The Church in St Lucia is celebrating Pope Francis’ appointment of Bishop Gabriel Malzaire of Roseau as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Castries, St Lucia.
“The Church in St Lucia is happy to have one of its sons chosen to be the Shepherd of the flock in St Lucia… Let us roll out the homecoming carpet for him. To God be the glory,” said a February 11 press release from the Chancery, Archdiocese of Castries. The appointment was made public by the Vatican at noon (7 a.m. Local time).
Archbishop-elect Malzaire is the second St Lucian to become Archbishop of Castries; Archbishop Patrick Webster OSB (dec) was the first, serving 1974 –1979.
Archbishop-elect Malzaire was ordained a priest on July 28, 1985. The former seminary lecturer was ordained Bishop of Roseau, Dominica on October 4, 2002. He is in his second term as President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC). More on page 9.
He will succeed Trinidad-born Archbishop Emeritus Robert Rivas OP who has served in the Archdiocese of Castries for 14 years since his installation as Co-Adjutor Archbishop on October 14, 2007. He retired in June 2021 upon reaching the canonical retirement age of 75 years.
The Vatican made two related appointments: Archbishop Emeritus Rivas as Apostolic Administrator for Castries until the April 24 installation of Archbishop-elect Malzaire, and in turn, Archbishop-elect Malzaire as Apostolic Administrator for Roseau until a successor is appointed.
The appointment of Archbishop-elect Malzaire came five days after the AEC witnessed the episcopal ordination of Bishop Alain Ransay for the Diocese of Cayenne, French Guiana. —
Article by The Catholic News TT
