With a warm welcome to the delegations from Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles, Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon , Metropolitan Archbishop of Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) and President of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles, inaugurated the Caribbean Regional Meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) , which is taking place in Trinidad and Tobago.
During the opening Eucharist, the prelate expressed his joy at receiving representatives of the Churches of the Caribbean and Latin America, emphasizing that this meeting constitutes an opportunity to strengthen ecclesial communion and deepen the synodal path that the Church promotes in the region. “ It is a great joy for me to welcome you all to Trinidad and Tobago for this Caribbean Regional Meeting ,” he said to the participants gathered at the St. John Vianney and Ugandan Martyrs Seminary, located in Mt. St. Benedict.
Sign of communion with the universal Church
In his welcoming remarks, Archbishop Gordon gave a special greeting to the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Santiago Ignacio De Wit Guzmán , whose presence he considered a visible sign of communion with the Pope and the universal Church.
“ We are deeply honored to have you with us ,” he said, while thanking the Secretary General of CELAM, Monsignor Lizardo Estrada Herrera , whom he recognized for his leadership and vision in strengthening ties between Latin America and the Caribbean.
The president of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles emphasized that the current process of regional meetings is part of the second cycle promoted by Celam, focused this year on participation and the continuation of the reflection on communion initiated previously.
A diverse Caribbean, united by faith and mission
Monsignor Gordon highlighted the multicultural richness of the Caribbean and recalled that, despite differences in language, history, and social realities, the peoples of the region share a common identity: “ We are united by the waters that give us a shared history: the Caribbean Sea. We are also united by our baptism in Christ and our shared mission to proclaim the Gospel in this region .”
He also highlighted the unique nature of the Episcopal Conference of the Antilles, which brings together multiple peoples, cultures, languages, and island and continental territories under the same ecclesial structure.
For the Archbishop, this diversity should not be seen as an obstacle, but as a blessing for the Church. “ Unity does not require uniformity ,” he maintained, adding that communion is strengthened when differences are welcomed as gifts of the Holy Spirit.
A place to listen and discern together
The meeting is taking place at Mt. St. Benedict, an emblematic site for the spiritual life of the Caribbean. Archbishop Gordon noted that the Abbey of Our Lady of Exile has been a beacon of faith, hospitality, and contemplation for the region for over a century. He explained that this setting offers the necessary conditions for participants to listen to one another and discern the pastoral challenges facing the Caribbean Church. “ We come as missionary disciples seeking to discern God’s voice in the realities of our people ,” he stated.
In that sense, he insisted that the meeting is not intended to be limited to the exchange of reports or experiences, but rather becomes a space for listening, strengthening fraternity between the Churches and seeking new paths for participation in the life and mission of the Church.
The president of the Antillean Episcopal Conference noted that the Caribbean faces significant challenges, including migration, economic vulnerability, environmental threats, social fragmentation, violence, and the search for hope among younger generations . He also invited participants to recognize the positive signs present in the region’s communities. ” We also see examples of grace, resilience, creativity, faith, and solidarity ,” he stated. Therefore, he encouraged participants to identify, during these days, both the difficulties and the traces of God’s action within Caribbean communities.
Renewing the missionary commitment
Archbishop Gordon expressed his hope that the meeting would help strengthen the bonds of communion among the local churches. “ May this meeting deepen our communion, strengthen our participation, and renew our missionary commitment ,” he prayed.
He also entrusted the work to the intercession of Our Lady of Exile, whom he called ” star of the new evangelization and Mother of the Caribbean ,” to accompany the joint journey of the Churches of the region.
“ Welcome to Trinidad and Tobago. Welcome to Mt. St. Benedict. Welcome to this CELAM Caribbean Regional Meeting. May our time together be blessed and fruitful ,” he concluded.
