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Archbishop
Edward Gilbert offers words of consolation to Toufik and
Zakie Moses, parents of Fr Michael Paul Moses, the late
parish priest of San Raphael, at A Celebration of his life
at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Port-of-Spain,
yesterday.
Photo: Shirley Bahadur
By
Michelle Loubon
On March 12, 2000, the Catholic Church mourned the passing
of Archbishop Anthony Pantin.
On March 12, 2008, they mourned the passing of Parish Priest
of San Raphael Fr Michael Paul Moses.
A Celebration of Moses’ Life took place at the Cathedral
of the Immaculate Conception, Brian Lara Promenade, Port-of-Spain,
yesterday.
Among those who officiated were Archbishop Edward Gilbert,
vicar general Fr Christian Pereira and Fr Kenneth Assing.
They were joined by a large contingent of mourners from
the communities of Brazil, Mundo Nuevo, Talparo and Las
Lomas that he loved and served faithfully and fiercely.
Gilbert delivered the homily to a packed congregation from
the Book of Wisdom and Revelation (in the programme). He
said Moses’ ultimate farewell was precursed by masses
at Santa Rosa and San Raphael RC churches and a private
service for family and friends.
Gilbert found “this virtuous man”—who succumbed
to kidney cancer at age 50—exhibited similar characteristics
to prophet Isaiah.
“If
you have lived a life of virtue, you do not have to follow
chronology. In the prophet Isaiah’s long life and fidelity
are to be identified. If you are a just person who dies
young, you have already reached old age. You have achieved
virtue.”
Gilbert said he sometimes heard complaints Moses was “too
strict.” But his only fault was being zealous.
Kudos for virtues and abstinence programmes
Gilbert also paid kudos to Moses’ virtues and abstinence
programmes.
“By
Friday, 125 teachers from primary schools would have graduated
and the programme would be in the secondary schools.”
Moses’ brother Elias also eulogised it.
“It
was his brainchild since it dealt with a topic close to
his heart for the young people who were battered by the
media to move in the opposite direction. There are 112 abstinence
clubs.”
On a lighter note, Gilbert said whenever Moses called his
office asking for five minutes, he would give him 45.
Fr Ian Taylor shared an email from Louisiana’s governor.
“Like
Paul, Moses kept the faith to the end.”
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