Ground-breaking to begin catholic church project, among activities for Portsmouth Reunion

The Portsmouth Catholic Church was completely destroyed following the 2004 earthquake. Photo credit: www.dominica.gov.dm

The New York Portsmouth Roman Catholic Church Rebuilding Initiative has collaborated with Portsmouth’s Parish Priest Father Herman Sharplis to coordinate and organize Portsmouth Reunion 2010.

Member of the New York Portsmouth Roman Catholic Church Rebuilding Initiative, Theresa Thomas said in a press release they are calling on the public locally and abroad, particularly Portsmouth citizens to join and celebrate the event.

A part of the list of activities for Portsmouth Reunion 2010 is a ground-breaking ceremony for the rebuilding of the Portsmouth Roman Catholic Church.

The New York Portsmouth Roman Catholic Church Rebuilding Initiative is a non-profit organization, founded by Montgomery Douglas, M.D in February 2009.

The New York Portsmouth Roman Catholic Church Rebuilding Initiative set off on a fund-raising drive to see the re-construction of the Portsmouth Catholic Church, since its destruction in 2004 following an earthquake. The estimated cost for that project is US$2.2 million. The group is hoping to raise US$500,000.00 over a two-year campaign, by raising awareness in the Dominican community and partnering with other groups in the New York area, notably the Knights of Columbus.

The initiative has been holding a number of fundraising events which will include a bus trip to Atlantic City on April 24th, 2010, a Cultural Gala in July, a boat cruise in July, Barbeques in June, July and August, a pre Halloween Dinner and Dance in October in order to help raise both money and awareness of the plight of the church.

“If it took four years to raise a fifth of the money needed to rebuild, the church would not be built for another 20 years. But 20 years from now the rebuilding cost would not only be 2.2 million, but probably more and double that amount,” Thomas stated in the press release.

The calendar of activities for the Portsmouth Reunion 2010 is as follows:

October 30th 2010 to November 7th 2010.

Saturday, October 30th 2010

Town clean up (AM) and Official Opening Day (PM)

Sunday, October 31st 2010

Parish Mass officiated by His Lordship, Gabriel Malzaire Bishop of Roseau at 9.00 a.m. Other invited Dignitaries

Proposed ground breaking ceremony

Beach BBQ Party with Music and Raffle 3.00pm until – Purple Turtle

Beach

Monday, November 1st 2010

Symposium, History of Portsmouth, Arts and Crafts

Tuesday, November 2nd 2010

Feast of all Souls, Mass and the Lightening of Graves beginning at 6.00pm

Followed by a Gospel Fest and Raffle

Wednesday, November 3rd 2010

Independence Day, Annual Bazaar and Raffle

Thursday, November 4th 2010

Community Day of Service and Cultural Gala

Lapau Cabwit taking crowd from Portsmouth to Glanvillia (After Community

Day of Service)

Friday, November 5th 2010

Jam Fest, Raffle and Door prizes, Swinging Stars and other Guest

Calypsonians etc.

Saturday, November 6th 2010

Award dinner at th Cabritts- Under the patronage of the Honourable Prime

Minster Roosevelt Skerrit.

Sunday, Novemebr 7th 2010

Parish Mass and Sports day, Raffle, Official Closing ceremony and Music Jam.

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11 Comments

  1. eccavilo
    March 12, 2010

    One of the greatest occurrences in a village is the building of a church so that villagers could come together to worship God in spirit and in truth. It is important that it is big enough to accommodate everyone including visitors who are expected to come from time to time for various celebrations. Nonetheless, the focus here seems to be the building of an architectural monument that would beautify Portsmouth. While sprucing up our second town is vital, a church costing $2.2 million is mere vanity when Dominica has other needs. The urgency should be getting a church built ASAP for worship not one of that magnitude that it would take years to raise funds for. Wherever two or more are gathered in God’s name there he is. This means that service could be kept in a home, a shack, or a park. Spending so much on a church is mere vanity. People grow up let’s take that money and do more with it!

  2. Anonymous
    March 12, 2010

    It always a great idea to build a church to glorify the Lord and so that God’s people could come together to worship and fellowship in spirit and in truth. Nonetheless, a building of this magnitude costing millions of dollars is totally unnecessary. The urgency to build a church does not seem to be the focal point here. The interest seems to be improving the look of the town by building an architectural masterpiece! Where two or more people are gathered in HIS name there he is! It may be in a shack, a home or an open field. All that is needed is a simple church that could seat all the members and visitors during celebration times. So wake up people don’t be so materialistic that money could do so much more. Fiyah=Ikoma made some good points.

  3. March 11, 2010

    It’s time that we the Portsmouth Community grab the bull by the horn and step up to the plate to create the change we want to see in the town. We should all come out in force to help build our church, and support Theresa, and the group who is working hard in the rebuilding efforts.

    we have to be positive in all we do to see the town move up to the next level. We cannot therefore wait on town council, ministers, or government to do the job for us, they too need our help and support and positive input to create the town we so want to see.

    And greatness can only be achieved if we come together as one and participate in the rebuilding, moving forward so to speak of our town. It’s time to take charge and be accounted among the masses for doing so.

    Many has said, “but am not Catholic”, and to that I have responded, ‘you don’t need to be a Catholic to help rebuild a town or let alone the church. For as long as am on this earth, I grew up a Catholic, and , learnt to regard the Roman Catholic Churhc in our town, as a priceless piece of Architecture, embedded with history and nostalgia. Portsmouth needs to bring back what was once our pride. how many of us studied up in the bell arear, how many of us attended a wedding, funeral, inauguration of Fth Elveau and more there.

    So, take up the initiative folks and lend a hand, generate support among everyone and come join in!

  4. fiyah=Ikoma
    March 10, 2010

    Fyah burn dat!so rome ah crumble!ppl open allu eyes!!!why shud it cost millions to contruct church wa can be destroyed in minutes if not seconds??God say he need elaborate fancy buildings to go praise him wen he tell allu go in ur closet n pray and he will hear ur voice.dat $ can go to feeding the hungry,clothing the naked,shelter to the homeless…after all.and on top of dat is pure idol and pagan symbol dem bowing to in vatican nation!think we doh kno the truth pope benedict?think again!allu scrapin poor ppl purse round da world including dca,and sendin it to vatican city where pope have gold plate and gold cup eatin n drinking from and call his self vicar of God!abomination, hypocrisy and lies dat!christ come humble and poor and neva request dem vanity from men to honour him,as matter fact he say easier for camel to enter in needle eye dan rich vatican to go to heaven!we know about allu socery and spell casting,blood drinking and idol worrshipping,allu sodomistic ways and allu carry the mark of beast on alllu heads,allu bratal history of innocent ppl,allu war against the lamb of God,kissing bombs and blessing troops to go and bomb innocent ppl in africa with poison gas!we know!and allu nah get NO pardon!so when allu spend all dat $$ to build allu devil tomb,it gonna get destroyed again and again and again till allu have no choice but to leave it in its ruins for the nations to see as a sign.judgement on rome blood sucking vampires!take dat for appetizer,gluttons!

  5. March 10, 2010

    Congrates in advance to the group of people putting this programs together.. Possie people will support you all the way. We are taking back our Town to the next Level and making a different.. We need all Possie People from Dominica and the Rest of the World to come down to Possie and Celebrate with us as we move our Town inthe right direction and empower our youth of their rightful place in our community.. We have Talent Possie so lets show our Talent to the rest of Dominica and the World what we are made of… We are a Vibrant People and a Vibrant Town. Must important area in Dominica. Foward we Go with 2010 Possie.

  6. niceness
    March 9, 2010

    Sounds great all portsmouth massive should support this event its for a good venture, i will be down for that to support for sure.

  7. Braveheart
    March 9, 2010

    That figure is mind boggling! U.S. $2.2 million!!!! That is one hell of an expensive church.

  8. pageantlover
    March 9, 2010

    I take this opportunity to encourage the team in doing such great work. Someone had to do it and you all did it; again CONGRATS This time we can see not only talk but work; may the event in october be a great one!!!

  9. GWATANCE
    March 9, 2010

    I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BE INVOLVED IN SUCH A WORTHY CAUSE, A CAUSE WHICH GIVES THE COMMUNITY AND THE YOUTH IN PARTICULAR A MEANS OF BEING PART OF A FOCAL POINT
    FOR COMING TOGETHER TO CREATE ACTIVITIES

    THE BEST TO THE ORGANISERS OF THE REUNION 2010

  10. finally
    March 9, 2010

    its about time Portsmouth has a reunion!! Portsmouth people need to wake up and united for the good of the town. Portsmouth seems to be sleeping, nothing is really happening. Portsmouth was known for a town that was alive with activities like fishermen feast, fete marin, just to name a few but now it is all history, nothing happens anymore So I pray this reunion will be the begining of good things to come.

  11. STRAIGHT FORWARD POOSSIE
    March 9, 2010

    That’s the way to go Theresa , but I hope whtat happen with the last bazar will not happen again. All the good breakable bowls were taken away and plastic were sold to the public. We in Portsmouth will support the inotiative.
    WAY TO GO SISTER THERESA.

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