Africa-Press – Seychelles. Each priest will assume their new responsibility from February
Following the announcement of the various nominations in the dioceses, the Bishop of Port Victoria, Monsignor Alain Harel met the press yesterday, at the Bishop House in Victoria, to explain this process.
“I took two years as a new bishop to look at the new needs of the church and make these changes. I think that this exercise is good for the renewal of parishes, for the renewal of movements and services. There is a change regarding the priests, but there is also a change regarding the parish councils and the economic council of the church. There is a whole change to renew the church. The purpose why Jesus chose the church is to be a witness to Jesus – good news, always new. The world is changing and we must constantly be creative and bold to present this good news. Therefore, there is a renewal of personnel, a renewal of parishes and structures so that we can respond to the call that God has given us – to be witnesses of Jesus”, said Bishop Harel.
Monseigneur Harel continues to share his opinion that it took him two years to understand the reality of the Seychelles and like all reality, here too it is complex.
“The Pope invited us to live the synod – the renewal of the church so that we witness more to Christ. From our way of life, from the human reality and the reality of the young and the poor. It’s time to put in place new structures to allow us to be closer to reality, and closer to the Gospel. Of course it is sad for the community and the priest when there is a departure. But at the same time it will be a new start that will allow creativity and change. It is in this sense that we have made the change”, explained Monseigneur Harel.
Is there a number of years that priests must serve a parish?
Monseigneur Harel tells us that there are two references in the church – the canon law that governs the internal procedures of the church and there are also the customs of the church.
“Dans le droit canon, there is no mention of the number of years that a priest must stay in a parish. This time I appointed the priests for a term of service of five years and renewable for five years. But we are also flexible”, he said.
Monseigneur Harel also talked about the new digital parish of Saint Gabriel which will be under the responsibility of father Eric Léon.
“The message passes through the traditional media but also through the social network. So there will be two teams that will work with him.
With each appointment of a priest, he will have a team that will work in close collaboration with him.
The role of the exorcist of the diocese
Father David Alcindor, parish priest of the Cathedral, is named exorcist of the diocese. He will also animate a team of discernment to better accompany people who live in fear of the forces of evil.
Is it a new position? “An exorcist in the Catholic Church is an ordained minister who accompanies people who are disturbed by the question of evil in different forms. After discernment, we can have a prayer but an exorcist is always done with the permission of the bishop. It is the bishop who designates an exorcist, because there are many charlatans. In relation to this situation that I observed in the Seychelles, I found that it was important to take this situation seriously and it is necessary to appoint a minister and possibly to pray,” said Monsignor Harel.
Pourquoi le father Alcindor? Monseigneur Harel replied: “Mainly, father Alcindor is Seychellois and he knows the Seychellois culture very well.” He will also have a team that will help him that will be composed of a doctor, a psychologist, religious women and lay people. Their role will be to give criteria so that we can live this faith without fear. Father Alcindor is competent to play this role.
Monseigneur Harel specifies that in canon law for a priest to be an exorcist, the bishop’s consent is required and this has not changed.
“It’s a position that didn’t exist in the Seychelles. But there are priests who accompany people spiritually, but not to be exorcists”, said Bishop Harel.
Did all the priests agree with the nominations? Monseigneur Harel reassures us that he has spoken with all the priests and they have all accepted their new responsibility.
“I understand the grief of some, but I am certain that this will be a new relationship that will develop between the church and the community,” he added.
Speaking about the church’s finances, Monseigneur Harel shared that “the church is facing cash flow problems.” We have done an audit by a private firm and next year it will be published. Father Lonnie Adrienne, who is named Episcopal Vicar, will be at the service of finances and real estate of the diocese. He is also named parish priest of Saint Antoine. The goal will be to live the mission.
Given the impending retirement of priests Edwin Mathiot and Roger de Comarmond, we have only four Seychellois priests. Are there other Seychellois who have shown interest in theological studies?
“The two priests have served the country with great devotion and I thank them for that. At this very moment, there are five Seychellois who are in France and in the coming years we hope that they will return to the service of their country”.
The bishop of the diocese of Port-Victoria added that the church must focus on how to work together with the religious and the laity so that together we can make this world a better world.
Is a new house going to be built for father Roger de Comarmond at Anse Royale? Mgr Harel confirmed to us that “for the moment Father Roger de Comarmond will live in the Anse Royale monastery and indeed for this peaceful retreat, we wish to build a room at Anse Royale for him”.
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