Bishop Richards installs new Catholic priest in St. Kitts

His Lordship Bishop Kenneth Richards (seated) installs Fr. Manuel Antao as Parish priest of the Co-Cathedral of St. John’s-Basseterre. (Photos by Erasmus Williams)

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, APRIL 5TH 2013 (CUOPM) – Indian-born Fr. Manuel Antao has been installed as Parish Priest of the Immaculate Conception Co-Cathedral in Basseterre.

Conducting the installation during last Sunday’s Easter Mass was Bishop of the Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre, His Lordship Kenneth Richards.

Fr. Antao, who is also a Divine Word Missionary, was born in Goa, India, in 1970 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2003.

His first assignment outside of India was to Hungary where, due to illness, he remained less than one year.

After returning to India and regaining his health, he became involved in the recruitment of seminarians and youth ministry. Three years later, he asked to be assigned to the Chicago Province of the Society of the Divine Word as he wished to minister in the Caribbean District.

His request was honored and he began his nine month orientation programme to the Caribbean in Jamaica in 2007.

On March 1, 2008, he arrived at St. Martin of Tours Parish, Dutch Sint Maarten where he served faithfully for the last four years.

He took up his new assignment here in August 2012. Fr. Antao will be assisted by Fr. Vicente Gonzalez of Paraguay.

Bishop Kenneth Richards congratulates new Catholic priest for the Co-Cathedral of St. John’s, Basseterre, Fr. Manuel Antao.	Bishop Kenneth leads the congregation in applauding new Catholic priest for the Co-Cathedral of St. John’s-Basseterre, Fr. Manuel Antao