Hurricane Beryl Appeal

Dear Anglican Family,

Pentecost-tide greetings to you all.

We all have been alarmed by the passage of Hurricane Beryl in the Southern Caribbean over the last few days and her devastating effects on several dioceses:

• The Diocese of Barbados – widespread damage
• The Diocese of the Winward Islands – catastrophic damage
  • The nation of St. Vincent Mainland
    • Smaller islands: Canouan
      • Union Island
      • Bequia
      • Mayreau and others

• The nation of Grenada, mainland
  • Smaller island: Carriacou

• The Diocese of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands – widespread damage

There has been catastrophic damage and the loss of homes, property, businesses, and livelihood.  Persons are missing, and there has been some loss of life.

We commiserate with those who are missing loved ones or have lost loved ones, property, and livelihood.  Many of us here are connected to relatives and friends in these territories and feel the pain.

These territories now have the painstaking and arduous task of rebuilding their lives and healing the wounds.

I hereby launch a Hurricane Appeal in the diocese on behalf of our sister dioceses.

A second collection will be taken during Sunday services until Sunday, 11^th August.  I ask each parish to make a parish contribution to “top-up” collection amounts.

Let us keep the affected dioceses and countries in our love and in our prayers.

I have communicated our good wishes to Archbishop Howard Gregory, Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Bishop Leopold Friday, Diocese of the Winward Islands, and Bishop Michael Maxwell, Diocese of Barbados.

I have also asked Dr. Kari Marcelle, the Honorary Consul for the nation of St. Vincent, to convey our regards to the Government and people of that country.

On a personal note, do remember that Fr. Marcelle’s wife, Kandis, is from St. Vincent.  Her mother, Evannie Cordice, and her sisters work in Canouan, which received catastrophic damage.  Her mother and sisters also lost their home and all of their possessions.  This is distressing because last year, her mother lost the family home in Sandy Bay, St. Vincent when the volcano erupted.

Please keep Kandis and her family in your love and prayers.

Please be generous to the Hurricane Appeal.

Yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev’d. Laish Boyd
Diocesan Bishop
The Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands