Hurricane forces postponement of bishop's installation in Jamaica

Published: 2004-09-15

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Hurricane Ivan has forced U.S. Bishop Gordon D. Bennett to postpone indefinitely his intended Sept. 26 installation as bishop of Mandeville, Jamaica. He said he would take over as the bishop of Mandeville Sept. 24 but his first focus will now be to assess damage to church properties from the hurricane and begin to raise funds and make repairs. "All of that is while still trying to promote a pastoral agenda that meets the spiritual needs of the people," he said. Ivan was a Category 5 hurricane when it pummeled the Caribbean island nation with 25-foot waves and sustained winds of 160 mph Sept. 11-12. Bishop Bennett, who was wrapping up affairs as an auxiliary of Baltimore when Ivan hit Jamaica, said the hurricane brings "a different circumstance than I was hoping for" at the beginning his new ministry.

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