Maloney community welcomes Fr Kenwyn to the parish

Kaelanne Jordan, [email protected]

Photo courtesy Kieron Blaize

The responsibility of caring for the people and mission of the Church of the Incarnation, Maloney Gardens, has been entrusted to Fr Kenwyn Sylvester, who was installed as the parish’s sixth parish priest on Monday, August 10.

Presiding over the installation Mass was Fr Steve Duncan, Vicar for the Eastern Vicariate and Tobago, who acted as the delegate of Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon.

For Fr Duncan, the significance of the occasion went beyond the formal handover of the parish’s sacred spaces and buildings. It was, he said, ultimately about the people who make up the Church.

Fr Duncan’s reflection was rooted in the story of St Lawrence, deacon and martyr, whose feast was celebrated that day. He recalled how Lawrence was ordered by his persecutors to reveal the wealth of the Church, but instead presented the people: the sick, the lame and others in need as its true treasure.

“So, more than entrusting the sacred spaces or places to Fr Ken today, it is, I think, more an entrustment of you, the people, the greatest treasure, the greatest resource of the Church, because that’s what it is.”

The Archbishop’s letter appointing Fr Kenwyn as parish priest was read at the beginning of the Mass by Deacon Cy Moore. The appointment took effect July 1, 2026, for a three-year term.

A key moment of the installation was the formal handover of the keys to the parish and presbytery. Fr Kwesi Alleyne, who served as parish priest for the past four and a half years, presented the keys to his successor.

In accepting the responsibility, Fr Kenwyn expressed gratitude to Fr Kwesi stating, “Living with you for these last five weeks [has] truly been a great sign of fraternity and great sign of pastoral care and love that you showed to your people by entrusting me your love just as you did your keys.”

He said he understood that what was being placed in his care was not simply a parish structure or an administrative responsibility “but rather a people you hold dear to your heart.”

The new parish priest also told the congregation that he was not arriving “simply with plans for what I want to accomplish. I come wanting to listen, to discern and to discover with you what is God asking of the parish of the Church of the Incarnation in this moment in our life.”

In his homily, Fr Duncan reflected on the more than 40-year history of the Church of the Incarnation community and its growth over the decades.

He noted that what began as a Christian community had expanded to include Maloney Gardens, Mausica, and D’Abadie.

Fr Duncan also drew on his experience working with Fr Kenwyn in pastoral ministry and accompanying him during the final days of his tenure at St Paul, Manzanilla.

He recalled the tributes paid to Fr Kenwyn by parishioners and said two qualities stood out.

“The first: that the people, the parish, from which he came, what they were saying about him in loud tones and in various expression is that he was a man who united the communities.”

Fr Duncan said parishioners also spoke of Fr Kenwyn’s willingness to go beyond the call of duty to serve those entrusted to him.

“That’s the pastor that you have received tonight as your new pastor,” he told the congregation to applause.

The second quality, he said, was Fr Kenwyn’s preaching. “…he preaches well,” to another round of applause.

Fr Kenwyn’s mother was also present for the installation and was honoured with a bouquet in recognition of giving her son to God and allowing him to be shared with the Christian community.