Roman Catholic Priest of St. Gerard’s Church, Fr. Ed Herberger, left Anguilla on Tuesday this week to return to Chicago, after some ten years on the island and overwhelmed by its rapid economic growth during that period.

Fr. Ed and congregation outside St. Gerard’s

“Anguilla is a small place, but I have to say ‘wow!’ when I think what it was ten years ago compared to its present growth, “ he remarked on the steps on St. Gerard’s after delivering his last sermon on Sunday, January 28.

Speaking to The Anguillian, he went on: There has been so much development in Anguilla that its people do not have to go overseas [anymore] for jobs and that is a blessing. But in other ways I think we need to take a look at where Anguilla is going in the sense of the social impact of the development.”

He stressed that “everybody was just working and working in the island’s upscale tourism industry and other growing sectors of the economy. He lamented that many were losing their family values and relationships and were not going to church for spirituial leadership.

He was asked what parting message he had for Anguillians. “Look at your relationship with God and your family life,” he counselled. “If that crumbles we will be losing a lot n Anguilla… If we can put our heads together and get this kind of development going, then we can put our heads together and bring about a society that is based on God and a loving relationship.”

Fr. Ed, who was repeatedly hugged by parishioners as he spoke in the interview, said: “I will be 75 in May, although some people say I don’t look it. I am returning to the United States to be more contemplative but not exactly becoming a monk. I want to devote my life to prayer, reflection, writing and some pastoral work.”

He will be serving in a Missionary Community at the Chicago headquarters which has missionaries in 68 countries worldwide. He was ordained to the priesthood and became one of those missionaries. It was in this capacity that he served in the Caribbean for 22 years and was stationed in St. Kitts, Montserrat, Jamaica and Anguilla.
He was pleased that St. Gerard’s had grown in membership over the years, particularly by immigrant workers from the Caribbean particularly Dominica and Santo Domingo and now the Fillipinos. He said however that 80 percent of the congregation comprised tourists.

He said it was his pleasure to see the start of the new church building, estimated to cost US$600,000. It is being financed by donations from parishioners, tourists and from funds obtained overseas by Bishop Donald Reese.

The much larger building, the construction of which is being supervised by architect Tony Sheehy, will eventually replace the existing St. Gerard’s Church which is too small to accommodate the growing congregation. The structure of the church is also deteriorating inside and on the outside the attractive stone work is dangerously falling off. He added that the new church building would be simple and similar to the present one in design style.

Fr. Ed is succeeded in Anguilla by Fr. Digno Hore of Pamay Island in the Philippines.

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