Bittersweet send-off for Sgt Bedase as Maracas honours its own
Maracas residents marked a special Mass at St Michael’s RC Church to honour community leaders and bid Sgt Bedase a bittersweet farewell.
A special Mass in the community turned into a heartfelt moment of thanks, with Maracas residents coming together to honour the people who keep their neighbourhoods running.
Held at St Michael’s RC Church in Lluengo, the service in Maracas, St Joseph focused on community building and recognition of those who have served others through sustained commitment.. Officiating priest Fr Mikhail Woodruffe framed the gathering as more than celebration, saying it carried a bittersweet tone as it also served as a farewell.
The bittersweet send-off for Sgt Bedase stood at the centre of the occasion. Woodruffe noted that Sgt Sean Bedase had been recently transferred from the Maracas, St Joseph Police Station to the North-Central Division Task Force in Arouca.
In this context, the ceremony highlighted how local partnerships are often built through everyday actions, not just formal duties.
Woodruffe described Sgt Bedase as someone who quickly became part of the community after arriving.. He shared that when residents asked for permission to host a harvest, Sgt Bedase did not simply handle the request from afar.. Instead, Woodruffe said the sergeant offered to come personally, walking from the police station to the church and then down to the health centre to view the grounds.
That kind of involvement, Woodruffe suggested, matters because it shows understanding and presence. He encouraged parishioners to keep Sgt Bedase in their prayers as he begins work in a new assignment, while also acknowledging the risks that can come with policing.
Meanwhile, the Mass also recognised other local service through formal appreciation.. During the service, W/Sgt Antoine of the Maracas, St Joseph Police Station received a plaque in acknowledgment of her work.. Woodruffe praised her alongside other officers for professionalism and consistently high standards.
Other honourees included head nurse Sparkle Stafford of the neighbourhood health centre, whom Woodruffe commended as a selfless medical professional involved in coordinating senior citizens’ health seminars.. Principal Denise Gordon of the Maracas St Joseph RC School was also recognised for leading an academic and holistic turnaround in the school’s standing in recent times.
For MISRYOUM, these recognitions underline how community trust is cultivated over time, and why departures can feel as meaningful as milestones.
At the end of the service, the message remained clear: even as Sgt Bedase prepares for a new role, Maracas residents made sure his contributions were remembered through a moment of shared gratitude.