Bishop Emeritus Clyde Harvey has officially stepped down as Bishop of St George’s-in-Grenada after nine years of service, following the acceptance of his resignation by Pope Leo XIV.
In the interim, Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire of Castries has been appointed Apostolic Administrator of the diocese, where he will oversee its affairs until a new bishop is named.
The bishop’s farewell statement was shared on the Antilles Episcopal Conference’s Facebook page Wednesday, June 24.
In the message to the faithful, Bishop Harvey reflected on his time in office, describing it as a period of grace.
“It is now one week since I left the shores of Grenada and have not yet had the time to reflect deeply on these nine years. When I accepted to become bishop, it was supposed to be for six years, or at most eight. I thank God for all these years since they have all been years of grace, years in which I have seen the mystery of the loving-kindness of our God at work in us believers. There are so many things I would want to say to you, but words are inadequate,” he said.
The outgoing bishop expressed deep gratitude to clergy, Religious and laity across Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. He thanked Fr Carl Haynes for his solid support and friendship over the years.
“He became my vicar-general when both of us were new and inexperienced. I thank God and him for his solidarity and the many ways in which he looked out for me on the precipices that life in Grenada can present,” he said.
He also praised priests who remained steadfast in difficult times of poverty, COVID-19, and storms.
Bishop Harvey added that he would not forget the people of Carriacou and Petit Martinique and acknowledged those who shared their life experiences with him.
“I have grown to love you much. These words fall short of my deepest feelings of gratitude to God and to you as I have demitted office. You have tested my motto of loving kindness,” he said.
In closing, Bishop Harvey expressed his enduring affection for Grenada.
“I may not be able to sing ‘O Grenada, land of my birth’, but I will always sing ‘O Grenada, land that I love’. May God continue to bless you all, forgive my sins against you and pray for me. Till we meet again.”
