By Francis Quamina Farrier

The recent death of Guyanese-born, New York-based catholic priest, Monsignor Paul Winston Jervis at age 69, has left thousands in the USA, Guyana and many other countries extremely saddened. Msgr. Paul Jervis was born in Georgetown on December 1, 1953. At age 19, he migrated to New York in the United States of America, where he spent the rest of his life. However, there was always a deep love for the land of his birth, and over the years, Fr. Jervis visited Guyana almost every year. There were times when his visits were more frequent, such as travelling to Guyana for special events in the Catholic church, such as the ordination of a new priest or a bishop. When in Guyana, Monsignor would always visit the Parish of St Pius X, where he was attached before he migrated.

Not long after his arrival in the United States, he got the calling to the priesthood. That led to some years of studies, after which he was ordained in 1963. During the 40 years of his ministry, Msgr, Paul Jervis served in several parishes in Brooklyn and Queens. They include St. Francis of Assisi, St. Blaise, Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Victory and St Peter Claver – the Patron Saint of slaves, African Missions and interracial justice. During his forty years in the priesthood, Msgr. Paul Jervis constantly spoke of and worked tirelessly for racial harmony wherever he went and observed the need for such advocacy. When his own country, Guyana, descended into open racial conflicts, he established the Guyanese Holy Mass at his parish in New York to pray for peace in Guyana and to send financial offerings to Guyana for specific projects. Over the years, part of that money has financed the Soup Kitchen at the Brickdam Presbytery. Dozens of destitute persons receive warm meals at that facility on a daily basis. For most or all of them, it is a means of avoiding starvation. Msgr. Jervis established what is known as the Guyanese Mass Committee, which is made up primarily of former altar boys of the Brickdam Cathedral in Georgetown. Most are now men in their mature years but serve with youthful dedication. Most of them also visit Guyana regularly, and see firsthand how the soup kitchen operates. Msgr. Jervis has, on his many visits to Guyana, also seen for himself how the financial assistance sent by the Guyanese catholic community in New York,

Over his 40 years serving the Catholic Communities in Brooklyn and Queens, he was in regular contact with Guyanese who lived in those two boroughs of the city. His message of the need for racial unity was constant. As such, he earned the unofficial title of “Champion for Racial Harmony.” A first cousin of former Guyanese President, Hon. Samuel Hinds, Msgr, Jervis has over the years, preached and prayed for a more racially united Guyana.. Observing the racial diversity of the congregations at the New York Guyanese Masses over the years, it would be safe to say that Monsignor Paul Jervis had achieved what he desired in terms of racial unity among Guyanese. Added to the construction of a new church in his Parish of St. Peter Claver in Bedford Stuyvesant, he also spent many months researching and interviewing older parishioners about the life of Monsignor Bernard Quinn. The result was his book “QUINTIENTIAL PRIEST – The Life of Monsignor Bernard Quinn. Guyanese – both Catholics and non-Catholics – who have heard of Msgr. Paul Jervis or read his book, recognize that he was someone all Guyanese can be proud of, and mourn his recent passing.