Kelvin Felix
Encyclopedia
Kelvin Edward Felix, is the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop
of Castries
. He was born in Roseau
, Dominica on 15 February 1933. He was ordained into the Catholic priesthood in 1956.
Archbishop Kelvin Felix was born in Dominica on 15 February 1933. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Church on 8 April 1956. In 1962 he left the West Indies for St. Francis Xavier University
in Nova Scotia, where he attained a Diploma in Adult Education in 1963, gained a Masters Degree from the University of Notre Dame
in Indiana in Sociology and Anthropology in 1967 and completed post graduate studies in Sociology at the University of Bradford
in Yorkshire, England in 1970. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1986 from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia.
Archbishop Felix was the Principal of the Roman Catholic High School in Dominica from 1972–1975 and Associate General Secretary of the Caribbean Conference of Churches from 1975–1981. He was ordained Archbishop on 5 October 1981 and served as President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference from 1991–1997 and President of the Caribbean Conference of Churches from 1981–1986. He is presently a member of the Roman Curia.
The Archbishop received the Honour of OBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1992, the Dominica Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service in 1999 from the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. In 2002 he received the Medal of Honour (Gold) (SLMH) in the Order of St. Lucia for services to Religion from the Government of St. Lucia in respect of the 23rd anniversary of Independence. This medal of honour is awarded to a person who has rendered eminent service of national importance to Saint Lucia.
The Province of Castries, of which Archbishop Felix is the Metropolitan, includes the Dioceses of Kingstown in St. Vincent, St. George's-in-Grenada, Roseau, Dominica and St. John's-Basseterre, Antigua/St. Kitts.
In addition to the administration of the Catholic Church in St. Lucia, Archbishop Felix has responsibility for 33 Primary Schools, 2 Secondary Schools, 1 girls' Vocational School, 2 homes for the elderly, one shelter for the homeless and an orphanage for young children.
On 12 April 2006, Felix was attacked and grabbed on the neck by a man with a knife, as soon as he finished an evening sermon at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries
. The man ran after Felix was aware of a sawing motion on his throat, and then pushed him backwards. News of the event made Saint Lucian natives reminiscent of a similar attack at the same Cathedral on New Year's Eve, 2000.
As he approached his retirement age, Felix requested of the Vatican that a co-adjutor archbishop be appointed to ensure a mooth transition in the Archdiocese. On 19 July 2007 Bishop Robert Rivas
of the Diocese of Kingstown as Co-adjutor Archbishop of the Diocese of Castries. His installation will be on 14 October 2007.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Castries
Castries
Castries , population 10,634, aggl. 37,963 , is the capital city of Saint Lucia, a country in the Caribbean. The district with the same name had a population of 61,341 in 2001-05-22, and stretches over an area of ....
. He was born in Roseau
Roseau
-Architecture:The central district of Roseau is tightly packed with small and large houses and even larger modern concrete structures. There is little green or open space situated within the city, and this is even more so today, as many of the courtyards which was once commonplace within the city...
, Dominica on 15 February 1933. He was ordained into the Catholic priesthood in 1956.
Archbishop Kelvin Felix was born in Dominica on 15 February 1933. He was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Church on 8 April 1956. In 1962 he left the West Indies for St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
in Nova Scotia, where he attained a Diploma in Adult Education in 1963, gained a Masters Degree from the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in Indiana in Sociology and Anthropology in 1967 and completed post graduate studies in Sociology at the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
in Yorkshire, England in 1970. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1986 from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia.
Archbishop Felix was the Principal of the Roman Catholic High School in Dominica from 1972–1975 and Associate General Secretary of the Caribbean Conference of Churches from 1975–1981. He was ordained Archbishop on 5 October 1981 and served as President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference from 1991–1997 and President of the Caribbean Conference of Churches from 1981–1986. He is presently a member of the Roman Curia.
The Archbishop received the Honour of OBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1992, the Dominica Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service in 1999 from the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. In 2002 he received the Medal of Honour (Gold) (SLMH) in the Order of St. Lucia for services to Religion from the Government of St. Lucia in respect of the 23rd anniversary of Independence. This medal of honour is awarded to a person who has rendered eminent service of national importance to Saint Lucia.
The Province of Castries, of which Archbishop Felix is the Metropolitan, includes the Dioceses of Kingstown in St. Vincent, St. George's-in-Grenada, Roseau, Dominica and St. John's-Basseterre, Antigua/St. Kitts.
In addition to the administration of the Catholic Church in St. Lucia, Archbishop Felix has responsibility for 33 Primary Schools, 2 Secondary Schools, 1 girls' Vocational School, 2 homes for the elderly, one shelter for the homeless and an orphanage for young children.
On 12 April 2006, Felix was attacked and grabbed on the neck by a man with a knife, as soon as he finished an evening sermon at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, located in Derek Walcott Square, Castries, Saint Lucia, is the seat of the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Castries, currently Robert Rivas...
. The man ran after Felix was aware of a sawing motion on his throat, and then pushed him backwards. News of the event made Saint Lucian natives reminiscent of a similar attack at the same Cathedral on New Year's Eve, 2000.
As he approached his retirement age, Felix requested of the Vatican that a co-adjutor archbishop be appointed to ensure a mooth transition in the Archdiocese. On 19 July 2007 Bishop Robert Rivas
Robert Rivas
Archbishop Robert Rivas O.P. is the Roman Catholic archbishop of the Archdiocese of Castries in St. Lucia.Rivas was born in the village of La Pastora, Arouca, Trinidad, on June 7, 1946. He is the son of the late Sabina and Placido Rivas, and has one sister and five brothers...
of the Diocese of Kingstown as Co-adjutor Archbishop of the Diocese of Castries. His installation will be on 14 October 2007.