The
village, Kitty, was really the area from the Seawall to David Street. From
David Street to Shell Road was known as Alexanderville. Kitty was named after
the daughter of the then owner of La Penitence Estate Limited of which Kitty
was a part. Kitty was surveyed in 1842 under the name Prince Edward Town and
later declared a county in 1847. Alexanderville was originally a cotton
plantation while Kitty was a sugar plantation. Our parish embraces areas North
of the Old Railway Line on Station Street up to Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara
and East of Vlissengen Road to the Seawall.
The Early Church: The Church of the
Holy Rosary and St. Anthony was originally built and established in David
Street, five lots West of Pere Street in 1897. Church records reveal that the
first marriage, which was celebrated between Mathalia Azavado and Manuel
Correia, took place on May 28, 1897. The first baptism was recorded on August
28, 1897, while the first death took place in March 1898; it was that of Mr
Joseph Joaquim.
The
Church in what was regarded as upper David Street, was removed some nine years
later on what was described as ‘an unusually cool afternoon.’ Bishop Compton
Galton blessed the lots at 13 and 14 David Street, Alexanderville and laid the
cornerstone for the new building to be erected. A Rosary festival was planned
for the occasion.
The
contractor who had been given the job of shifting the Church was Mr James
Carlisle. On the occasion of the laying of cornerstone, a bicycle was presented
to the Church for the convenience of its Missioner by the Hon. J.J. Nunan.
New Location: December 8th,
saw the completion of Mr Carlisle Contracts and after settling his debts, Fr.
Cooskey SJ was left with approximately $5 in hand. The gates were still to be
painted along with sections of the new building.
Soon
after the laying of the cornerstone of the new Church, with much more to be
done in the line of painting, decoration and general furnishing tips to be
added, Bishop Galton celebrated Pontifical High Mass at the new site. The date
of this first Mass is given as January 2, 1907.
Second Church Building: It was from the
notes made by Fr. Thomas Smith that it was easier to glean that it became
necessary to construct another building after excessive damage was done to the
original building by termites. Fr. Smith described the original building as
‘quaintly attractive, but too small.’ In order to solve the problem of the
size, additions to the existing building were made. This began during the Lent
of 1927 and was completed with twenty new benched by Whitsuntide in June of
that year.
Catholic School in Kitty: The first
official Catholic School in the Parish was opened on January 4, 1932 with
fifteen pupils in attendance and two teachers. Prior to this, the school had
been carried on by an 85-year-old school mistress at her home. St. Winefride’s
School was written across the front of the building. In 1935 at the request of
Fr. Payne, Sr. Mary Teresa Cummins R.S.M. and a companion took over St.
Winefred’s private school in Kitty Village. One year later in 1936, Kitty
Catholics had the privilege of owning a large school erected in Newtown, Kitty.
His Lordship Bishop Weld wrote that he had just completed a shcol for 300
children. Currently, the school is owned and operated by Government but still
remains in Newtown, Kitty.
Other Structures: The presbytery was
built in 1939 and Fr. Shorrocks was the parish priest who organised the
collection of funds for the building. The presbytery has been enlarged many
times but still remains attractive with its wooden appearance. The Church Hall
was originally constructed entirely from zinc except for its floor. As a result
it is popularly referred to as the Zinc House.
The
burial ground in Kitty was used for the Catholics and Hindus. Three-fourths was
used for Hindus and the parish used one-fourth of the plot on Thomas Street,
Kitty. Currently, the ground is unused and it’s taken over by bushes and water.
Seminary: Fr. Terrence Montrose moved
in at Kitty to help out in December 1975. St. Paul’s Seminary had been closed
down and the one seminarian, Vincent La Cruz came to live at the Presbytery at
Kitty. Fr. Montrose was the rector of the seminary, which was housed here for
four years. Fr. Montrose recalls Mr John Fernandes, Snr. attending daily Mass,
sometimes serving and he was one of the first lay readers. After Kitty became
centre for diocesan vocations, the presbytery was renovated to accommodate the
parish needs and it was completed in 1976.
Current Church building: The building
erected in 1927 was used until June 29, 1980 when His Lordship Bishop Benedict
Singh blessed the cornerstone for the new building. The cornerstone was
installed below the new one. The new Church building was designed by Mr John
Lewis of the parish along with Fr. Keith Hardless and was completed in August
1980. Mr Bunny Fernandes undertook the supervision of this new Church.
Titbits of the Parish: In December 1974
the newly imported Baptism Font was received and former font was sold to St.
Teresa’s Church, Campbellville for $80. The large Priest’s Chair was designed
by Fr. Alan Fortune SJ at a cost of $300 and came to us through the agency of
Mr Bunny Fernandes, free. During the “Holy Year” (1974) Nine Bishops of the
Caribbean visited Guyana and concelebrated Mass at Kitty on November 25, 1974;
the main celebrant was His Lordship Bishop Lester Guilly SJ. “There were 176
people present – a disappointing crowd”, wrote Fr. De Caires.
The Church
of the Holy Rosary has grown leaps and bounds. The parishioners keep the faith
alive through their generous sharing of their faith and resources. The unity in
diversity has been key to the success of this parish. The legacy of the Church
has been handed down to the present generation who keep it alive and burning.
Let us pray for the parish as it completed 120 years of its existence.
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