St.John’s Catholic Church to Host First Men’s Forum

The Catholic Church of the Parish of St. John and St. Lewis Portsmouth will host its first men’s forum from Friday 15th to Saturday 16th January 2010 at the Roosevelt Douglas Primary school. The forum which carry’s the theme, ‘What Does it Mean to be Male and Christian’, aims to foster discussion and raise educational awareness on the topic.

The forum will open with an official ceremony where addresses are expected from government official and the Bishop of Roseau, His Lordship Gabriel Malzaire. The Friday evening sessions will be conducted by Ross university lecturer Dr. Beevers and Magistrate Tianni. The Saturday sessions will be led by attorney Ivenia Benjamin, Mr. & Mrs Ranny Felix and Pastor Bernard Joseph.

According to Parish Priest, Fr. Herman Sharplis, the event is necessary since there continue to be a visible absence of men in Church and community leadership. Fr. Sharplis added that the time is right for men to be provided with fora where they can discuss the matter and creatively come with ways and means of addressing this issue. Fr. Sharplis says that the reality of that issue is affecting the family. He also added that fatherhood is affected by the absentee fathers.