Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Bridgetown, Barbados, the Reverend Neil Sebastian Scantlebury, of the clergy of Saint Thomas of the Virgin Islands, United States of America, until now chancellor of the same diocese and parish priest of the Saint Ann parish, in the island of Saint Croix.
Bishop Neil Sebastian Scantlebury was born on 1 October 1965 in Barbados. After receiving a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of the West Indies at Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, he transferred to the American Virgin Islands. He continued his formation at Mount Saint Mary’s University of Emmitsburg, Maryland, United States of America, where in 1999 he was also awarded a Master of Arts in sacred scripture. Besides English and the Creole language, he knows Latin, Spanish, and French.
He was ordained a priest on 18 May 1995 for the clergy of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, United States of America.
Since ordination he has held the following offices: parish vicar of the Holy Family Church, Saint Thomas (1995-1997); parish administrator and parish priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint John (1997-2003); chancellor of the diocese (2000-2003); rector of the Cathedral (2003-2009); and parish priest of the Holy Family Church, Saint Thomas (2009-2020). From 2009 to the present he has served as chancellor of the diocese and, since 2020, parish priest of the Saint Ann parish, in the Island of Saint Croix.
In addition, he has participated in several Councils: of Caritas, for the protection of minors, and the teaching group of the Saints Peter and Paul High School, where he taught mathematics and theology. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 28/12/2020)
