(REPOST) Belizean #Garifuna Catholic Priest, Father LAWRENCE NICASIO Appointed To BISHOP in Belize

Bishop Nicasio is the Second Catholic Man of Garifuna Heritage to be appointed Bishop in Belize.

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January 27th 2017

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Copyright 2017 by Teofilo Colon Jr. (a.k.a. “Tio Teo”) for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved. Contact Tio Teo.

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Belize City, Belize — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan has announced that Pope Francis has appointed Belizean Garifuna Catholic Priest, Father Lawrence Sydney Nicasio as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan, Belize. 

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Congratulations, Bishop Nicasio!!!  Father Lawrence Nicasio was appointed Bishop following the recent resignation of Bishop Dorick McGowan Wright who, 7 News Belize reports, is suffering due to several health complications, including kidney failure.

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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan explains that Bishop Lawrence Nicasio was born in Belize in 1956, and was ordained a priest in 1989. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, United States of America, and a Master of Divinity in the Kenrich College Seminary, in the same archdiocese.  7 News Belize reports that Father Lawrence Nicasio is from Dangriga, Belize.

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Father Larry Nicasio has served in the following roles: parish vicar of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Belmopan (1989-1995); pastor of the Inmaculada parish in Orange Walk, secretary and treasurer of the presbytery council and master of liturgical celebrations (1995-2006); pastor of the San Ignazio parish and administrator of the St. John Vianney parish in Belize City (2007-2013); and president of the Diocesan Priest Association and member of the college of consulters (2007-2009). Bishop Lawrence Nicasio is of Garifuna Descent / Heritage.

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The first Belizean Garifuna Catholic Priest promoted to Bishop was Father Osmond Peter Martin, who became Bishop on October 7th 1982.  (“Garifuna World” by Jose Francisco Avila and Tomas Alberto Avila, page 422).  He served as Bishop until 2006.

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Father Lawrence Nicasio is currently pastor of the Cathedral of the Holy Redeemer in Belize City. He succeeds Bishop Dorick McGowan Wright, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese was accepted by the Holy Father, Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina).

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I do not know when the official installation or Installation Mass of Father Lawrence Nicasio will take place.  When that information is released, I will update this posting.  I know of Father Lawrence Nicasio through photographing him at various Belizean Garifuna Settlement Day Masses in Brooklyn in November as presented and sponsored by the Garifuna Settlement Day Cultural Mass Association of New York. 

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It sure is lovely to see Father Nicasio’s service to the Catholic Faith recognized and rewarded with his appointment to Bishop of the Diocese in Belize City and Belmopan, Belize.  In my limited interactions with him, I found Father Larry Nicasio to be a warm, kind man with a sense of humor.

UPDATE:  7 News Belize reports that Father Lawrence “Larry” Nicasio will officially be installed as Bishop in mid-May.

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Bishops are ordained, consecrated or an appointed member of clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight.  They form the leadership in the Roman Catholic Church.

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Click on the link to see the 7 News Belize News Broadcast from Thursday, January 26th 2017.  The news report regarding Father Lawrence Nicasio is at approximately the 42 minute 20 second point.

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