Bishop Monsignor Kenneth David Oswin Richards
Newly ordained Catholic Bishop of St John’s-Basseterre Reverend Monsignor Kenneth David Oswin Richards will visit the St. Patrick’s church parish and community of Montserrat for just over weeklong stay beginning Sunday afternoon, March 4, 2012.
The bishop will on arrival, travel directly to the new Lookout St. Patrick’s R C Church where a welcome celebration will take place. He will preach a Lenten Retreat during the week and will be the main celebrant at the mass on Sunday, March 11, which will be the St. Patrick’s Day mass and mark the opening of celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day Week of celebrations.
The bishop after his huge welcome in Basseterre, St. Kitts Nevis where the diocese is also headquartered under the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre, was ordained in a very solemn celebration on Wednesday, February 8.
The pledge to build up the body of Christ, his Church and to remain in unity of that body together with the Order of Bishops under the authority of the successor St Peter the Apostle was made on Feb. 8 at the Holy Family Cathedral Catholic Church in St. John’s, Antigua in the presence of hundreds and a live television audience.
Bishop Richards answered “I do,” when asked if he would render obedience faithfully to the successor and to guide the whole people of God in the way of salvation.
The new bishop promised to be a good shepherd and seek out the sheep that stray and gather them to the Lord’s fold.
Reverend Richards was born in St Catherine, Jamaica and was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI.
He converted from Anglican to the Catholic faith. He attended a Catholic school and was an altar server as a youth.
In 1985, Reverend Richards was ordained as a priest and has worked in the archdiocese in his hometown as parish vicar, pastor and director for vocations.
Archbishop Donald Reese, former bishop of the diocese, was the Principal Consecrator. Consecrator Bishop was Robert River and Gabriel Malzaire. They were among more than 30 priest and deacons from the Diocesans of St John’s-Basseterre who witnessed the consecration.
Fr. George Agger and Mrs. Lyne Cassell, represented the R C parish in Montserrat at the ordination.
Among his other functions and duties while on island, the bishop will meet the local press on Friday 9.
