Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda the Hon. W.
Baldwin Spencer has pledged to continue working with the Catholic Church in the
development of the nation and its people.
During the presentation of credentials of His Excellency Archbishop Nicola
Girasoli, as the newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio (Ambassador – Papal
representative) for the countries of the Antilles Episcopal Conference, Prime
Minister Spencer said that the Church has been a great partner to government in
being the moral compass of the nation and a superior force in the provision of
quality education to the young people of the nation.
“The Catholic Church in Antigua and Barbuda stands out for the quality
education that it provides to the nation of Antigua and Barbuda and I look
forward to working closely as Prime Minister and on a personal level with the
soon to be ordained Bishop of St. John’s Basseterre – Monsignor Kenneth
Richards in furthering our collaboration,” said PM Spencer.
Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, as the papal representative to the countries of the
Antilles Episcopal Conference, which includes Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname,
Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St
Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago, is based in
Port of Spain, Trinidad.
During his visit to the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday, Archbishop
Nicola Girasoli also introduced Monsignor Kenneth Richards to Prime Minister
Spencer who outlined that he is looking forward to serving in the diocese,
which has its seat in Antigua and Barbuda and includes the islands of Saint
Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands.
Prime Minister Spencer along with other Members of Parliament, political
leaders from the diocese and Jamaica; birthplace of Monsignor Kenneth Richards
and Clergy from the Antilles Episcopal Conference will be in attendance for the
Ordination of Monsignor Kenneth Richards at the Holy Family Cathedral on
Michael’s Mount on Wednesday 8th February at 4 p.m.
Bishop-elect Kenneth Richards is a priest from the Archdiocese of Kingston,
Jamaica and has served as its Vicar General.
The Ordination will be broadcast live on local television ABS TV, Catholic
Radio 89.7 FM and via the Internet at www.ab.gov.ag
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