Our Lady Of Perpetual Help R.C. Church

Instituted on October 25th 1786, as the Parish of San Fernando by the last Spanish Governor of Trinidad, Don Jose Maria Chacon, our parish is in the final stages of observing the 225th Anniversary of the Roman Catholic Mission in San Fernando.

Our parish church as it stands today has had a long and interesting history. The original church, which was built between 1838 and 1849, was solemnly blessed and dedicated to NOTRE DAME de BON SECOURS on May 25th, 1849. After being demolished in 1948, having served the then parish for over 100 years, a newer structure was rebuilt on the old site in 1950. This new church was dedicated by His Grace Archbishop Anthony Pantin on June 27th 1975 when the French name was translated to OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP.

The Parish has benefitted from the tireless efforts and commitment of a succession of priests dating back to the Spanish era of our country’s history. Between 1828 – 1970, the church saw Dominican, Spiritan and Benedictine parish priests. From the 1970’s, the Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help underwent a cultural, social and pastoral change through the introduction and entrenchment of local Diocesan clergy and the implementation of the ethos that emerged from the Second Vatican Council.

The Church had further inspiration through its document entitled The Church in the Modern World. The clergy of the parish therefore found itself working at various levels with the local government authorities in the Borough (now City) of San Fernando.

The declaration of the State of Emergency in April 1970 following the ‘Black Power Revolution’, and the smearing with black paint of the large crucifix at the front entrance of the church in San Fernando, led to the sudden resignation of the two Benedictine priests. The consequent vacancies were later filled by diocesan clergy and on July 1st 1970 the Reverend John Mendes was assigned to OLPH as Parish Priest (1970-1974), with Fathers Rudolph Mohammed and Garfield Rochard.

Duties included the Hospital Chaplaincy and Youth Ministry, as well as the development of the communities of Les Efforts/ Pleasantville, along with formation in Catholic and non-Catholic schools.

In the late 70s, the St Andrew Kaggwa Church was built in Vistabella and included in the parish community. From that period onwards, quite a few rotations later, several important structures and facilities have been added to the parish and the main church. The Grotto, in honour of Our Lady, the Shrine of the Saints, the Baptismal Font and Pool, the construction of the community hall (now designated the Bishop Mendes Auditorium), spacious and comfortable offices(recently reappointed under the current Parish Priest, Monsignor Christian Pereira), all facilitate the administration and activities of the main parish of South Trinidad.

The Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help has pastoral responsibility for the main community on Harris Promenade as well as for two satellite communities at Vistabella and Les Efforts West and Pleasantville.

It has also been designated as Pro-Cathedral in August 2012, while the main church of the Archdiocese, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is undergoing extensive repairs.

MASS SCHEDULES (8 MASSES EACH WEEKEND)
Harris Promenade: 7.00 p.m. on Saturdays; 6.00 a.m.; 8.00 a.m.; 10.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. each Sunday

PARISH OFFICE HOURS
Mondays to Fridays: 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 652-2883; 652-2269; Fax: 652-2269 (ask for tone)