Historic investiture of four new Monsignori at Holy Trinity Cathedral

Following the resonating echoes of the 6 p.m. Angelus Bell at Holy Trinity Cathedral, a vibrant congregation erupted in spontaneous cheers as the newly appointed Monsignori — Colin Bryan, Alphonso Bygrave, John Meany, and Stanley Shearer — made their entrance in the newly bestowed scarlet robes of honorary prelates. This unique ceremony marked the first time four honorary prelates were simultaneously invested, culminating in a Mass concelebrated by the Most Rev. Samuel E. Carter, SJ, CD, Archbishop of Kingston, alongside the four Monsignori and 16 priests. The ceremonial procession, led by the Holy Trinity Youth Band, commenced.

Published  Monday, February 10, 1975
 
Four invested with their robes of office
 
Scarcely had the echoes of the 6 p.m. Angelus Bell of Holy Trinity Cathedral died away yesterday evening, when the large congregation that filled all available spaces in church rose spontaneously to its feet in a burst of cheering for the four new Monsignori of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston - Mosignor Colin Bryan, Monsignor Alphonso Bygrave, Monsignor John Meany and Monsignor Stanley Shearer – entering the sanctuary in the new scarlet robes of honorary prelates, with which they had just been invested, to make obeisance and to take their places, two on each side of the Most Rev Samuel E. Carter, SJ, CD, Archbishop of Kingston.
 
This dramatic climax came at the end of a unique ceremony in the cathedral, when, for the first time, four new honorary prelates of the church were simultaneously invested with their robes of office, at the end of a concelebrated Mass of which the principal concelebrants were the Archbishop, the four Monsignori, and 16 priests.
 
The ceremonies commenced with a procession from the grounds of the Old Cathedral Rectory on Emerald Road, along North Street, entering the Church grounds by the main gate. It was led by the Holy Trinity Youth Band and comprised a large number of tally, including large delegations from rural and urban ecclesiastical parishes, Cuba brownies, girl guides, members of religions orders and clergy, with the new Monsignori and Archbishop bringing up the rear.
 
At the commencement of the ceremony, the Archbishop blessed water and then proceeded to sprinkle the congregation, accompanied by Rev Fr Vincent, of the cathedral staff, who was principal master of ceremonies, with Clinton Price, chairman of the Cathedral Church Council, as second master of ceremonies.
 
The Archbishop then delivered the homily, taking for his text “You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world”.
 
He said that the day was a great occasion for the cathedral, which had witnessed many other historic events, and it was very fitting that the cathedral, which only the day before had witnessed the 64th year since its dedication, that such an event as the present one being celebrated, the recognition by His Holiness Pope Paul VI of the outstanding services rendered by the new honorary prelates.
 
25 years ago
 
He recalled that, on the occasion of a previous Year of Jubilee, 25 years previously, the late Fr Vidal accompanied the late Fr Gladstone Wilson. Jamaica’s first diocesan priest, to Rome where he was elevated to the rank of Monsignor. Fr Vidal himself was made a Monsignor in 1954. Then, some years later, Fr Richard Watson was also elevated to similar rank. For many years, these three were the only Monsignori in Jamaica.
He recalled the determination of the late Archbishop McEleney to encourage the establishment of a local seminary, and out of efforts there have come two bishops, His Lordship Bishop Clarke of the Diocese of Montego Bay and Bishop Anthony Dickson, bishop of Bridgetown, Barbados, while there are now 15 Jamaican diocesan clergy working in various parts of the island. But there was still more need for a local clergy, and he exhorted the young men of the island to see if they had the necessary vocation for the priesthood.
 
The Archbishop explained that the title of Monsignor was a purely honorary one, and that he still had to perform his priestly duties, and with the same zeal and devotion which had earned him the papal recognition.
 
The Archbishop recalled the great outpouring of grief, particularly from the humble people among whom he laboured, when Monsignor Vidal died in October last year, and the magnificent tribute paid to Monsignor Gladstone Wilson at his funeral in December by Canon R. O. C. King of the Anglican Church.
 
“You four men are the chosen men of God. You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of witnessing. You must be witnesses to Christ in every way.”
The offering of bread and wine was carried up to the altar by Patrick Meany, a relative of the new Monsignor; Keith Calder, Egbert Timot and Reginald Campbell.
The choirs of Holy Trinity Cathedral and St Elizabeth’s Church rendered special anthems, with Olive Borland at the organ.
 
After the commission, Very Rev Fr Lawrence Burke, Jesuit Fr Superior, read first in Latin and then in English, the document of appointment of the new Monsignori.
 
The Archbishop then addressed the new honorary prelates, questioning if they were prepared to carry out duties of their new office, and presented each with a rescript of their appointments. Then he blessed the purple robes and then presented them to each. They departed for a short while from the sanctuary, and afterwards re-appeared in their new purple robes. In the interval, the two choirs had each rendered special anthems.
 
To the singing of the Recessional, the lengthy procession wended its way from the church and each of the new dignitaries was surrounded by congratulating friends.

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