Cardinal Felix–60 Years A Priest Tomorrow

FORMER Archbishop of Castries, now Kelvin Edward Cardinal Felix, celebrates the “diamond jubilee” of his ordination to the priesthood tomorrow.

He will mark the occasion with a mass at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium, Dominica, the country of his birth.

Cardinal Felix began his association with Saint Lucia in the 1950s when his father took up an appointment in the leadership of the Police Force. He was ordained a priest in 1956, the first to be ordained in his native land.

He was appointed as Archbishop of the province of Castries on October 8, 1981 and his province included the dioceses of St. George’s in Grenada, Kingstown, At. Vincent, Roseau Dominica and St. John’s/Basseterre. He was awarded anHonary Doctorate of Law from Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia in 1986.

At the Papal Consistory of February 22, 2014, Pope Francis elevated the then Archbishop Felix to the rank of Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was appointed Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria della Salute a Primavalle.

In addition to the many distinguished positions in which he has served, Cardinal Felix was also awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992, the Dominica Medal of Honour, Dominica’s highest award, in 1999 and the Saint Lucia Medal of Honour in 2002.

Cardinal Felix retired in 2008 and returned to his homeland and served as parish priest of Grandbay and later Soufriere where he still resides and assists.

Cardinal is a former Associate General Secretary of the Caribbean Conference of Churches from 1981 to 1986 and President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference from 1991 to 1997. He also served internationally on various Pontifical committees of the Holy See.