Sunday, October 26 2008

Several Masses were held in the region to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of Opus Dei. The Apostolic Nuncio to Trinidad, Archbishop Thomas Edward Gullickson, was the principal celebrant at a Eucharistic celebration at the Church of St Ann, St Ann’s, earlier this month.

According to members of Opus Dei, persons of all walks of life filled the church, many lingering on afterward in friendly conversation.

During his homily Archbishop Gullickson summarised Opus Dei’s gift for 80 years now to the Church as “that of providing help and direction to regular people in any walk of life, as they seek to build up a genuine relationship with God in the midst of their daily tasks”.

Almost a week earlier on the island of St. Lucia, Archbishop Robert Rivas presided over a Mass at St Benedict’s Church, The Mourne. He assured the members and friends present of his support for their work in his archdiocese and the other territories which he oversees. He highlighted the teaching stressed by the founder that work has an inherent dignity when it is done for love, for through patient and persevering work we cultivate and care for God’s creation, building up a more human civilization.

In east Trinidad, Fr. Mark Georges was the main celebrant at the Sunday evening Mass at St. Charles Church, Tunapuna.

According to a statement from Opus Dei, the organisation was founded “by Divine inspiration on the 2nd October 1928. Trinidad and Tobago has benefitted from the message and intercession of St. Josemaría Escrivá from as far back as the late sixties when a Trinidadian, who joined Opus Dei abroad, returned to practice his profession”.

Opus Dei began to have a stable presence in 1981 when Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, the Prelate of Opus at the time, heeded the request of a group of members and friends who visited him in Rome. Some months later two educational initiatives started in Port of Spain, Briar House Study Centre and Eston Study Centre, at which Opus Dei provides spiritual attention. Since then other centres, Shalimar and North Hall, have begun in St Augustine and La Pique in San Fernando. The Lantana Heights Conference Centre and Hospitality School is under construction in Gran Couva. There are also regular activities in several islands of the Caribbean.

“While these initiatives are important, Opus Dei measures itself above all in the lives of the many people of all walks of life who have benefitted from the means of formation it provides, when they strive to sanctify their ordinary duties and to bring the light of their faith to their families, colleagues and friends,” the organisation states.