Following the announcement of the various appointments in the dioceses, the Bishop of Port Victoria, Monsignor Alain Harel met the press yesterday, at 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 those changes. I think this exercise is good for the renewal of parishes, for the renewal of movements and services. There is a change concerning the priests, but there is also a change concerning the parish councils and the economic council of the church. There is quite a change to renew the church. The purpose why Jesus chose the church is to be a witness of Jesus – good news, always new. The world is changing and we must always be creative and bold to present this good news. So 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”,
Monsignor Harel continues his sharing by saying that it took two years to understand the reality of Seychelles and like any reality, here too it is complex.
“The Pope has invited us to experience the synod – the renewal of the church so that we bear more witness to Christ. From our way of life, from human reality and the reality of young people and the poor. Now is the time to put new structures in place to allow us to be more ready with reality, and ready with 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 beginning that will allow creativity and change. It is in this sense that we made the change,” explained Bishop Harel.
Is there a certain number of years that priests must serve a parish?
Bishop Harel tells us that there are two references in the church – canon law which governs the internal procedures of the church and there are also the customs of the church.
“In canon law, there is no mention of the number of years a priest must remain 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.
Bishop Harel also spoke 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 working with him.”
With every priest appointment, there will be a team that will work closely with him.
The role of the diocesan exorcist
Father David Alcindor, pastor of the Cathedral, is appointed exorcist of the diocese. He will also lead a discernment team to better accompany people who live in fear of the forces of evil.
Is this a new position? “An exorcist in the Catholic Church is an ordained minister who accompanies people who are troubled by the question of evil in different forms. After discernment, one can have a prayer but an exorcist is always done with the permission of the bishop. It is the bishop who appoints an exorcist, because there are a lot of charlatans. In relation to this situation that I observed in Seychelles, I found that it was important to take this situation seriously and it is necessary to have a designated minister and possibly to say prayers”, said Bishop Harel.
Why Father Alcindor? Monsignor Harel replied: “Primarily, Father Alcindor is Seychellois and he knows the Seychellois culture very well. He will also have a team that will help him, which will be made up of a doctor, a psychologist, nuns and lay people. Their role will be to give criteria so that we can live our faith without fear. Father Alcindor is competent to play this role”.
Monsignor Harel specifies that in canon law for a priest to be an exorcist, the consent of the bishop is required and this has not changed.
“It is a position that did not exist in the Seychelles. But there are priests who accompany people spiritually, but not be exorcists,” said Bishop Harel.
Did all the priests agree with the appointments? Bishop 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 sure that it will be a new relationship that will develop between the church and the community,” he added.
Speaking of church finances, Bishop Harel shared that “the church is facing cash flow issues . We have done an audit by a private firm and next year it will be published. Father Lonnie Adrienne, who has been appointed Episcopal Vicar, will be in the service of finance and land and real estate in the diocese. He was also appointed parish priest of Saint Antoine. The goal will be to keep the mission alive”.
Given the imminent 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?
“Both priests 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 years to come 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 religious and laity so that together we make this world a better place.
Will a new house be built for Father Roger de Comarmond at Anse Royale? Bishop Harel confirms that “for the moment Father Roger de Comarmond will live in the cure of Anse Royale and indeed for his peaceful retirement, we want to build a room at Anse Royale for him”.
Source: Seychelles Nation