The funeral for the late Cardinal Kelvin Felix will be held in St Lucia, while he will be buried in Dominica, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Castries has announced. The service will be held at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at 10:00 am.
A vigil service at the Cathedral will precede the funeral on June 11 at 5:30 pm.
The archdiocese said based on his wishes the Cardinal will be buried on the Cathedral grounds in Roseau, here in Dominica.
Cardinal Felix, who was the Archbishop Emeritus of Castries, died on Thursday, May 30. He was 91. The senior clergyman was born in Roseau, Dominica on February 15, 1933.
He was ordained a priest on April 8, 1956, as the first diocesan priest from Roseau and the first Catholic priest to be ordained in Dominica. He was appointed as Archbishop of Castries on July 17, 1981, by Pope John Paul II. In that capacity, he had ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the dioceses in St Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, St Vincent, and St Kitts.
He was president of the Antilles bishops conference for six years from 1991-1997. He was made a Cardinal by Pope Francis on February 22, 2014. He was the first and only prelate from the English-speaking Caribbean to be given such high-ranking status in the Catholic Church. Sometimes referred to as “Princes of the Church,” Cardinals are senior Catholic clergymen below the pope. Duties of a Cardinal include electing the pope, acting as his principal counselors, and aiding in the government of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world. Since he was above 80 when he was made a Cardinal, he is not eligible to vote.
In a telegram sent on Saturday, June 1, Pope Francis expressed his sadness at the passing of Cardinal Felix.
He sent condolences to the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Castries and the Church in the West Indies.
“Recalling with deep gratitude the late Cardinal’s many years of dedicated episcopal ministry in Saint Lucia, especially his efforts in fostering the education of young people and his contribution to the Church throughout the Caribbean, I willingly join you in commending his soul to the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father,” Pope Francis wrote.
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