Roman Catholic Church Mourns Passing of Bishop Nicasio

Tonight, the Roman Catholic Church is mourning the passing of its beloved Bishop Lawrence Nicasio. Nicasio died on New Year’s morning at the age of sixty-seven, after battling with cancer. Originally from Dangriga, Bishop Nicasio started his early education in that municipality and would become a man that was loved by people in all the locations he served, not only as a bishop, but also in his secular life as a teacher after having graduated from the Belize Teachers’ College. Before he went abroad to pursue his studies in theology, Nicasio taught at several schools and served as the director of the Catholic schools in the Toledo District. News Five’s Marion Ali filed the following report on the late bishop’s life.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Born Lawrence Sydney Nicasio on September fifth, 1956, the late Catholic Bishop Larry, as he was affectionately known, began studying philosophy at Cardinal Glennon College in Missouri, in 1981. Thereafter, he pursued theological studies at Kenrick Theological Seminary, near St. Louis, and on June sixteenth 1989, he was ordained a priest.

 

The late bishop was appointed Vicar in Belmopan for thirteen years from 1991 to 2004, after which he served as pastor in Orange Walk Town, then pastor of St. Ignatius from 2005 to 2008 and at St. John Vianney from 2008 to 2013. When Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the late Bishop Dorick Wright on January twenty-sixth, 2017, he appointed Nicasio as the new Bishop of Belize City and Belmopan.

 

But even before he went away to become a priest, Nicasio was a leader. He taught at several schools in Belize and served as the director of the Catholic schools in the Toledo District. He was well loved by the people in those communities. Just five days ago, the Catholic Parish and its parishioners in Dangriga led a full service for Nicasio, where, although frail from the ravages of the illness, he was still present.

 

That congregation sang the Our Father in Garifuna, just as he had always loved when he was the chief celebrant, particularly at November nineteenth church services. Bishop Alvin Benguche of the Methodist Church and Executive Member of the Belize Council of Churches relived how much his brother in Christ promoted the Garifuna culture and one time, invited him to partake in the mass.

 

Bishop Alvin Benguche, Executive Member, Belize Council of Churches

“He was one who first reached out to me and one who thought that he should reach out to me not only as another person who would serve as Bishop in another denomination, but also he recognized that it was important for us – as two bishops serving the nation and from the Garifuna population; that he should also reach out to me in the sense that we had become religious leaders and it was important. He thought that as religious leaders, especially from the Garifuna nation, that we should at least be able to know where and what we will do as leaders in order to help to reach out to our Garifuna people and the wider nation. And I thought that that, for him, was so very commendable. The Garifuna people should really remember him for the impact of the work that he did amongst the Garifuna population. I can recall that he was one who also insisted that as a part of the Garifuna Mass on the 19th of November in Dangriga, that he thought that it was important to involve me in one of those services. I thought that it  was so very humbling of him to ensure that I participated in such a mass, and I will never forget that.”

 

Bishop Philip Wright who heads the Anglican Church also shared with us his opinion of the late Bishop Nicasio with whom he shared a few working sessions.

 

Rev. Philip Wright, Bishop, Anglican Diocese

“He was somewhat soft spoken, and jovial, but he always brought to our conversations some insights into issues and I remember him as well as being able to offer anecdotal stories to help make his point. So he will be remembered as a somewhat gentle spirit, soft spoken, but deep in his reflection and in his contributions to our conversations. We have again lost quite a son of the sword, you know, who was very committed to his ministry, to his church, to his people and he will long be remembered as well as a faithful servant, a friend and a colleague.”

 

Father Cesar Santa Cruz, also Catholic priest, has only been in Belize for a little over a month and only met with Bishop Nicasio once, but it was a meeting that he says he will remember for a long time.

 

Father Cesar Santa Cruz, Priest, Catholic Church

“I came here from Guatemala to cover this mission in November 22^nd and I was in a meeting with the mission. It was December 14^th, I had the opportunity to see him and that was the only one. I could see, well he was in a wheelchair. I could see he was very sick, but I could appreciate the love that people had for him. He was very kind. I was introduced to him – really very kind person, very quiet. He really impressed me with his personality. I could see how people really loved him.”

 

Bishop Nicasio, who had been ill for a couple years, had given an update on his health battle and offered hope to his congregation virtually in May of 2023, following his first round of treatment.

 

Bishop Lawrence Nicasio, Deceased

“I continue treatment and I’m very grateful to the doctors and the nurses who worked along with me. A number of them are Catholics, and we really pray for one another, and they’ve offered me loving care and I’m very grateful for that. At this point in my journey, we’ve been communicating with the doctor, a classmate of mine who has been very helpful in transporting me to the clinic. We discussed with the doctor about making a brief visit home to Belize. I just want to join you again as we join our hearts in prayer for this entire journey that I’ve been on since last year in July. Thanks again for your prayers and many greetings you have sent and words of encouragement you’ve sent to me. Those who come by to visit, I thank you very much.”

 

The Vatican will determine who will be the next Bishop of the Catholic Church. Bishop Nicasio will be laid to rest on Friday, following a funeral service in Belmopan. Marion Ali for News Five.