Bishop Larry Nicasio ready for second COVID-19 shot, encourages flock.
Interview by Pete Castillo
Belize City, June 2, 2021 – On March 29, 2021, Bishop Lawrence Nicasio took his first dose of the COVID- 19 AstraZeneca Vaccine and is looking forward to the second dose in June.
“We had had vaccines around for many years and while there are pros and cons regarding its use, there is nothing on earth that is perfect”, said the bishop. “We need to look at the bigger picture. We belong to a larger community, so we need to look at the betterment and common good of all of us.”
Quoting from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) on the use of COVID-19 vaccines he noted that there had been “diverse and sometimes conflicting” pronouncements in the media, made by bishops and Catholic organizations, which have raised questions about the morality of the vaccine. And this has raised more question in the minds of the Christians. Bishop Nicasio said he was very impressed with the document which touched not only on the use but also on the morality of using vaccines.
He offered a simple explanation, “I’d like to reflect on our own creation, the origin of life. God created us and provided for our very needs. There are many gifts, but the same spirit provides these gifts. We are not all scientists, teachers, lawyers, doctors, musicians, farmers etc. but all these gifts are used for the betterment of life on earth. So, when it comes to scientists coming up with a vaccine, I do not see it as something for themselves, but going beyond, in applying what God has given to those who have been gifted with the gift of science and knowledge – trusting them.”
This trust, he continued, was similar to what we had for our teachers, “we trust a teacher, we trust that the teacher will teach our child well. So, we trust our scientists that what they do well be for the betterment of our society.”
He acknowledged that the leaders of the country and churches should take the vaccine. He said, “When we do this, we open ourselves to the trust we say we have in God, in the people we call experts in the field.”
He had planned to take the vaccine along with members of the Council of Churches. But after checking with his doctor regarding an allergy he had, he was cleared to take it. Since the vaccine was available, he chose not to delay and immediately took the jab. He explained what happened, “I was encouraged to take Tylenol within an hour after getting the vaccine. I had a sore arm for a couple of days and a slight fever and headache. With the vaccine, like any medications you take, you tend to look for side effects and after a week I was still checking, but I was fine.” He urged people to ask questions and share their conditions and concerns with those administering the vaccines.
Bishop Nicasio also expressed concern about the number of teachers taking the vaccine, “We want to know that our staff are fully vaccinated. If not, there will be unrest wondering if they are bringing Covid to our school and to our children who have not been vaccinated.”
Using technology to continue ministering
He was also open about the technology challenges he had. He explained, “at the beginning it was very challenging, the fear, the nervousness that comes with learning anything new. I remember I had to do some recordings at the studios, and I was working with a mouse, trying to control the words on the teleprompter. It was very nerve-racking at first, hoping I did not scroll down too far or too far up. But since then, I have grown. With time I have learnt, and I am beginning to have more confidence in myself, even telling myself that if it did not work out the first time there could be other takes.”
The live streaming Masses were especially challenging at the beginning because he feared that whatever he said could not be retracted. He cautioned that one must prepare well, to make sure the right message is sent out and also to ensure that the message is the truth so that people are not confused. He was very pleased with the feedback from the parishioners. “It makes you feel like you are reaching out to many people even though you are not seeing them”, he said. “I believe that people are hearing because they send back messages. One parishioner said that he had heard the Mass and the message was to the point. So, you get feedback from people and that is what communication is about. This is like family life, when there is good communication in the family, everything runs well.”
Technology has also played a very important role in keeping the Bishop connected with the Antilles Episcopal Conference of Bishops (AEC). Through Zoom meetings he has continued to meet with the members of his Province which consists of the Bishops of Kingston Jamaica, Mandeville, Montego Bay and of Belize. He said, “when we meet as bishops and hear each other’s stories you realize it’s a good way of supporting each other even though we are not there physically. I am always the earliest to connect due to the time zone and they always teased me saying they are sorry to get me up so early.”
The Bishop discussed the new normal. He mentioned that in March of last year, when everyone was so afraid, people were all very comfortable with not attending Mass, but slowly the desire for the “holy, the Church”, has touched people so many began to ask when Masses would return to normalcy. He commented, “with the situation improving people began to realize we could not let COVID-19 cripple us. They began to feel the trust, the confidence to continue their spiritual life despite the pandemic.”
He also mentioned that he was inspired by people who continue to share and be generous despite the economic situation in our country and world. “They would want to hold on to what they have due to uncertainty, but I see people being more generous. I believe they see the hand of God working in their lives and they feel God will continue to take care of them, so they continue to give their collections even giving more and provide food for the seminarians etc. And I believe God, seeing this, will continue to bless them.”
Bishop Nicasio extended gratitude to parishioners who have made the sacrifice and have not been complacent but have seen the bigger picture and understood the need to work together and suffer together for the good of their homes, Church and country.