TRIBUTES WERE paid to the late Archbishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kingston, Samuel Carter, at a Memorial Mass held in Toronto, Canada, on Monday.
The Archbishop, who died on September 3 at the age of 83, was remembered as a leader, a spiritual man, Jamaica's first native Bishop, the founder and first principal of Campion College and "an ordinary man who did extraordinary things".
The Memorial Mass took place at St. Aidan's Roman Catholic Church and was organised by the Toronto alumni associations of St. George's College, Immaculate Conception High School and Alpha Academy. The celebrant was Rev. Joseph French and officiating were Jamaican-born deacons Patrick Chang and Peter Rickards.
Jamaica's Consul General to Toronto, Vivia Betton read Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's tribute to the late Archbishop.
"The contribution of Archbishop Samuel Carter to this nation extended far beyond religious borders to the wider society," said the Prime Minister.
"He was not concerned only about the spiritual well-being of those whose lives he touched, but about their physical condition and social upliftment as well," he added.
Mr. Patterson acknowledged the Archbishop's love and concern for the poor and elderly, which he said, led to the formation of institutions such as St. Monica's Home for the Aged.
"All Jamaica owes a debt of gratitude to Archbishop Samuel Carter, this distinguished son, for his dedicated and exemplary service to the land he loved so dearly," the Prime Minister added.
Deacon Peter Rickards read the eulogy, highlighting the Archbishop's career which included serving as Secretary of the Jamaica Save the Children Fund between 1958 and 1966; founding Campion College in 1959 and serving as its first principal; becoming Jamaica's first native Bishop of the Catholic Church in 1966 and Archbishop of the Diocese of Kingston from 1970 until his retirement in 1993. On several occasions he served as president of the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) and was elected chairman at the inaugural council of the Caribbean Council of churches.
"He involved himself in national affairs earning the reputation of a just man and a defender of the poor," said Deacon Rickards. "He was a leader of CAFFE (Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections) and he was for several decades an active participant with various church leaders who worked to ward off conflict in the political arena."
The Rev. French, who met Archbishop Carter three years ago when he visited Toronto, said he was a great man. "Thank you Lord for the gift of this great man. It was a privilege to know a man of his calibre," he said.
