Am I leaf or root?

Now that Lent has drawn to a close and the season of Easter has unfolded the mother of all events, the resurrection of Jesus, we are invited to enjoy and savour the fruits of Easter during this season. We are invited to continue our reflection on our own lives, in order to cement our relationship with God and each other. It is a favourable time for us to introspect to gaze at our relationships with our brothers and sisters. In our modern times, social communication has helped to large extent to converse and build relationship from far and near. This has made our world truly a global village. But, the question always remains, has our modern world brought people together only virtually or in reality?

I thought the analogy of a tree given by Mr Taylor Perry would be helpful to unfold our relationships. Perry through the analogy of a tree explains the people who visit our life, be it friends, family, acquaintances, employees, co-workers, and so on.

Leaf People: Some people come into our life and they are like leaves on a tree. They are only there for a season. We can’t depend on them or count on them, because they are weak and are there only to give us shade. Like leaves, they are there to take what they need and as soon as it gets cold or a wind blows in our life they are gone. We can’t be angry at them, that is just what they are.

Branch People: There are some people who come into our life and they are like branches on a tree. They are stronger than leaves, but we have to be careful with them. They will stick around through most seasons, but if we go through storm or two in our life, it is possible that we lose them. Most of the times they break away when it is tough. Although they are stronger than leaves, we have to test them out before we run out there and put all our weight on them. In most cases they can’t handle too much weight. But again, we can’t be angry at them, it is just who they are.

Root People: If we can find some people in our life who are like the roots of a tree, then we have found something special. Like the roots of a tree, they are hard to find because they are not trying to be seen. Their only job is to hold us up and help us live a strong and healthy life. If we thrive, they are happy. They stay low key and don’t let the world know that they are there. And if we go through an awful storm they will hold us up. Their job is to hold us up, come what may and to nourish us, feed us and water us.

While a tree has many limbs and many leaves, it has only a few roots. Look at our own life. How many leaves, branches and roots do we have? What are you in other people’s lives? While thanking God for the gift of roots let us also make efforts to be roots in other’s lives. That was what Jesus was and we are called to be like Jesus our root.

Undoing the Motto

There is a Guyanese proverb, “Wha rain can’t full, dew can’t full.” It means, if it didn’t work, nothing else will make it happen. This proverb seems to be a reality in the Politics of Guyana. We have tried hard to unite the nation through various means but invariably we have failed because of the divisive political adherents. On the part of the political arena, we have tried to unite this nation or not? We have to acknowledge humbly that humans are selfish beings and by all means we will try to put forward an ideology that suit our own selfish interests. Last few weeks have proved that politicians can never unite this nation who are supposed to uphold the slogan, “one people.”

In the wake of political unrest in the nation, should the Church or religious body speak up? Should we prove aforementioned proverb untrue?

True religion will certainly care for the holistic growth of its believers, namely, body and spirit or temporal and spiritual. If the religion does not care for these two realities of the devotees, then the religions will fail in its teachings of justice and peace for every religion must promote justice and peace, which are two important attributes of God.

The Catholic Social Teaching emphasises two important aspects, namely, life and dignity of human person and solidarity as one human family. Every Christian must uphold these aspects because we believe that God created humans in his image and likeness. If we try to divide the people based on political ideologies or colour of skin, we certainly go against the teaching of Christianity by distorting the image and likeness of God. Are we subtly led by our leaders to distort the image and likeness of God?

There is a fearful tendency among Church people that politics is dirty game and this dirty game must be played in the Church. This makes one to stay away from any political issues in the nation. This tendency is the hot cake for the political leaders. Hence, on the one hand people remain cold towards political differences on the other hand politicians truly enjoy because it matches their way of life. In other words, politics is the opium of the mass. As long as this opium is ingested, politicians will keep enjoying their freedom.

In this nation, politicians have got freedom and the people have not yet got the freedom. They still live under the colonisation of the elect few. This is the new way of colonisation. Just think for a moment, how many of the politicians truly care for the poor? How many political leaders have true concern for the poor who still live in logies and in the swamps? How many of our politicians have ever donated their fat salary to build a decent shelter for the poor? Catholic Social Teaching talks about care for the poor and vulnerable. We don’t even know why our political leaders are in friction with each other. The day any leader fights for the care of the poor, our country has truly seen a great leader.

Our political situation must be everyone’s concern. We need begin with “Politics Matter”, hence, every religion, organisation, institution must speak up objectively by applying those teachings of Christ, life and dignity of human person and care for the poor and vulnerable. No politician should tell us you are Indo-Guyanese or Afro-Guyanese. The prefix must be erased and only suffix should matter to us because we are truly Guyanese and we are Citizens of Guyana and not Citizens Indo or Afro- Guyanese. If we can organise our families, business and institutions so well, why not organise our own nation. After all, we make the nation not one or two political leaders. Let us go and get it.

Concerned Citizen of Guyana

World Day of the Poor

Holy Father, Pope Francis, at the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy offered the world a “World Day of the Poor” so that throughout the world Christian communities and everyone can become an ever greater sign of Christ’s charity for the least and those most in need. It is in this view, the Holy Father has called Sunday, 19 November as the First World Day of the Poor. On this day, we are invited as men and women of good will everywhere, to gaze on this day to all those who stretch their hands and plead for our help and solidarity. God has loved us first and he has given up himself for us on the Cross. Such love is cannot go unanswered. We have to love Him back through welcoming God’s grace and through his merciful charity in our hearts, so that our will and even our emotions are drawn to love God and love our brothers and sisters.

Poverty challenges us daily in myriad ways, in faces marked by suffering, marginalization, oppression, violence, torture and imprisonment, war, deprivation of freedom and dignity, ignorance and illiteracy, medical emergencies and shortage of work, trafficking and slavery, exile, extreme poverty and forced migration. These above kinds of poverty have faces, and these faces will remain as they are unless we reach out to each other in due time. Tragically, in our own time, enormous wealth accumulates in the hands of the privileged few, often in connection with illegal activities and through appalling exploitation of human dignity, hence, pushing people to extreme poverty. Pope’s message is self-explanatory as regards to how one acquires the wealth. The World Day of the Poor is meant above all, to encourage us to reach against the culture of discard and waste, and to embrace the culture of encounter. Meantime, everyone, independent of religious affiliations, is invited to openness and sharing with the poor through concrete signs of solidarity and fraternity. It is time to break barriers, walls and fences and uphold the God’s original gift of humanity to all. We are invited to make every effort to create moments of encounter and friendship, solidarity and concrete assistance.

One might brush aside these wonderful thoughts of the Pope with usual parlance, “go preacher” but it is significant to pay attention to the reality that is marred by poverty of several kind. Even though, Pope has invited the Catholic Church to observe this Day, it is truly an invitation to everyone to be concrete and pragmatic in our approach to the poor. It is significant to identify who are the poor of our society or is there poor people in my neighborhood or do we care to see poor people lying around our cities? It is a crucial call given by the Pope, who follows a simply and a humble way of life. I also would extend my gratitude to all people who help the poor in their need not merely during Christmas but all round the year. Let us live and share a happy and good life.

Fr. Jerri Dias SJ

St. Teresa's Church, Guyana

 History of the parish really begins from 1955 when Fr. Alfred Ellis SJ was appointed assistant parish priest at Holy Rosary parish in Kitty. Fr. Britt Compton SJ was the parish priest at Holy Rosary Church from 1954 to 1958. Fr. Ellis had been stationed in Mahaica but had been suffering blackouts so it was thought better not to leave him on his own. Fr. Britt adapted the presbytery at Kitty to accommodate a second priest and was glad to hand over to him the work of establishing a new parish in Campbellville.

During the time of Fr. Pearson, parish priest before Fr. Britt, between 1953-1954, a land had been acquired behind the site of a proposed new school. A ‘ready-made’ Church building had also been acquired from the American Air force who had donated their chapel from their base at Atkinson field. This had been dismantled and reconstructed on the new site and this stands sturdy to date.

While living in the presbytery at Kitty, Fr. Alfred Ellis spent most of his time in Campbellville, going off after breakfast on his motorcycle, returning for lunch and then going back in the afternoon after a short nap. Eventually he set up a partition behind the altar of the Church to create a room, which he could use for the siesta, and eventually take-up residence there. In this way the Church at Campbellville comes to existence under the leadership of Fr. Alfred Ellis making him the first parish priest from 1955 to 1960. This year marks the 60^th anniversary of the parish. As we remember this milestone, we would like to thank God for his blessings on the parish community at St. Teresa’s.

A number of priests have served in the parish either as Parish Priests or Assistant parish priest.

St. Teresa’s Catholic Church

Parish Priests

1. Fr. Alfred V. Ellis SJ                                                               1955-1960

2. Fr. Terence Petry SJ                                                              1960-1963

3. Fr. Michael Rose SJ                                                                1963-1966

4. Fr. Alfred V. Ellis SJ                                                               1966-1970

5. Fr. Aloysius Church SJ                                                         1970-1974

6. Fr. John Smith                                                                         1974-1976

7. Fr. Joseph Mahase                                                                 1976-1977

8. Fr. Michael Rose                                                                     1978-2006

9. Fr. Jerri Dias SJ                                                                        2015-

Auxiliary Priests

1. Fr. Bernard Gardner SJ                                                                         1970-1974

2. Fr. J. Hopkinson SJ                                                                 1970-1974

3. Fr. Keith Hardless                                                                 1970-1974

4. Fr. Jerome Kellawan                                                            1976-1977

5. Fr. H.A. Cromwell                                                                  1976-1977

6. Fr. Terrence Montrose                                                        1976-1977

The parishioners fondly remember Fr. Michael Rose as a priest of simplicity, humility and deeply prayerful person. His passing away in 2008 after a brief illness saddened the parishioners and in his memory a stone was erected in the Churchyard.

There are other priests who served this Parish as (acting) parish priests over the years who have not been mentioned above, especially during the years of Pastoral Area model was operating until July 10, 2015 when Fr. Jerri Dias SJ was appointed Parish Priest by His Lordship Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB.

The first recorded baptism took place 2 October 1955 of Rawle John Benn and was administered by Fr. Alfred Ellis SJ. The first recorded Sacrament of Marriage of Alfred Piggott and Caroline Weekes was performed on 24^th June 1956 at the then called the Catholic Church Campbellville, which was in the marriage district of Plaissance in the County of Demerara. Fr. Britt Compton SJ witnessed this marriage.

Ever since, the Church of St. Teresa’s has been growing leaps and bounds with the help of committed laity in the parish. There used to be three Masses on Sundays in the early 1960’s, namely, 6:30am, 8:00am and 6pm. Currently, the parish has two Masses on Sundays; 8am and 6pm. There are different ministries have been active since its inception, such as, Ladies of Charity, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Youth, Liturgy, Extraordinary Minsters of the Holy Communion, Choir, Decoration, and Catechism. This way the Church has been actively involved in promoting our faith in the area. In 1969, there was the Adoration Society in the parish. This was to encourage different persons and families to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. A small form this was reintroduced again in the parish when we have half hour adoration every Friday in the Church. The parish has been able to reach out to the people of Sophia especially Fr. Jerri Dais, along with a few parishioners have been celebrating Mass in the Sophia Housing Scheme every third Sunday of the Month. This is not enough because the needs in this area is mammoth since, Sophia contains juvenile detention centre and Sophia care home.

Presently, the Church of St. Teresa’s is known as ‘garden church’ because of its lush green garden and eye soothing flowers in the Churchyard. The parish has committed Parish Council. Mr Gavin Agard is the coordinator of the Council. We have about 97 children attending the Sunday school and are staffed by committed teachers.

Compiled by;

Fr. Jerri Dias SJ

St. Teresa’s Church

Source: Letter and Notices (Fr. Britt’s memoirs)

A brief History of the Church of the Holy Rosary

Baptism, marriage, and other records of the Parish

Holy Rosary Church, Guyana

 This year marks the 120 years of the Church of the Holy Rosary in Kitty. I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to be the priest in charge of this Church. I am humbled to be part of this great catholic heritage. I would like to highlight a few milestones of this parish Church. I have taken the historical happenings from the “A brief History of Church of the Holy Rosary and St. Anthony”, compiled for the centenary of the parish.

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 8^th, 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.