
Sts Peter & Paul at its current location on Old Hope Road.
Anthea McGibbon, Staff Reporter
THIS MONTH Sts Peter and Paul celebrates 150 years. In a recent interview with the Gleaner's Religion Focus, three old-timers turned back the clock to reminisce on the earlier days of the church.
Roy James, 75, came to the church in 1948; Sylvia James, 74, attended from age seven; and Louise Harris "Aunt Louis", 96, started from early infancy.
None were alive at the church's inception but can remember the original structure they refer to as the "baby church".
Originally plotted on a small portion of land, the first Sts Peter & Paul church had large palm trees in front. Roy James remembers the beautiful stained glass windows with its images of Saints Peter and Paul as well as the Blessed Virgin with the Baby Jesus enveloped in her arms. Mr. James remembers the beauty that was illuminated whenever the sun shone through from the east. He regrets that there are no images in the stained glass windows today.
The benches were small, but everyone lived closer. In those days most of the members were "white Jamaicans". The area, that was not as well developed and populated as it is today had only one other church neighbour "Providence".
Tram cars and buses were the means of transportation.
The doctrine of the Roman Catholic church has remained rigid for some 400 years as reflected in the modus operandi of the Sts Peter & Paul Church.
However Mr. James remembers that the priests, mainly from overseas, had to turn their backs to the congregation to perform mass.
He is enjoying modern days as he proudly says "there is greater participation among the laity now...". Added to that he says today there are women serving communion and 'altar girls'.
The wafers are still used in communion, but everyone now can have their share of wine, which back then no-one, except the priest, had.
Everything in the worship, Mr. James says, was done in Latin, and this was changed in the 1970s by Vatican Two headed by Pope John Paul XXIII.
Another factor that has changed is in the words of Father William Connolley , former pastor of Sts Peter & Paul "the complexion of the congregation". This factor he attributes to Monsignor Kenneth Mock Yen, who has been pastor of the church since 1981.
As early as those days there were two masses at 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning.
For Mrs. Sylvia James however one highlight of church life back then were the garden parties often held in the area where there is now a hall.
According to Mrs. James on Fridays a man known as Baba Mack played mento music for the children in the days and, by 4:00 p.m., he played for the adults until as late as 1:00 a.m. Dances were held as fund-raisers.
Mrs James attended the original school which began at elementary and carried through to Grade 5. There was no sixth form.
Were there female leaders? According to Roy James there was a Lady's Sodality which took care of the spiritual and physical needs within the community.
The membership of the church was almost 75 per cent elderly and these elderly folks "were very active in the church".
In its 150 years Sts Peter & Paul has made major contributions to Jamaica. Through the auspices of the Church many Jamaicans from as far as Port Royal have gained financial, housing and medical aid.
One mission of the Church is situated in Gordon Town. Originally called the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the mission was renamed St. Martin's, The Porres. Housed in this mission is a convent operated by the Mercy Sisters, a primary school, a basic school and a trade training centre.
For the past 20 years the church has operated a health clinic and a soup kitchen. Monsignor Mock Yen, the first Diocesan priest assigned to Sts Peter & Paul was in recent years ordained Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Kingston. He boasts of the top places government awards earned by the preparatory school each year. There is also an infant school, nursery/ kindergarten going up to grade six.
The church that has withstood earthquakes, hurricanes and remained unaffected by Jamaica's Independence has over 500 members.