IN ANOTHER few weeks, head of the Catholic churches in the central region, Bishop Paul Boyle, is slated to be replaced, ending 13 years of
service to the Jamaican society.
Well-respected and loved by the Mandeville community, he has managed to transcend religious barriers while being unmistakable as part of the Roman Catholic fold.
Walk into his office on Main Street and before long you will understand why he is part of the Manchester
family. His soft and humorous
personality lets you feel as if you are visiting with an elder family member who is relating his experiences like grandfathers of yesteryear. Except
for his Irish features, there is very
little that is non-Jamaican about his
understanding of our country's strengths and weaknesses. His
eloquence in narrating our needs
and solutions to priority problems in
simple terms draw your attention
to his every word and gesture.
DIRECT AND DISTINCTIVE
However, this soft demeanour in no way clouds his direct and distinctive response to those who would violate the rules of the Catholic Church within his jurisdiction as one priest found out earlier this year. That priest was caught with a 13-year-old schoolgirl and was promptly defrocked and sent back to his home in Italy. Born in Detroit, Michigan in the United States, Paul Boyle as a youngster did not grow up with the finer amenities of life, although he was blessed with hardworking parents who attended to his emotional needs. Like a lot of Jamaicans, Bishop Boyle said he grew up under poor conditions with "cardboard in the sole of his shoes and patches on the pants" but he "enjoyed it." With the look of a prankster and a broad smile, he told of some of his boyhood misdeeds such as fights and using a water hose to drive other kids up a telephone pole.
In one incident he battled a
schoolmate over a girl because he felt he should be the one to take the young lady to a party, which in the end earned him a ride in a police patrol car, to his embarrassment. Growing up in a poor environment, ironically, was the breeding ground for his desire to serve others and gave him an appreciation for persons from all walks of life.
RELIGIOUS CAREER
The eldest of three children (two boys and one girl) for his parents, Boyle began his religious career in the early 1950s, a career which has taken him across the globe, including three years in Rome, where he attended university. After completing studies in Rome, he returned to the U.S., where he taught for a while and attended North Western University in Illinois where he studied speech
and drama.
Admitting that he was "surprised and shocked" when he received a call in Puerto Rico, where he was stationed, from the Pope's representative in the Dominican Republic, who told him to pack his bags and leave for Jamaica, he has no regrets.
Leaving the Mandeville diocese
of the Catholic Church does not
mean retirement from active service according to Bishop Boyle, who said he will be spending the rest of his time travelling and speaking on behalf of the relief organisation Food For the Poor. Not quite sure at this time where he will be calling home, he said priests in the Catholic Church have nothing except their clothes and a trunk. Contending that it is a myth that the Catholic Church is rich, except in property, he said provisions are made for retired bishops to receive a salary of US$7,000 per month, a secretary and a car.
Bishop Boyle warns that to solve most of Jamaica's problems the
solutions have to be built around providing good education to the population. Education, he said, is the "most basic" element for the improvement of the people's living conditions. Without education, he said, persons will not be able to hold jobs even if they (jobs)
are available.
According to the bishop, if he was Prime Minister for a day he would put "sticks of dynamite" under some of the people in Government, for it takes too long to get the simplest thing done. He said, except in the ministries of finance and labour, there is no promptness in responding to people's request.
Strongly opinionated, he considers it "awful" that there are those in the
religious order who solicit money on the pretext that God is more inclined
to give a blessing in exchange for
generous gifts.
HOPED FOR MORE HIGH SCHOOLS
Although his accomplishments are lauded, Bishop Boyle said he wished the Catholic Church could have built more high schools under his watch. His parting words to those who serve the public is to do it in a way that let the people know you are genuine and that you do care.
Bishop Boyle will be replaced by Bishop Gordon Bennett, who is also from the United States. Bishop Bennett, who visited the island last month, is the first Afro-American to be assigned to head a diocese in Jamaica.
- Angelo Laurence
