OLPH marks 225th anniversary - Oct 9 View Comments 2011 - Features Friday, 07 October 2011 11:21 Celebrating Our Heritage, Soaping Our Legacy is the chosen theme as the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish community celebrates the 225th Anniversary of the establishment of a Catholic mission in San Fernando.

The largest parish in south Trinidad will begin its jubilee celebrations next Sunday (Oct 16) after Mass. Winners of the special 225th Jubilee Art and Story Competition will be announced at the Bishop Mendes Auditorium. The auditorium will also be the venue of a week-long art display with items from the Benedictine and Dominican monasteries, St Joseph of Cluny Sisters, as well as from other parishes. A special Triduum begins Thursday Oct 20 at Christ the King Church, Les Efforts with La Romaine parish priest Fr David Khan leading a healing service. Fr Gerard Tang Choon, O Carm will celebrate a Mass of Reconciliation on Oct 21 at the St Andrew Kaggwa Church, Vistabella. The triduum closes Oct 22 with Pointe-à-Pierre/Marabella parish priest Msgr Michael de Verteuil celebrating a Vigil Mass at OLPH. The entire parish community will gather around the Marian grotto at OLPH to celebrate the 9.00 a.m. Jubilee Mass on Sunday, October 23. The actual anniversary date is Oct 25. Archbishop Edward Gilbert and Co-adjutor Archbishop Joseph Harris have been invited to concelebrate the Mass. A combined choir from the various communities will lead the liturgical singing. The Mass will be followed by a Family Day and luncheon. Jubilee activities continue with a musical presentation by the youth of the parish, on October 25 and 26, at Naparima Bowl. A dinner is planned for Oct 28, organised by the Word and Deed Ministry, to honour one of the parish’s stalwarts, Linda Wyke. Wyke, a well-known catechist, ran the Archdiocesan Catechetical Office in the 1990s. The next planned event takes place Nov 20 as Christ the King, Vistabella community host their Fiesta. A month later on December 16 will be a Grand Christmas Dinner at the Bishop Mendes Auditorium. Other events and activities planned include the launch of a parish website and commemorative brochure, and a family and sports day. The Jubilee celebrations closes towards the end of June on the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In a letter to parishioners, parish priest Msgr Christian Pereira said “The OLPH parish has been serving the people of the South for over 225 years and many of your ancestors have been part of the life and ministry of this faith community…many have been generous in sharing their time, their talent and their treasure with the community of believers….” Msgr Pereira has invited the archdiocese, in particular former parishioners, to “join with us to make this time a witness of our gratitude for all who have lived and served before us, our gratitude for all that they have done to make our church the community of believers that we are privileged to be part of today. “You are invited to help us shape the legacy that we will leave for future generations of Catholic Christians.” In honour of the Jubilee celebrations, Pope Benedict XVI, has granted a special indulgence to all parishioners who participate in the various aspects of the Jubilee and who fulfill the prescribed conditions for receiving this special Indulgence. History An appeal by the Governor Don Diego Suarez to the King of Spain resulted in the establishment of a mission, Purisima Concepcion de Naparima on October 18, 1687. However, this mission became deserted. Then the Spanish Governor, Chacon, instituted the San Fernando parish on October 25, 1786, in honour of the infant Prince Ferdinand who later became King Ferdinand VII of Spain. The parish was eventually named in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Six years later in 1792, Governor Chacon declared the parish of San Fernando as a town. One of the most vibrant priests to serve the parish was Fr Andre Violette, a French Dominican priest. During his 11 years as parish priest (1875-1886) he built 13 schools and eight chapels. Among the schools was the St Joseph Convent School. Some of these chapels have since become independent parishes: La Romaine, Mon Repos and Pointe-à-Pierre. Two significant years are 1930 when Fr Sebastian Weber OSB was appointed to the parish, and 1970 when Fr John Mendes became the first graduate of the Regional Seminary to be appointed parish priest. The first local priests to serve the parish were Fr J.N. Maingot (1887-1890) and another Fr Maurus Maingot (1951-1959) For more information on the 225th Jubilee celebrations of OLPH, contact the parish office, 652-2269.