Barbadian ordained Bishop of Bridgetown

The first Barbadian-born Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown was ordained today.

Reverend Neil Sebastian Scantlebury was ordained as the fourth Bishop of Barbados, at the St Patrick Roman Catholic Church, before Governor General Dame Sandra Mason, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Chief Justice Patterson Cheltenham, Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley, members of the Cabinet, and other dignitaries, who gathered for the historic occasion.

Bishop Scantlebury, 55, served the Diocese of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, since his ordination to the priesthood on May 18, 1995.

During the Episcopal ordination, Bishop Scantlebury extended gratitude to all who joined him as he made history, following in the footsteps of his successors who have laid the foundation and started to build the Kingdom of God in Barbados.

Bishop Scantlebury mentioned that it was a bittersweet moment, given that neither of his parents who took their role as the first evangelizers of the Catholic faith seriously, was present for the ordination.

“It would be one of my goals, as I work with the Government, to help parents to be the first and best teachers of their children in right and wrong, a moral code that will make all Barbadians proud of all our children. Yes, proud of the ones that sang today in the choir; they did a fantastic job,” Bishop Scantlebury said.

Principal ordaining Bishop Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, the Apostolic Nuncio to Antilles Episcopal Conference, told Scantlebury that his election to the seat of Bridgetown is a call and challenge to renew the local church. The Archbishop said the new Bishop now has the responsibility to lead the flock of the small diocese to fresh pastures.

Father Nwachukwu said: “You are called to lead this small diocese to excel in its pastoral and apostolic witness to the gospel. Yes, in our human eyes, in our human reckoning, it is a small diocese; but remember, as we read in the small book of Samuel Chapter 16 verse 7, ‘the Lord sees not as man sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart’.

“So for us, it may be a small diocese but under your leadership, we hope, we pray, it is going to become a great diocese. I pray that you receive from the clergy, the religious and the faithful, all the support that you need to carry out the pastoral task that has been entrusted to you.”

The ordaining Bishop said he also hoped that the academic experience the new Bishop gained during his academic career will stand him in good stead as he builds upon the foundation of his predecessors.

“I am going to just give you one piece of advice: Be like Mary. Slow to speak, ready to listen. Please, learn to listen,” Father Nwachukwu said.

Archbishop Jason Gordon, Bishop’s Scantlebury’s predecessor, advised the new Bishop to keep his priests close, as father of the family. He said many bishops have tried to go around their priests straight to their lay people, which was a big mistake.

Archbishop Gordon said: “Keep your priests very close to you. This is not an old boys club you are running. Our lay people in Barbados are incredible. They have incredible insight, talent and they are feisty and they are beautiful and they bring to the church something amazing. Core responsibility means that even if you don’t want to collaborate with them, they still have a responsibility and they know that and they will live that. Keep your lay people in deep conversation with you and with your priests.

“We have an incredible ecumenical relationship here in Barbados. Work with the Christian churches. Our diocese, as small as it might be, punches way above its weight when it comes to the care for the poor. Do not forget the poor, I beg you. Our work with, our journeying with, and our accompanying of the poor to move from poverty to self-sufficiency has been one of the great treasures of this church.” (anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)