The Tribune

THE Caribbean is in mourning the loss of a great priest, lawyer and civil servant in the person of Fr Henry Charles.

Msgr John Johnson, who was taught by Fr Charles in the Regional Seminary in Trinidad, described him as an intellectual who was dedicated to preparing young men for the Catholic priesthood and passionate about education and people.

Fr Charles taught Msgr Alfred Culmer, Msgr John Johnson, Fr Simeon Johnson and Fr Glen Nixon.

He conducted numerous retreats and seminars for priests and clergy in the Bahamas, throughout the Caribbean and around the world.

Last week, on January 9, he celebrated his 69th birthday and 40th year as a priest.

For a few years, Fr Charles wrote a weekly article in The Tribune on morality and ethics.

Msgr Johnson said: “Some of my fondest, memories of Fr Charles were while sitting with him at dinner which he prepared, for in addition to all of his other talents he was and excellent cook, who said cooking relaxed him.”

Fr Charles passed away Tuesday, January 15, when he sustained a massive heart attack at his office at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in St James, Trinidad, where he was the parish priest.

He was supposed to officiate at a funeral service that day, but around 10.30am, as the congregation awaited his arrival, he was found dead in his study.

Joseph Harris, Archbishop of Port of Spain, said he was surprised by Fr Charles’ passing.

“All of us are very shocked because when he ended a meeting on Monday night, he seemed to be in good health.

“Fr Charles was one of the most senior members of our clergy. He was a man of great intellect and a person we could call on for advice and his leaving us leaves a deep void, and apart from that he was a very good man and a very warm personality and we are all hurt at his untimely passing.”

Fr Clyde Harvey, a fellow priest in Trinidad, said the Catholic community there has suffered an irreplaceable loss.

“He was tremendous human being and one of the finest minds I have known and he was also a man of many facets. So his passing is a shocking and tremendous loss to both the diocese and to me personally.”

Fr Charles was born on January 9, 1944 and ordained a priest by Archbishop Anthony Pantin on June 27, 1971.

He was a student and Island Scholarship winner of St Mary’s College, Port-of-Spain.

He studied for the priesthood in Ireland at the local seminary of St John Vianney, and at the Gregorian University in Rome. He also earned a doctorate in ethics.

In addition to being a priest, Fr Charles was a qualified lawyer, holding a law degree from the George Washington University in the United States (US) and an LLM from the University of London.

Fr Charles is survived by his brother, Herbert Charles.

Archbishop Patrick Pinder of the Archdiocese of Nassau is scheduled to attend the funeral, the date of which is yet to be announced.