, we are the temple of God’s Holy Spirit.” He further explained, “if the Holy Spirit is the source and the Lord and giver of life, and we are temples of the Holy Spirit, then you and I are supposed to be life-givers.”

Fr Duncan highlighted the importance of treating others well since we have “a responsibility to give life.” He shared, “When the [Holy] Spirit seized upon St Martin de Porres in Peru, allowing him to do what he did for the Body of Christ, as a physician, as a doctor [in] those days, as a barber, as a man devoted to the poor, God allowed him to do what he did so that the people of his time would have experienced life. For that is what the Body of Christ is about. It’s about giving life.”

At the end of his homily, Fr Duncan thanked the Coryal community for the day’s celebrations. He commented that the community is “bringing forth to our vision, people in the community who brought life to the community. As they have done, they would have given breakfast freely and they will serve lunch freely. It is saying that God has blessed us lavishly. What a way to celebrate! We’re celebrating Church…the Body of Christ.”

During the Prayers of Intercession, parishioners prayed for good health and strength for Fr Duncan and the other priests who currently serve in the parish.

Prayers were also offered seeking God’s blessings and graces for the following priests who served in the parish, in the past: Msgr Michael de Verteuil and Frs Maurice White, Stephan Alexander, Raymond Francis, Matthew Ragbir, Clifford Graham and Joseph Jubrajsingh.

Parishioners also sought God’s mercy upon the souls of Bishop Emeritus Malcolm Galt CSSp and all their departed parish priests: Frs Ignatius Candon OP, Paul Duignan OP, Brendan Ryan OP, Neil Rodriguez CSSp and John Lawrence SJ.

After Mass, parishioners enjoyed a delicious meal. Lunch was also delivered to the sick and homebound parishioners.

Among the day’s highlights was the presence of Jubilee boards which reflected pictures of parish pilgrimages to Jubilee Sacred Sites. Parishioners were happy to view their journeys throughout the year.

Another highlight was the information boards which provided parishioners with the opportunity to learn more about St Martin de Porres and the patronal saints of the other four communities of the parish: St Joachim and Anne at Four Roads Tamana, Our Lady of the Visitation at Nestor, the children of Fatima at Guaico, Tamana and La Rosa Mystica at La Tosca.

During the mercy hour, Fr Duncan, Brs Villafana and Njoroge, along with parishioners, prayed the Divine Mercy rosary.

The day’s celebrations concluded with the distribution of food and stationery hampers to less fortunate families.

—Dr Ottrisha Carter