Members of the Presbyterian Church will say a final farewell today to its former moderator and head of the Inter-Religious Organistion (IRO) Reverend Cyril Paul. Paul died last Sunday after a long battle with cancer. His funeral will take place at the Susamachar Presbyterian Church, San Fernando, from 10 am. On Tuesday evening, family and friends gathered at the Susamachar sanctuary to pay tribute to his life and service to the church and the wider community. At the service of comfort, attended by his wife, Barbara, and her in-laws, Reverend Dr Randall Sammah remembered Paul as a great person, great leader and a great minister. He compared Paul's life to that of the Apostle Paul in the Bible. He said they both saw their lives as an offering to the Lord, to be servants of God and never once did they waver or regret answering that call.
Reading from the second letter to Timothy, Sammah said it was a mere coincidence they were remembering Paul, who, like the apostle, knew his journey on this earth was ending. Noting the struggle Paul endured over the last few years with cancer, Sammah said like the apostle, who also faced a dismal future on the wrong end of Roman justice, both fought the good fight. He said: "Rev Paul was an athlete of some repute and the Apostle Paul used athletic language. The Apostle Paul compared his life and his ministry to athletics. "He finished the course set before him but he kept going, no matter how steep the hill, no matter how his body cried out in frustration, no matter how far the finish line appeared to be."
He said Paul did the same, especially in his last few days, when in his time of weakness, he found the strength to fulfill his goal. "He fought the good fight, whether he won or lost, he finished the race, confident the battle was worth the sacrifice," he added. Rev Stephen Harripersad, in a prayer for the church, said the late minister was a leader who championed the cause of the innocents and was outspoken in his stand for fair play and equal rights for all. "As an administrator, he gave of himself sacrificially, time or talent, to achieve the objectives of the organisation or institution to which he belonged." he added.
He said Paul held the office of moderator with dignity and decorum and as the head of the IRO fostered unity and harmony among all people, regardless of age, gender, colour, class or political affiliation. Reverend Kenneth Kalloo, who prayed for the family, recalled that 40 years ago he had the privilege and honour to have officiated, along with then Moderator Reverend Harold Sitahal, at Paul's ordination
"Therefore, it is not an easy task to come to say farewell, after 40 years, to one you would have lived with in that brotherhood." he added.