IN the year and on the solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, last Friday, history in the life of the Catholic Church in Guyana was made.
A first for his Lordship Bishop Francis Alleyne, OSB in his tenure as Bishop of the Diocese of Georgetown, the diocesan Bishop installed the St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Parish, according to the Code of Cannon Law, Canon 515. His Lordship explained that the process is a very formal one where a decree has been made stating that St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, East Bank Demerara, is now a parish. He also explained that part of the process included petitions from parishioners giving sound reasons why this should be a parish. He then consulted with his presbyteral council (council of priests) who gave their affirmation.
This historic event took place during the Solemnity day Mass of St. Joseph Husband of Mary in Little Diamond. Bishop Francis, along with his priests, Frs.Terrence Montrose, Britto Arockiam, Paul Martin, Joel Ratna and Steven celebrated the Holy Eucharist.

In his homily, His Lordship spoke of his first visit to St. Joseph Little Diamond in 2004. At that time, he said, the church feared being suppressed entirely because of varying factors. Today, he said members have moved to becoming a parish. This, he said, can only be accomplished by courage and determination, noting that there are clear signs of growth which he encouraged.
Fr. Terrence Montrose, Chancellor of the Diocese of Georgetown, read the decree outlining clauses pertaining to becoming a new parish. He is also the parish priest of Meadowbank, which is the mother parish for the St. Joseph Husband of Mary parish. The boundaries of the new parish will be from the Arch (Agricola) and all the areas served by the East Bank and the Linden Soesdyke Highway as far as KuruKuru (KuruKuru Training College).

UNIQUE IN STRUCTURE
The new parish is unique in structure: seven communities of Sts. Peter and Paul – Peter’s Hall; St. Joseph, Husband of Mary – Little Diamond; St. Jerome – Supply, Little Flower- Land of Canaan; St. Teresa of Calcutta – Timehri; St. Catherine- Kurukururu and St. Michael – Yarrowkabra, make one parish.
St. Joseph’s church in Little Diamond will be functioning as the main parish church, where all the parish records will be stored. The faithful have already set up a parish hall and the place of residence for their parish priest. Father Britto Arockiam, SJ, has been working tirelessly in the East Bank cluster communities as a priest in charge for the past six years and was appointed the first parish priest of the St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Parish by his Lordship Bishop Francis according to Canon 526. Father Britto, in accepting his oath of fidelity, promised to be faithful to his office, the pastoral and priestly needs of those entrusted to him and to the local and universal church.

He sealed his commitment and act of faith with the recitation of the Nicene Creed and all formal documentation were signed. Registers which were updated and kept at Meadow Bank were also handed over to Father Britto. Father Britto, the newly appointed parish priest, extended gratitude to all who would have made this day a reality. These included Bishop Francis, past and present regional Jesuit superiors and fellow priests, the faithful of the different communities and his family. Father Britto, in his closing remarks, extended an invitation to all the faithful living within the East bank corridors to join for worship in the new parish whenever they can, while continuing to worship to whichever parish they are already part of it. The celebration culminated with an air of joy and purpose as the faithful partook in snacks. All COVID-19 protocols were observed and the event was lived streamed on Catholic media.