$3-million needed to complete Cathedral Renovation Project

Ongoing work on the cathedral

Member of the Catholic Fund Raising Committee, Val Cuffy has revealed that $3-million needed for the completion of the Cathedral renovation project in Roseau.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he appealed to Catholics, and the public in general, on the island to come forward to assist.

“We are going to need new pews, we are going to need new doors, we are going to need a new sound system, we are going to need $3-million,” he stated.

He added, “I am asking the general public, I am asking Catholics to come forward, we will be meeting with the private sector, we have discussed with central government ways and means of how we can work with the private sector towards they getting some tax rebates so when we come to you … we are looking forward to discussing with you how you can contribute and how you can get it back at the end of your annual returns.”

He said the fundraising committee is encouraged by collections made in churches around Dominica.

“So far we have raised $7 -million,” Cuffy noted. “We have over $1-million, $1.2-million available that we can use now and as I said to you to complete the project we need $3-million.”

He stated that although $3-million is difficult “by any stretch of the imagination,” it can be done if Catholics put their differences aside.

“Raising $3-million is not easy,” he noted. “We had to undergo a loan to see how far we can go in terms of pushing the project. That loan has to be paid back and we are asking for your generosity, we are asking for your support…”

Meanwhile, Bernard Lauwyck, Diocesan Engineer, said the project is almost halfway completed.

“We are now at Phase Five (Lot Five), there are 12 lots or twelve phases or lots,” he noted. “So we are not quite half way yet but the first give lots were the heavier ones. So after this comes the casting of the concrete floor which can be done in about two weeks time and the alleviation of the suspended ceiling and the electrical lighting and so on…”

He stated that the roofing aspect of the project (Lot Five), which is geing done by Ace Engineering, will be completed in early 2018.

Lot 1 of the project began by decommissioning the Cathedral and the removal of the furniture, while the 2nd lot was the removal of the asbestos roof, the 3rd lot was the retrofitting of the foundation and the walls of the structure, while the 4th lot involved the placement of the steel frames. Lot Five involves replacing the roof.

 

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65 Comments

  1. Hugh .G. Recshun
    July 3, 2017

    What do the tithes go to every Sunday? The funerals, weddings etc? what do these monies go towards? Especially if churches dont pay any taxes? Free untaxed money.

  2. July 3, 2017

    3 Million to renovate the catholic church? Zor tout foo!

  3. Alice
    July 2, 2017

    You won’t publish fairly, but one day sooner than later you will not be able to publish anything. God sees your tricks.
    I defended my church. Why did you remove my article

  4. Alice
    July 1, 2017

    As a Roman Catholic it iritates me to read the negative comments of some baptized Catholics , who through their ignorance of their faith were persuaded to follow some functional illiterates, whose only reason for straying was to fatten their pockets with the ten percent they collect from their followers. The Catholic Church does not demand ten percent of our income from members. We provide education, care of the elderly etc. No other church in the world does what we do.

    If each Catholic would donate not ten but five percent of their income we could build three Cathedrals and we do not have to go to Rome.

    The gates of hell shall never affect the Church our Lord and saviour created.

    • Hugh .G. Recshun
      July 3, 2017

      Jesus freak at it finest ladies and gentlemen. Do you even know the history of your beloven church? i To am a baptised catholic made confirmation and all of that. But i know how and why the Catholic Church is so powerful and so influential. Do not follow blindly like how people here support party politics. Know what your follow and worship.

  5. NRt
    July 1, 2017

    AAlas, abandoned by the pope and Vatican with all their billions.

  6. illumibati first
    July 1, 2017

    I am calling on all those who want to make it to Purgatory and that includes all SUNday worshippers to give all you have to the Romans… Give to the Romans what belongs to the Romans (MONEY) and give to GOD what belongs to GOD (PRAISE AND WORSHIP)…. Remember give to GOD to be Heaven bound NOT Hell bound :wink: :wink: :wink:

  7. Malgraysa
    June 30, 2017

    The catholic church has its own virtual off-shore bank, licensed by the government of Dominica. It is appropriately called the Cathedral Investment Bank. I suggest Val and the Bishop try them first.

  8. Anthony P. Ismael
    June 30, 2017

    I would love to see a detailed financial analysis, detailing costing, materials, labor etc. That’s quite a bit for one roof top. And how much do we spend on garbage trucks to help maintain and clean and healthy environment for our citizens? Judging by the looks of the last one, the answer is zero.

  9. June 30, 2017

    They pass the plate even at funerals , this whole church is a rip off , this roof is takeing a hundred years to build somebody is making a fortune with them poor people money Dominicans are so stupid ,giving away the little penny they have to the church when they don’t have food to feed there family , the catholic church promoted slavery, father bartomulu de las casas a cholice priest is on record saying that black people was better equipped for slavery because they was stronger, darker so there skin can stand the sun and the heat, now they are molesting our children. when is it gonna stop. don’t give no more money let the Vatican pay for the cathedral.,

  10. d-a born
    June 30, 2017

    Didn’t they fix that a few years ago? Go ask the Vatican for money, they’re full of it.

  11. Dominican
    June 30, 2017

    All the catholics have to do is pretend to go to a protestant church. One sunday let church stay empty ad go by pastor rod or somewhere else and you will see how fast they getting a roof, a church and a presbytery.

  12. positive
    June 30, 2017

    god did not say that, dominica dont even have 70 thousand of people for all this money; i have been to rome, the popes are living like kings, god has said to give but i dont think that they are giving they are just making we the poor get poorer

  13. Toto
    June 30, 2017

    Dear Bishop, let the catholic church award our suppremo another half a dozen medals, that should settle it. His chest big enough.

  14. Roger Burnett
    June 30, 2017

    If the Vatican sold just one work of art from a collection worth billions the Roseau Cathedral’s 3 million deficit could be covered many times over. Only a fraction of the Vatican’s treasures can be viewed by the public, most languish in seclusion behind closed doors. Raphael’s seductive nude Venus hangs in the papal bathroom.

    In times past cathedrals were built by master masons, carpenters and sculptors. When repairs became necessary, these men had the skill to re-design rather than slavishly copy what had gone before.

    • Mamosa
      July 1, 2017

      They hide most of the works of art because they never belonged to them in the first place….plundered goods, they are now sold off a little at a time to to the ungodly.

      A bunch of slime in that Vatican.
      Let them build their church, and give Dominicans a break..

  15. “Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he appealed to Catholics, and the public in general, on the island to come forward to assist.”

    This is one example of when God Jehovah, Jesus Christ and the Holy Sprit is not the head of something. God Jehovah, the Trinity did not create his Church, to be a begging grope of people.

    The Church is the body of people, and not the buildings! That building belongs to the Vatican, Roman Catholic the richest religion organization on the planet. The own all of the largest banks in the world, okay. In America, more than half the foreclosures of poor people home are conducted by banks owned by the Roman Catholics. If some Dominican wants three million dollars to complete work on their building, the best place to demand it is from the Vatican

    Either that or go and thief! That is the practice in Dominica anyway, when the word of God is not in it, it shall destroy itself!

  16. let me remain in catolic
    June 29, 2017

    Is this a case of swindling? please tell us how much money has been spent on this roof. everything for you guys is millions and millions of Dollars. A roof like this, in terms of square footage should not cost two million Dollars, even with timber and craftsmanship, like is done in St John’s Antigua. Are you using money for the roof to renovate other catholic properties.

  17. out of south city
    June 29, 2017

    As some have mentioned, the pope is one of the richest humans on earth. Some of the poor catholics, who continue to enrich this man who can do nothing but brainwash them, should not continue to give of their sweat and blood to such an organisation. Furthermore, what has happened to Andy, I have not yet seen or heard anything concerning his death from such venue. With soooooooooooo much money needed to fix a building, why isn’t it that the Catholic church take it upon itself to help, feed and restore the less fortunate ones in our society? Instead, many are still being brainwashed in this day and time to give their pittance to the richest organisation on earth.
    It is time that the blinders be removed from the eyes of the poor and that they rise up to reality.

    UNAPOLOGETIC

  18. UDOHREADYET
    June 29, 2017

    This is a Dominican project for a Dominican church… the experience will also be very good for the builders and engineers, as there are other churches and outdated building on the Island with Asbestos and Lead pipes that are poisoning people slowly.

    The forward thinking people in this society know that every generation has to take on major tasks to help those coming after and these type of projects will allow the next generation to focus on other issues and not be tied down by mistakes of the past!

  19. concern citizen
    June 29, 2017

    Rome might not be able to help, now that the Priest who is in charge of the VATICAN purse, it is a lledged he HAS FOUND HIMSELF in trouble with a little boy, the usual thing that has been happening all the time, if it is true, I find that the Vatican is spending to much money for those kind of abusive men dress up in ROBES, they should stop it now, that’s ENOUGH

  20. Man bites Dogs
    June 29, 2017

    I am not against the Cathedral Renovation we need to have one in our city, But $3-million? This people taking the piss now why they can’t send a delication to Rome and get some of that millions and trillions the Pope gotta hibeing under his bed. We do not have black gold and silver nor do we have money trees what the hell more this people want !

  21. Me
    June 29, 2017

    Have faith, God will provide, Philippians 4;19. Just don’t ask Alick, he is an Anglican.

  22. King Joffery
    June 29, 2017

    so… we want too spend $3M on a church building roof? Aren’t there enough homeless and less fortunate persons in your own Judea and Jerusalem who needs help? We spend all that money on a church building for “whitewashed tombs”? No sa… What wrong with an ordinary building and using the money for better causes? This is sickening at the very least.
    Off with their heads…

  23. June 29, 2017

    You pay no taxes , the land owned in Dominica you never paid for, as “STALLON” rightly says, the Catholic church is one of the richest in the world. The days are closely coming when this EVIL organization , the one that initiated the ENSLAVING of Africans, will be no more. Today, we find the church still in the former SLAVE colonies, controlling and pacifying the minds of the descendants, while the priests and bishops continue to have their way with young boys and women young and old. I say no. Bob.

  24. Reall!!!!!
    June 29, 2017

    The Dominican Catholic Church cannot get at interest free loan from the Vatican Bank?

    So the only use of the Catholic Church is to collect money from poor followers for the Vatican….now they need to repair their assets(Church) the Vatican will not provide the funds.

    Time to start selling some of the church assets to get the $3M and leave the poor people of Dominica who are sucking salt alone.

  25. JBaptiste
    June 29, 2017

    Why not just pray for it. Don’t you believe in prayer?

  26. Catholic to the bone
    June 29, 2017

    ALways on Catholic backs yet all u running and play Catholic to get your children in Convent prep, St Martin primary SMP SMA CHS why is that. I know of many non catholics who baptize their kids in catholic church jusat to get a baptismal certificate so their daughters can enter St Martin Primary why is that . You all to wicked and hypocrite.

    • Anonymous
      June 30, 2017

      That is what we learn from Skerro, be opportunistic and call it patriotism. Me, I’m not going to any church again, they are leeches.

  27. Catholic to the bone
    June 29, 2017

    Forgive them for they know not what they say. Pure ignorant talk I must say. People The church does not have cash however it has alot of assets which can be turned into cash. We must be careful what we say with our mouth. The same set of you that talking such bull is the same set that running to help all you church when the pastors ask for it. You all go as far as giving free labour and taking loans for pastors etc why is it when ever is the Catholic church that asking for funds so much is said when you all give your pastors when they ask before your pastors ask all u doh care how all you get it but you all give it so please stop being a hypocrite. I really wonder why 95% of the so call churches in Dominica attack only one Church which is the Catholic Church. skip, hop, jump, the church shall stand. Really wonder why all Religions is Catholic they bashing. Well face the truth and history the first Church is the Catholic church and all others stem from it because they

    • Catholic to the bone
      June 29, 2017

      All other churches stem from the catholic church. Further the catholic Church is the one who put the bible together had it been copy rited those other churches would not have it to use against us. even going as far as removing books to suit them all u well bold face. Go get to know you alls history.

      • Oh snap
        July 2, 2017

        Hope you realize how ridiculous your comment is, sit back take a deep breath and think about what you just wrote

      • Hugh .G. Recshun
        July 3, 2017

        Research the Council of Nicea. The most original Bible is that of the Fallashan Jews from Ethiopia. Those who who headed the catholic church and had a say in its organisation like King James at the time did the same thing you just described that the other churches did. They edited and changed That Which Was Written to suit their agenda. Know your history and stop believing in what you are simply told. Knowledge is better than belief.

  28. %
    June 29, 2017

    Ask Skerrit for you to be a passport agent!oOr play Super six:
    1,—,—, 19,23,26.Get the second and third number.

  29. June 29, 2017

    The Vatican will have to supply those funds because too much poor people money go in that. What happen a good time nuh?

  30. June 29, 2017

    Well, well, well.

  31. June 29, 2017

    Oh boy, every 6 months is a story with that cathedral :?: :?:

  32. June 29, 2017

    Why isn’t Rome helping with this project?

    • small mouth
      June 30, 2017

      LMAO

  33. Not a Dummycan
    June 29, 2017

    That must be a roof made out of gold. I hope after all that money is spent on the roof, the truth will be preached from the pulpit.

  34. Farmer
    June 29, 2017

    I’d sooner shred what money I have than to give to a church which pays in some instances over US$600 million in sexual assault cases. Interestingly they defrock only 1 in 3. Good luck with that project but left to me you guys would wet.

    http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19762878/ns/us_news-life/t/la-archdiocese-settle-suits-million/

    https://www.google.dm/amp/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/vatican-reveals-how-many-priests-defrocked-for-sex-abuse-since-2004/

    • Catholic to the bone
      June 29, 2017

      The catholic church alone that had cases with sexual assault, I want to know ? Ours out but you all own hiding. bashing the catholic church yet all u running and pretend to be catholics and baptize your children to get baptismal record so your kids can enter St Martin Primary, prep, SMP. if the church not good why send your kids to our school to be educated tell me. Wonder why all the churches is one church you all bashing he catholic church hhmmmmm woyyyyyy

      • Farmer
        June 30, 2017

        I support no church. All are equally ridiculous. Christ’s church is not a building.

    • Hugh .G. Recshun
      July 3, 2017

      Too many pastors as well. Not only the catholic church that is laced with scandal. right here in Dominica we have cases of pastors abusing and fornicating with their flock.

  35. Ibo France
    June 29, 2017

    The church is fast becoming an irrelevant relic. Instead of providing spiritual upliftment and become socially active in the communities they serve, the church continuously ask for tithes, offerings, donations and contributions from its members, many of them live from ”hand to mouth’. That $3 000 000 could be used to fix road and bridges, repair and builds modest homes for the underprivileged, medicine for the hospitals and many more urgent needs. Don’t put this heavy burden on the poor members when all they want is some solace to their aching souls.

  36. June 29, 2017

    No more CBI MONEY for this project, we need to rebuild the bath estate elmshall bridge.

  37. jihan
    June 29, 2017

    Check the Pope Val smh.

  38. FORKIT
    June 29, 2017

    now skerrit has your loyalty, why dont you try and get some from him, we have holes like no other time in our roads but he will still give you, he gave SAM

    • June 29, 2017

      .you and your dam. Political comment is not like he didn’t give already what you give what you help bastard

      • Me
        June 30, 2017

        Need I remind you that bastard is a legitimate term for someone born out of wedlock.

  39. Cant see the forest for the trees
    June 29, 2017

    Hold up…..isn’t the catholic church already tax exempted in Dominica? Isn’t the Vatican the biggest business institution on the planet? 3 million is less than chicken feed for them to give to a church under their control….this makes no scene at all. All that collection plate money and they don’t have 3 million to fix their own roof? what they rolling all them rosary beads for and praying under statue for all them time ? Don’t get me wrong, i am all for people coming together for a good cause, what i cant stand is the hypocrisy of this, the church has profited from the ill treatment of us black people for eons yet we still break our backs for this same catholic church that denies us our own heritage as black people. WAKE UP PEOPLE…hey even bringing out a celebrity to beg for us to pass the plate around again. didn’t we tax payers just give them a large sum of money a few months ago? Let the Vatican pay of the church by selling one of the Pope’s multi million dollar gowns.

    • John Paul
      June 30, 2017

      Dem People have Blinders on.My Mother told me one of Her great Grandmothers took Her to that Church to show Her a big stone that was carried by Her Mother while She was a Slave to build that Church.Why promote and support an Institution that never stood against Slavery?While the Methodists and Quakers and other Abolitionist Groups were busy fighting to abolish Slavery this Institution said NOTHING!

  40. Mamamia
    June 29, 2017

    3 million?? Messiehhhh. I swear I hear that every year. What happen work is not being done at alll??? Wish I could help but… I’m sorry, but it seems we will be using the st geralds hall 4 a long while…

  41. Real deal
    June 29, 2017

    Whose brilliant idea was it to modernize the roof of the Cathedral? Let that person deal with the cost

  42. ijs
    June 29, 2017

    Why don’t they take a loan from the Vatican bank instead of putting the burden on poor Dominicans.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_the_Works_of_Religion

    • June 29, 2017

      The people and the government of Dominica have contributed enough to this project it is time for THE VATICAN TO STEP UP!!

      • God bless Dominica
        June 29, 2017

        Come on val the Vatican in Rome is the mother of all Catholic churches….its the Vatican duty to take care of it’s own….It’s unbelievable that you all can’t have a meeting with the head of the Vatican and ask for help to fixed that cathedral….Why should you all be asking people for help when you all have the biggest organization in the world so I don’t see where there should be a problem with getting all the help you can from Rome…..Its a down right shame that the heads of the Vatican can’t or will not help its own…
        SHAME,SHAME,SHAME

      • John Paul
        June 30, 2017

        This is the Property of the Pope! Imagine the Kalinago Territory is owned by the Kalinago People by a Title in Common but the Catholic Church has it’s own Certificate of Title for the lands around the Church in Salibia? How did they pull that off? Just asking!

  43. Stallon
    June 29, 2017

    The Catholic church is one of the wealthiest organisations in the world. They have their own currency, their own bank, their own police etc. They even have their own state, the Vatican!!! Val, you forget we in Dominica live on sucking salt???

  44. MI
    June 29, 2017

    check Rome

    • I am Real
      June 30, 2017

      The Cathedral is more than a Church. It is a historical monument which we have to preserve. We need to get away from speaking this Rome crap. The building is in Dominica and it belongs to the people and part of our independence is to reach the stage where we can take care of our own. Of course that would mean raising the funds both in State and out of State. I suggest some us look around the world to see the number of religious buildings that are being preserved and maintained for historical and cultural reasons. These serve as tourist attraction. I do not have remind people of the number of tourist that used to visit the cathedral when a boat is in port.

      Let’s help rebuild our Cathedral!!!!

      • Cant see the forest for the trees
        June 30, 2017

        “The building is in Dominica and it belongs to the people and part of our independence is to reach the stage where we can take care of our own” Besides being a slave holding cell what other historical significance does this hold, and no it does not belong to Dominica or Dominicans, it belongs to Rome, the certificate of title belongs to Rome not Dominica. stop being ignorant and go research what these demons have done to Dominica and Dominicans. there is a reason our history is not taught in our high-schools.

      • Anonymous
        June 30, 2017

        If that is so, turn it into a museum for visitors to pay an entry fee.

      • Jodi
        June 30, 2017

        Feed clothe and house the poor on the dirty streets of Roseau FIRST!!!!

      • Dominican
        June 30, 2017

        Hmm, you have a point there.Tthe bishop walks around in his finery, blesses an approved cbi project, wants you to kiss his ring and lives in a bishops palace with no family while somebody bashes in Andy’s head with a piece of concrete because nobody really cares about him. Where does charity begin folks?Wwith a church roof so they can keep the saints dry? Don’t let us forget the story of the Samaritan!

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