Look below the surface – Msgr Sirju praised at 35th anniversary Mass

By Klysha Best

On Tuesday, June 23, the sacred space of the Minor Basilica, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, was almost overflowing with parishioners from all across T&T, with special mention to those who had journeyed from the communities of Cedros, San Fernando, Princes Town, Siparia, and Erin to honour their beloved son, Msgr Martin Sirju.

Msgr Sirju was celebrating 35 years of faithful and dedicated service to the priesthood.

The milestone was marked with a vibrant Mass, some cultural tributes, and a wave of gratitude that swept through the congregation.

In his homily, close friend Fr Stephen Geofroy drew on the words of the calypsonian Mystic Prowler, urging the congregation to look “below the surface” to understand the depth of Msgr Sirju’s vocation.

“These rituals are not empty rituals,” Fr Geofroy said. “These instruments of our faith lead us beyond.”

He reflected on the courage required of a priest, likening Msgr Sirju to the prophets Jeremiah, Elijah, and John the Baptist, men who were rooted in deep prayer and unafraid to speak truth to power.

“He has the stuff great men are made of,” Fr Geofroy declared. “The stuff you could miss unless you look below the surface.”

Speaking on behalf of the Cedros Catholic community, Dexter Mitchell recalled the excitement when Sirju was ordained a deacon decades ago, in a village church too small to hold the crowd.

“Today, we gather not only to recognise a distinguished priest and the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, but also to celebrate our son of Cedros, whose life and ministry continue to inspire us all,” said Mitchell, the former Presentation College San Fernando principal.

“His example reminds us that true greatness is found not in titles or positions, but in selfless service.”

The community presented Msgr Sirju with a token of appreciation, a gift of indigenous products from Cedros, crafted by human hands, as a symbol of their enduring pride.

In his own words of thanks, Msgr Sirju was characteristically humble and humorous.

“Gratitude is the least of the virtues, but ingratitude is the worst of vices,” he said. “And I stand here with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. In spite of everything, God has been marvellously good to me.”

He reflected on his family, noting that his youngest brother had passed away in February, leaving only three siblings. Yet he found perspective in the trials of others: “I feel as if my family has been taken away piece by piece. But Fr Matthew d’Hereaux has no parents alive, and no siblings left. So don’t be sorry for me.”

He thanked his parishioners across San Fernando, Princes Town, Siparia, Erin, calling them “the belly of the local Church.”

“There is no priesthood without you,” he said. “You made me into a priest, guided me, corrected me, cared for me when ill, and lifted me up in down times.”

He also offered a special word to the young people of the Church. “Gen Z and Gen Alpha are somersaulting, and I do not know where you will land,” he said. “Sometimes, we think you will fall hard, but I think you will surprise us and land on both legs.”

The celebration was not only spiritual but deeply cultural, reflecting Msgr Sirju’s Indian heritage. A sitar player performed, and an Indian mix dance captivated the congregation, blending the sacred with the vibrant traditions of his upbringing.

Among the prominent invitees were Mexican Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, His Excellency Víctor Hugo Morales Meléndez, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, and Government Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh, who was ordained with Msgr Sirju and Bishop Robert Llanos in 1991, but later left the priesthood. Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon sat in the sanctuary.

Adding a touch of Carnivalesque joy, Felix ‘Pierrot Grenade’ Edinborough entertained the church with a humorous presentation. He also served as the master of ceremonies introducing speakers from the various parishes Msgr Sirju had served over the years.

As the celebration concluded, Msgr Sirju left the congregation with a characteristically dry smile, recounting an incident from his home village of Fullerton.

“A fellow climbed up a mango tree. The villagers passed by and saw him on a branch. An hour later, they saw him flat on the ground. They asked him, ‘What happened?’ He said, ‘Ah ripe.'”

The laughter that followed was a fitting tribute to a man who, for 35 years, has served the Church with wisdom, humility, and an unwavering sense of humour, a priest who, by all accounts, has ripened well.