The first ever St. John Parish (Portsmouth) Reunion was launched today, an initiative geared at raising funds for the reconstruction project of the old Roman Catholic Parish Church that was destroyed in the 2004 earthquake.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the $6-million project will take place on Sunday, October 31, marking the opening of the week-long reunion celebrations in Portsmouth.
The opening day will also be marked with a parish mass and Purple Turtle beach event. This will be followed, organisers say, by “a full week of activities for the entire family”.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW PHOTOS
The reunion event will run under the theme “Working and Celebrating Together” and aims to unite the people of the Parish of St. John with love, togetherness and community spirit. These people include those from Portsmouth, Toucarie, Capuchin and Bourne both in Dominica and overseas, according Father Herman Sharplis.
Day two of the celebrations – Monday, November 1 – will feature a history and panel discussion at the church hall followed by an exhibition at St. John’s School.
A gospel fest at Cabrits will be held on November 2 and will include a wide cross section of Christian denominations, while Wednesday, November 3 will see an Independence Day Bazaar at the Portsmouth market followed closely by a youth open forum conference. Reigning Carnival Queen Marcia Baptiate has endorsed the forum.
The Bazaar will come under the management of John Alexis, who promises “a great day of fun, entertainment and togetherness”.
Thursday, November 4 will see a community service day, according to the organizing committee’s public relations officer Drinnon Nyerere. He has encouraged members of the community to come out and support the cause.
The last three days of the week will be packed with entertainment events under the direct supervision of DJ Power. From Friday, the events will include an award dinner at Cabrits, two band splash events headlining Dominica’s Triple K and Burning Flames out of Antigua at RBD Cinema, a sports day at Benjamin Park followed by an official closing and dance at Memory Lane.
Is it a Catholic thing or a Portsmouth thing? Can you separate the two? The Church is the foundation of Portsmouth’s development.
This Muslim is right -To each his own. You have no authority to tell Catholics how to handle their finances. MYOB.
mind over matter………whoever wrote that u not makin no sence…..u 2 negative….do they have 2 ring dat in ur head over and over IT’S NOT A CATHOLIC THING!!!!
yes proud to be catholic
To mind over matter.
If the Parliamentary Representative for Portsmouth was at the helm of things is the same thing you would say it is a Labor Party thing. It is not a catholic church thing. I wish to reiterate it is for the Parish of Portsmouth and we saw it fit to have the ground breaking cermeony of the chruch in Portsmouth during the Reuion celebration. It is a time to bring people together. The Priest is the Parish Priest so he is one of the members on the coomitteee.
If you feel that it is a catholic thing well do not come an particiapte. In Dominica today everyhting is about politics and church. Rise above the norm and do something for your community. The priest is only one person and we are more in numbers.
Dominicans are low minded people that is why Dominicans will never rise above the gutter for all they can do is critcize and do nothing to contribute to the development of their country Dominica or their community.
There are Catholic churches all over the world. Are you telling me that you guys cannot raise that money from your institutions? You are involving bouyon music where all kinds of immoral activities take place? Are you telling me you guys cannot create a website to reach out to other Catholic churches across the world to assist you guys with this? I am sure they would help. It appears that Catholic church supports all the jams eh? Ok, if that’s your ideals fair enough. To each his own, Allah says in the quran, To you be your religion and to me be mine.
I would just like to let the people know that the Parish Reunion was the brain child of the memebrs of the NYPRCCRI (New York Portsmouth Roman Catholic Church Rebuilding Initiative). They have seen it fit to raise funds to rebuild the church that was destroyed by the earthquake in Dominica in 2004. We as Portsmouth citizens and Dominica by extension has seen it fit to raise funds to rebuild the church that was of monumental history for the town of Portsmouth.
Instead of we thinking negative like (whatathing) we saw it fit to form a committee and raise funds to rebuild the church.
We in New York have been very busy rasiing funds for we cannot wait on the Government to do it for us. we have seen it fit to rise above all and do something for our community. With all the negatives vibes that is going around the town, something positive will come out of the reunion.
Instead of saying what the chruch doing come out and help support a worthy cause.
We call on all to to come out and celebarte.
Portsmouth and Dominica by extension is ours to build and rebuild.
Looking forward to the Parish Reunion in Portsmouth.
it is not a portsmouth people ting.its a catholic ting bcuz look who incharge of it.y take the public money to build ur church.y do people give offerin where is ur thithing system.everything that the almighty says that church is against it.wat is so soory the others join u except 4 one who is not in it.u that fella from vielle case u hate 7day adventist so much yet u talk about them so much.
Positive vibes from a positive people… would like to encourage all to join in this celebration!
@God and Jesus: So I guess the end justify the means? Typical hypocritical Catholic Church. This church has no moral authority in Dominica. Lost it long time ago.
@whatathing: My dear, it is the Portsmouth area reunion. As you will see the priest is only on the organizing committee because the St.John’s Reunion Committee has agreed that the funds raised will be used to rebuild the church which was destroyed.. So it is not the Catholic church organising any Triple K jam.
Is this the best way the catholic church can raise funds.burning flames, triple k, street jam? then the bishop saying to much jam jam. who is leading hwo and who is following hwo. one would think that the hcurch at this time would concentrate on more wholesome acticities to raise funds. When I was growing up always heard that November 1st and 2nd were holyday of obligation all souls and all saints church people too ambiguous.stop preaching two messages.bishop what’s the real message.?
gud to go, i will be there
I in dat
Oh I can’t wait for this.. I am so happy I will be there. The people of Portsmouth and Dominica on a whole truly need to come together for this one. By the way I thought Marcia was Miss Dominica 2010.