The community of Toucarie came together to celebrate the feast of their Patron Saint, St. Anthony of Padua, the Saint of Lost Articles.
St. Anthony is especially invoked and venerated all over the world as the Patron Saint for the recovery of lost items and is credited with many miracles involving lost people, lost things and even lost spiritual goods.
The community of Toucarie dedicated the mass to Ms. Kernisha Etienne who was recently abducted from her home on Tuesday, June 7 from the community of Warner.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Mrs. Skerrit, Parliamentary Representative for the Cottage Constituency, Hon Reginald Austrie along with other Ministers of Cabinet were present for the celebration showing support for the safe return of Ms. Etienne.
Parish Priest for the St. John and St. Lewis parish, Father Elveau Augustine, says with the help of Patron Saints like St. Anthony of Padua, through prayer anything is possible. It was with a heavy heart he prayed for 12-year-old Kernisha Etienne.
“My dear friends, so many times when we talk about St. Anthony, Patron Saint of lost things, most times it is about things; but we can also talk about lost people. Bring everything, your son, your daughter, your mother, your wife, your husband if they are lost. Just like Kernisha, this mass is for her and in the name of Jesus I really pray for her finding. The vigil we had leading up to this moment was for her and the sick. God in his time, we don’t know how she will come back that s God’s prerogative but she will be found in the name of Jesus, because when the church prays the church does not pray in vain,” Father Augustine stated.
The Parish Priest also called on parishioners to continue to pray for the safe return of the missing child.
Candles were lit for the search efforts of Ms. Etienne during the celebrations.