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While for many, the Easter holiday may be about the long holiday, really it’s a deeply spiritual observance, marking Christ’s death and resurrection. And for Belize’s first home-grown Bishop, the Right Reverend OP Martin, now in the autumn of his years, this Easter is a time for particular celebration, because he’s celebrating his golden jubilee, his 50th year as a priest. I visited him in Dangriga where the 78 year old took a wistful look back at his youth, and also discussed the modern challenges confronting the Church.

Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
On April fourth, 1959 Osmond Peter Martin was ordained a priest. Today fifty years later, at the age of seventy eight he gets around with the help of a walker, due to a severe spinal injury. Now the former Bishop of Belize spends most of his time at his family’s home in Dangriga.

The Most Reverend Osmond Peter Martin is the eldest brother of three sisters and the son of Justin and Cleofa Martin. As a young boy he was a member of the Holy Redeemer Scouts Group and noted as an avid athlete, even playing on the SJC soccer team. And this a strapping young man you see here at the age of twenty three was already studying to be a priest. He would later become the first Belizean priest to be ordained a bishop in 1982. But the Most Reverend Martin says it all started in high school when he was just 18 and received his first calling to the priesthood.

Most Rev. Osmond P. Martin, Former Bishop of Belize
“It is just through the inspiration of God, that is the reason why they call vocation a calling. It is through God’s inspiration that I made that very difficult decision.”

A difficult decision, but one he doesn’t regret because it produced the highlight of his career.

Most Rev. Osmond P. Martin,
“I would say it is my involvement with education, my involvement with attracting lay people to their vocation in the church either as teachers, as in their own profession, but it is living the lay life in a way that is service oriented.”

The Most Reverend Martin retired at the age of seventy five but it is a severe back injury that has caused the former Bishop to not be as active as he would like to.

Most Rev. Osmond P. Martin,
“It is my spinal back condition. I have had two major operations on my back and it has really restricted my going around and be active. But still I am thankful that I can do my own driving and move around. The physical problem is standing.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
Standing for long periods of time?

Most Rev. Osmond P. Martin,
“Standing for even short periods of time.”

What has also declined in Belize is an interest to religious life and the vocation to priesthood. This elder of the church weighed in on what he thinks is happening.

Most Rev. Osmond P. Martin,
“To me it is a major change in society. Society is much more materialistic, society is much more taken up with wealth, with money, and what money can buy. It is materialism. That is the major cause of decline in aspiring for the priesthood and religious life.”

Yesterday the former Bishop of Belize celebrated his fiftieth anniversary in the priesthood.

Most Rev. Osmond P. Martin,
“The best advice I can give Belizeans is to stay away from some of the crippling activities I see in our country and it is kind of unavoidable. For example drugs, people are crazy about drugs because there is money in there. That’s one. Another thing is that the lack of self control in people’s lives.

Everyday we’re burying people, everywhere. In other words they see that there is a finality about life. We see that. We are burying people right left and center. So it isn’t that they think they will live forever, they have to face that finality, that life here on earth will come to an end.”

While the former bishop says it is unrealistic to speak about his own finality what matters is that the final destiny in life is eternal union with God.

Most Rev. Osmond P. Martin,
“And we have to pass through the portals of death before we enter into union with God. That will come, that’s for sure. As to when, nobody knows that. When and how, nobody knows that.

I am satisfied with the way I have responded to the call of God. There is difficulty involved in it because you see all these material things around you and you want to be involved in material things but I feel as though that I am blest in the sense that I have values that are still admired by people and that has guided me in my life.”

Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7News.

In celebration of his 50th anniversary in the priesthood, a special luncheon was held for the former Bishop yesterday and a special mass was held this morning.