The installation of six seminarians to official ministries on Monday 14th November at the Regional Seminary St. John Vianney and The Uganda Martyrs, was in many ways like a gentle revolution for our Caribbean Church. It is both a sign of God’s continued call on the hearts of our people as well as proof that many do respond to Him with open hearts and minds. It was a sign that the revolution, God’s revolution, may be hidden, but it is still alive.

The gospel reading of the day coincided beautifully with the event that evening; Bartimaeus, the blind man was calling out for Jesus to heal him. Like Bartimaeus, these six men, all of those present and indeed, all humanity, are calling out for Jesus to touch the eyes of our hearts, to bring healing and new sight to our blindness. Like Bartimaeus, these six men refused to stop calling out with their lives, persevering for eight and in one case nine years, until this moment of encounter. Like Bartimaeus, this moment of encounter with Christ is but the starting point. Bartimaeus followed Jesus, praising God; these young men are to follow Jesus, offering new light to the world with their lives.

Five of the six were installed into the official ministry of Lector. Those were Roger Graham of the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica; Emmanuel Osman of the Archdiocese of Castries, St. Lucia; Carl Haynes and Hugh Logan of the Diocese of St. George’s, Grenada and Robert Christo of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad. They were all reminded by the Chief-Celebrant, The Most Reverend Gabriel Malzaire, Bishop of Roseau, Dominica, of their privilege as special proclaimers of God’s Word. They are now “to live that Word, to speak that Word, to become that Word”. They are to be a sign to the world, that God’s Word is alive and active.

Richard Brown of the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica, was officially installed as an Acolyte. This ought not to be confused with an Altar server; his role will be to serve the priest and deacon at the celebration of the Eucharist, as well as to distribute Holy Communion as an extraordinary minister. In the absence of the priest and deacon or, in the case of large crowds, his presence as Acolyte becomes necessary. He was reminded by bishop Malzaire that as a servant at the altar, “he must become what he receives, become the Bread of Life for those whom he serves”.

The ministries of Lector and Acolyte are both steps towards their future ordinations as Transitional Deacons and then Priests. We pray therefore that these six men may persevere in God’s call upon their hearts and someday serve the people of God more fully in His vineyard. We pray that God may continue to lead them along the way of holiness. We pray that God may bless these revolutionaries. We pray that God may bless His revolution and continue to call new laborers to His harvest.