DEO+ on STX
(Journal of a Transitional Ministry
In the Diocese of the Virgin Islands
By The Rev. Dr. Dwight Ogier)

3/7/09 today, is my 67th birthday! I have been in the Virgin Islands since Feb. 26th. We came down Feb. 5th-10th for an interview; the call/invitation came rather rapidly! This is my first journal entry. I began writing this record/journal at the Diocesan Convention on St. Thomas, Charlotte Harbor. This record is about my ministry and impressions as a Transitional Specialist for St. Peter’s, St. Croix beginning on February 26th; my letter of agreement or “contract” is thru February, 2010. Bishop Ambrose Gumbs informs me this ministry “may” take longer than two years! We will evaluate the mutual ministry every six months.
My FIRST “blog”
When I served as Interim Rector of Nativity, Fayetteville, GA there were expectations the sermon be available on line found on the parish web- site! This was a little intimidating for me; who in the world might want to read the Sunday sermon? Who might follow the message, I had no idea! After one week it didn’t seem to matter; I down-loaded what was written; I received much response, most came from the parish. This is my first “blog.” I write for the world to see and experience; but I know this journal of my ministry on St. Croix will first appeal to friends and family! We are also on radio! The spoken word and liturgy of the Mass is broadcast over the air waves from St. Peter’s! This has great appeal to our shut-ins and home bound. Who else may be listening? Each Sunday we are recorded for the local radio station; actually a tape is made, edited for broadcast in late afternoon. I don’t know the frequency or the radio station. Not sure if the signal is streamed on line. Will find out.
First impressions of the Islands
These are tropical Islands; sea bound; coral reef protected; emerald waters; white churning surf and ever floating clouds; constantly changing weather patterns; mild temperatures; continual breezes. St. Coix was divided up into various plantations for sugar cane production; these surveyed “plantations,” now designated “neighborhoods.” I live on Teague Bay; with Buck Island in clear sight. We are on the East end of the Island on the North shore.
Driving on the Left
We drive on the left side of the road! Autos have the steering wheel on left, but some buses and taxis have steering on the right; school bus side doors are located on the left. Since I drove in England on three occasions, the driving has not been a challenge when I remember: “left shoulder on left shoulder.”
St. Peter’s purchased a new car for use by the clergy, a four wheel drive Nissan Rogue, a small SUV; the gas station next to the church has on old fashioned “charge account,” for St. Peter’s Priest. The usual and average cost per gallon of gas on St. Croix is $1.79. There is on St. Croix, a major oil refinery, Hovensa, a Venezuelan corporation importing crude oil for process.
Flora and fauna
This is a tropical “paradise.” Coconut trees, bright bouganvilla flowers of red, green, orange, yellow, pink, blue, white and purple, grow with abundance. This is an arid climate; cactus are plentiful on the south end; a rain forest on the north. At the previous Condo I stayed for the first week, a landscape worker cut a fresh coconut; we shared the milk and delicious white meat! It was so fresh!
Animals, Birds & Creatures of God
They say there are deer on the Island, but I have yet to see any. The species is very small, actually about like a large dog. I have seen sea turtles, iguana (the size of cats!), mongoose, large sea birds, pelicans, white herons, lizards of all sizes, doves, large black birds, crows, roosters and hens roam freely and one hears the morning crowing as dawn breaks the night. Goats and sheep are plentiful; a few cattle. Some hogs and pigs are raised. The Reef forbids personal pets, but there are feral cats that roam and beg; two cats show up each morning at my door; of course, I feed them!
St. Peter’s – St. Croix
The church is located in the very center of the island. A large parking space and open yard for expansion in years ahead. We have no grave yard. The church is only 25 years old; in contrast to the two historic parishes of 200 years+ We have very few Anglo families or even white faces. As the Bishop says St. Peter’s has great potential for growth and development for mission and ministry. The steel pan band has more drums than teens to play them. The organ is in terrible shape. The interior needs color and redecoration. The folks are warm and gracious, but seem to have been put down over recent years; actually held back by clergy. This will be a time of restructure and creation of basic ministry.
Music and Dance
Folks like to sing at St. Peter’s. We sing from various sources and hymnals. A lively, well practiced choir has adequate direction from a quite good organist. There is an organ fund raising project to replace the troublesome electronic organ. They are “selling” petals, stops, instruments, and swells as memorials and dedications. A teen women group does liturgical dance interpretations. The ECW and ECM sing a presentation hymn monthly. Twice per year there is a choir festival by ecumenical churches gather for a “singsperation” concert. All come to hear one another’s choir. Attendance is a packed church.
Botany Bay
The clergy assembled two days before annual convention for a retreat on the north shore of St. Thomas on a nature preserve, slowly under “controlled” development by investors in a tight gated compound. This ancient estate has historic ruins of slave quarters and sugar cane agriculture; pirates frequently used the bay for loading and distribution of booty and stolen treasures. I found some wonderful sea shells and well worn sea glass along the beach. There we experienced a raging storm with high winds that blew for days; the surf crashed in near our beach house/retreat center some 20 yards from the patio/pool! Each morning I arose before dawn and greeted “brother sun,” with the eternal sound of the waves singing praises together.
The Diocese of the Virgin Islands
This Diocese is composed of 14 congregations, on 5 islands: St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Johns, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda, in 2 nations: US and British, V.I. Diocese of the VI is one of the smallest in TEC. The clergy number: 11 retired, 8 active, 8 deacons, 2 non-canonical (Dendtler & Ogier, both from Atlanta!). The Diocese of the Virgin Islands was created by General Convention in 1947 as a Missionary District under Puerto Rico. Also included are Water Island, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. The Diocese is part of Province II: New York, Long Island, Western NY, NJ, Newark, Haiti, and the Convocation of American Churches in Europe. The Cathedral Church of All Saints, St. Thomas is the seat of the Bishop.
Bishop Gumbs
E. Ambrose Gumbs is a local Caribbean who graduated from Virginia Seminary following serving four years in the US Navy. He is a man of vision and gentle pastoral care for clergy and laity alike. A tall man of stature, Bishop Gumbs has a warm smile and great enthusiasm for the Church. He has telephoned me at least five times since I arrived; twice at home in Cumming before our departure.
Weather
This is the tropics! So far I have experienced: bright skies, ever blowing breezes, daily rain, clear, and lovely turquoise sea waters. Winds are constant until mid-summer☹, then becoming very still with mosquitoes! The local folks don’t want to talk about hurricanes, except “the last one.” We have no air conditioning; the church is open air without screens. People complain if the temps dip below 70; then it’s too cool! It has not been over 85 degrees so far; every day mild winds and very pleasant nights; I have slept with A/C only two nights while at convention when staying at the Holiday Inn on Charlotte Harbor, St. Thomas. We have ceiling fans and screens; I see the ocean about 400 hundred yards away, with sea surf breaking over the reef.
Culture
St. Croix is Caribbean both in location and historic traditions. Folks come from all over, many islands are represented. Anglicans have been here over 300 hundred years. Many have African roots. Some come from Cuba. STX is very United States of America, a territory with a proud history, yet dependent upon the main land for supplies and financial resources.
Food and drinks
Pork, goat, fish, and rice are the staples of a starch diet; there is a high percentage of diabetes on the island. The local folks eat high starch diets. Mangos, citrus, limes, and potatoes are daily in the food selections. “Fungie,” a mixture of finely ground corn, similar to grits, is mixed with okra, garlic and onions. Salt fish is a staple at every meal; mixed with garlic, and spices. Too much of the preceding items cause me serious indigestion! Go figure. Water is safe. Vegetables are abundant. Most of the food is imported or brought into the islands, thus food is very expensive! The trick is to purchase locally grown commodities.
Babs arrives on Wednesday
My beloved, Babs is expected on March 11th! Hoo ray! More of our Condo, later.
Deanery Structure
Each deanery is led by an appointed Dean; each island composes a Deanery; a Deacon represents the Bishop as Dean, with a council of advice of the local clergy, and with two lay persons as sub deans. Much of our joint ministry in the Diocese is centered on the collaboration of joint resources of the Deanery.
Information age and communications
The local telephone system seems to come and go without warning; the same conditions exist in the electrical power grids; periodic power outages are regular; most large churches have back-up generators. Most folks and business depend upon cell phones. My mobile phone functions as clear as a bell! 770-402-7719
Diocesan website:
episcopalvi.org
From the Diocesan web-page you may discover more about the Episcopal Diocese of the Virgin Islands and a little about St. Peter’s, St. Croix; we do not have a parish web-site, but this is an obvious goal for this time of transition!
Tourism and Cruise Ships
On St. Croix we receive ONE cruise ship per week; docking at Fredriksted, on the West end; a poor and emerging historic town; the general impression by tourists visiting St. Croix is a sad and emerging third world impression; few tourists rarely get into Christiansted unless they hire a taxi or shuttle bus into Christiansted, where the history is vibrant and shopping is varied. On St. Thomas three to four cruise ships dock daily; thousands of tourists pour off the ships and wander around the port of Charlotte Harbor spending money on jewelry, meals and drinks. Hundreds of sail boats come to the Islands, tie up or anchor, bringing an international flavor of tourists and short and long term residents. Many retirees travel and live on board their boats full time.

My “contact” numbers:
E-mail: dwightogier@bellsouth.net
Cell phone: 770-402-7719
Ham radio call sign: KP2/W4DEO

My physical address:
5130 Teague Bay (The Reef)
Christiansted, US VI 00820

With these greetings come my warm regards in the Love of the Lord.
A Paz y Buen Camino!
Dwight Ogier+
9 March 2009