Kelvin Felix

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His Eminence
Kelvin Edward Felix
Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Salute a Primavalle
Church Roman Catholic Church
Archdiocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Castries
See Castries
In office 1981-2008
Predecessor Patrick Webster
Successor Robert Rivas
Orders
Ordination 8 April 1956
Consecration 5 October 1981
by Paul Fouad Naim Tabet
Created Cardinal 22 February 2014
by Pope Francis
Rank Cardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born (1933-02-15) 15 February 1933 (age 91)
Roseau, Dominica
Motto Ut omnes ut unum sint
Coat of arms Kelvin Edward Felix's coat of arms
Styles of
Kelvin Edward Felix
230px
Reference style His Eminence
Spoken style Your Eminence
Informal style Cardinal

Kelvin Edward Cardinal Felix (born 15 February 1933) is the Roman Catholic Archbishop emeritus of Castries. He was born in Roseau, Dominica, on 15 February 1933.[1] He became a cardinal at the papal consistory held on 22 February 2014.

Youth and early clerical career

Felix was born in Dominica and ordained a priest 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 England in 1970. He was the Principal of the Roman Catholic High School in Dominica from 1972–75 and Associate General Secretary of the Caribbean Conference of Churches from 1975–81.[2]

Archbishop of Castries

Felix was consecrated 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 1981–86. He is now a member of the Roman Curia. The Province of Castries, of which Archbishop Felix was the Metropolitan, includes St. George's-in-Grenada, Roseau, Dominica, and St. John's-Basseterre, Antigua/St. Kitts. The Diocese of Kingstown was suffragan of the Archdiocese of Castries until 2011 when it was transferred to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Port of Spain. In addition to the administration of the Catholic Church in St. Lucia, Archbishop Felix was responsible for 33 primary schools, two secondary schools, one girls' vocational school, two homes for the elderly, one shelter for the homeless and an orphanage for young children.[2]

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, in which a nun was killed and another injured.[3][4]

As he approached his retirement age, Felix requested of the Vatican that a co-adjutor archbishop be appointed to ensure a smooth 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 was held on 14 October 2007.[5] Since his retirement, he has returned to his native Dominica, where he assists in smaller parishes.

Cardinal

Pope Francis made Felix a cardinal on 22 February for his service to the church.[6] He is the Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Salute a Primavalle.[citation needed]

Distinctions

The Archbishop was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1986 from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia and was invested in the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992. In 1999, he was awarded the Dominica Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service by 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 on occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the country's independence for having rendered eminent service of national importance to Saint Lucia.

See also

References

  1. Joseph Jr., Rudy (2006, 28 April). 50th Anniversary: Archbishop Felix celebrates. The New Chronicle (back page).
  2. 2.0 2.1 Archdiocese of Castries Website; accessed 16 February 2015.
  3. Christine Larbey "Archbishop attacked, security tightened for holy weekend", StLuciaStar.com, 14 April 2006; retrieved 5 May 2006.
  4. Profile, newsday.co.tt; accessed 16 February 2015.
  5. "New archbishop comes to St. Lucia", htsstlucia.com, 20 July 2007; retrieved 4 October 2007.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

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