Bishop Lawrence Nicasio Laid to Rest
A funeral service was held today in Belmopan for Bishop Lawrence Nicasio of the Roman Catholic Diocese. Bishop Nicasio passed away in the early hours of January first, after battling cancer for a few years. His funeral service had an outpouring of Catholic priests and other clergy members, members of the Council of Churches, parishioners, nuns and teachers, and government ministers, including Prime Minister John Briceño. News Five’s Marion Ali attended the event and brings you the highlights in this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
A solemn, yet impressive funeral service for the late Bishop Lawrence Nicasio was held today at Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral in Belmopan. The service started at ten this morning with the entrance of four bishops from the Caribbean who are part of the Caribbean Antilles Episcopal Conference. And the attendees spilled onto the lawn outside where tents and speakers were already set up to provide shelter for the congregation. Bishop John Persaud was the Chief Celebrant.
John Persaud
Bishop John Persaud, Chief Celebrant, Bishop Nicasio’s Funeral
“Sister and brothers in faith we claim life, not death for him. For we who believe in the resurrection, we who believe that Jesus was not held by death but rose triumphant from the grave, we believe that our brother will live. Saint Paul writes so powerfully in his writing: nothing in this world, nothing still to come, not even death can separate us from the love of God, made visible in Christ, Jesus. Our sadness gives way to a joy, knowing that our brother who has made his final surrender in death now lives.”
During the two-hour long service, Bishop Nicasio’s family members read from the Bible. There was the lively singing of the Our Father, accompanied by Garifuna drummers, just how the late bishop would have liked. Bishop Persaud prayed over Nicasio’s casket, and there was the blessing with holy water and incense.
Bishop John Persaud
“May the angels lead you into paradise. May the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the Holy City, the new and Eternal Jerusalem. May the choir of the angels welcome you where Lazarus is poor no more. May you have eternal rest.”
The bishop asked Nicasio’s family to stand and he thanked them for sharing him with the Catholic Church.
Bishop John Persaud
“I’d like to invite Larry’s family who are present to stand please, stand where you are that we may acknowledge your presence. [Clapping] Wonderful! God bless you! [Applause] You were generous in giving him to the church. We thank you for that, and we know that he will be praying for all of you, and you have blessed his life in many ways. God bless you, thank you.” (Applause)
The late bishop’s brother, Herbert Nicasio, traveled from the U.S to attend the funeral. He shared with News Five that even though his brother gave his life to the church, he also kept a watchful eye on the family.
Herbert Nicasio
Herbert Nicasio, Brother of Bishop Nicasio
“Even with his nieces and nephews and friends, he takes time. He’s friendly, but also he’s firm and disciplined. That’s what I like about him, you know.”
Marion Ali
“So if somebody needed a scolding in the family, they got it?”
Herbert Nicasio
“He is more the neutralizer for our family, you know? He’s the neutralizer, when something goes wrong, and it becomes problematic, they would send for him or he would come in, and he would be the one to put the family on the right path.”
Marion Ali
“In check?”
Herbert Nicasio
“In check.”
Bishop Nicasio was laid to rest on the same grounds of Our Lady of Guadalupe Co-Cathedral, beside the late Bishop Osmond Peter Martin, also of Dangriga, who supported him in his calling to the faith and who predeceased him some years ago. Bishop Larry succeeded the late Bishop Dorick Wright in 2017. Marion Ali for News Five.
