London, December 2014. His Grace The Most Reverend Robert Rivas, Archbishop of Castries and Prior of the new Caribbean Delegation of the Constantinian Order hosted an event to launch his long awaited book ‘How Beautiful the Valley’ published in the UK by Gracewings thanks to a GBP£20,000 donation from the members of the Constantinian Order.
The book is an extraordinary work of inspiration that reveals the spiritual story as well as the life and traditions of the Caribbean islands including Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia. The author magnificently describes the real treasures and splendours of the valleys not only using words but utilising glorious colourful pictures and telling stories.
The reception took place at the Carlton Club in London on 10 December 2014. Among attending were HE Sir Rodney Williams, Governor General of Antigua & Barbuda & HE Lady Williams, HE Anthony Bailey & HSH Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg, The Reverend Monsignor Vincent Brady, Mr Kevin Grant, Dr Kornelia Kotseva, Dr Jordan Lancaster, Mr Yosvani Ortega Faure, Mrs Elizabeth Thornborough, Dr Hamed Bin Moh’d Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Mrs Alfonso Torrents dels Prats, Mr & Mrs Martin Torrents dels Prats, Ms Mariana V Skorohodova-Haseldine, Mr Christian Sweeting, Miss Josephine Siedlecka and Mr Nick Sargent.
Archbishop Rivas has played an important role furthering the Order’s charitable activities in Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean region and HRH The Grand Master recently appointed him as Prior of the new Caribbean delegation and decreed him to the rank of Ecclesiastical Knight Grand Cross of Grace of the Constantinian Order. He is the head of the Roman Catholic Church across the Caribbean.
His Grace was born in Trinidad and Tobago and joined the Dominican Order of Preachers in 1964. He studied philosophy and theology first in Ireland then in Rome at the Angelicum University. After 17 years as a priest in Trinidad he became Bishop of Kingstown in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In 2004 he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Bridgetown, Barbados. In 2008, he was consecrated Archbishop of Castries.
The 416 page coffee table book which contains written and photographic content about the history, archaeology, mythology, folklore, culture and geography of the Caribbean region can be purchased by contacting the Chancery. The cost is £30 including UK postage & packaging. The Chancery can be reached by email at chancery@constantinian.org.uk or by telephone at +44 20 7594 0275 or by fax at +44 20 7594 0265. To visit the Order gift shop click here.