Kelvin Felix
His Eminence Kelvin Edward Felix | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal Archbishop of Castries | |
 Felix in 2014 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Castries |
| Appointed | 17 July 1981 |
| Term ended | 15 February 2008 |
| Predecessor | Patrick Webster |
| Successor | Robert Rivas |
| Other post(s) | Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria della Salute a Primavalle (2014–2024) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 8 April 1956 |
| Consecration | 5 October 1981 by Paul Fouad Tabet |
| Created cardinal | 22 February 2014 by Pope Francis |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 February 1933 Roseau, Dominica |
| Died | 30 May 2024 (aged 91) Castries, Saint Lucia |
| Motto | Ut omnes unum sint (That all may be one) |
Ordination history of Kelvin Felix | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Styles of Kelvin Edward Felix | |
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 | |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Kelvin Edward Felix (15 February 1933 – 30 May 2024) was a Dominican archbishop of the Catholic Church who was archbishop of Castries in St Lucia from 1981 to 2008. He became a cardinal in 2014.
Youth and early career[edit]
Kevin Felix was born in Roseau, Dominica, on 15 February 1933[1] and ordained a priest on 8 April 1956. In 1962 he left the West Indies for St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, where he earned a diploma in Adult Education in 1963. He obtained a master's degree in sociology and anthropology from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana in 1967 and completed post-graduate studies in sociology at the University of Bradford in England in 1970. He was principal of the Roman Catholic High School in Dominica from 1972 to 1975 and associate general secretary of the Caribbean Conference of Churches from 1975 to 1981.[2]
Archbishop[edit]
Pope John Paul II named Felix archbishop of Castries on 17 July 1981.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on 5 October 1981 from Archbishop Paul Fouad Tabet who was then apostolic delegate to the Antilles. He served as president of the Antilles Episcopal Conference from 1991 to 1997 and president of the Caribbean Conference of Churches from 1981 to 1986. In addition to the administration of the Catholic Church in St. Lucia, Archbishop Felix was responsible for 33 primary schools, two secondary schools, one girls' vocational school, two homes for the elderly, one shelter for the homeless and an orphanage for young children.[2]
On 12 April 2006, Felix was attacked and grabbed on the neck by a man with a knife, as soon as he finished an evening sermon at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries. The man ran after Felix was aware of a sawing motion on his throat, and then pushed him backwards. News of the event reminded Saint Lucian natives of a similar attack at the same Cathedral on New Year's Eve, 2000, in which a nun was killed and another injured.[4][5]
As he approached his retirement age, Felix asked for a coadjutor be appointed to ensure a smooth transition.[6] Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation on 15 February 2008.[7]
In retirement, Felix returned to his native Dominica, where he assisted in smaller parishes.
Cardinal[edit]
Pope Francis made Felix a cardinal on 22 February 2014.[8] He was the Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria della Salute a Primavalle.[9]
Distinctions[edit]
The Archbishop was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1986 from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia and was appointed an Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992. In 1999, he was awarded Dominica's highest honour, the Dominica Award of Honour for Meritorious Service by the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica.[10] In 2002 he received the Medal of Honour (Gold) (SLMH) of the Order of St. Lucia for services to Religion from the Government of St. Lucia on occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the country's independence for having rendered eminent service of national importance to Saint Lucia.
Felix died in Castries on 30 May 2024, at the age of 91.[11]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Joseph Jr., Rudy (2006, 28 April). 50th Anniversary: Archbishop Felix celebrates. The New Chronicle (back page).
- ^ a b Archdiocese of Castries Website; accessed 16 February 2015.
- ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXIII. 1981. p. 565.
- ^ Christine Larbey "Archbishop attacked, security tightened for holy weekend" Archived 9 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine, StLuciaStar.com, 14 April 2006; retrieved 5 May 2006.
- ^ Profile, newsday.co.tt; accessed 16 February 2015.
- ^ "New archbishop comes to St. Lucia" Archived 12 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, htsstlucia.com, 20 July 2007; retrieved 4 October 2007.
- ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 15.02.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 15 February 2008.
- ^ McElwee, Joshua L. (12 January 2014). "Pope chooses new cardinals from Africa, Asia, Latin America". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ "Assegnazione dei Titoli e delle Diaconie ai nuovi Cardinali" [Assignment of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals]. The Holy See (in Italian). Ufficio delle Celebrazioni Liturgiche del Sommo Pontefice. 22 February 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ "National Service Awards Register". Government of Dominica. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Catholic Church mourns the loss of His Eminence Cardinal Kelvin Felix". Dominica News Online. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
External links[edit]
- "Felix Card. Kelvin Edward". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- Kelvin Edward Felix on Catholic Hierarchy
- 1933 births
- 2024 deaths
- Saint Lucian Roman Catholic archbishops
- 20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in the Caribbean
- 21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in the Caribbean
- Dominica emigrants
- Immigrants to Saint Lucia
- Notre Dame College of Arts and Letters alumni
- Alumni of the University of Bradford
- Cardinals created by Pope Francis
- Saint Lucian cardinals
- Dominica cardinals
- Roman Catholic archbishops of Castries