It is an honor and privilege to have been asked to write something about and for the Redemptorists who have served this parish of St. Ann from 1912 to the present.
The growth of the parish all began with Fr. Cyril Bossuyt from Belgium who quickly realized that the church was dilapidated and too small for the growing population.
Fr. Bossuyt wanted to build a place of worship worthy of the Divine Occupant of the Tabernacle. He enlisted the help of his confrere, Fr. Cuvelier, C.Ss.R., from St. Croix to design the beautiful edifice which still stands today although battered by major hurricanes in 1930, 1979 and 2017.
Early in 1917 the corner stone of the new church was blessed, and less than two years later the new church was solemnly blessed by Bishop Philip Schelfhaut, on Sunday December 1, 1918.
Next, the church tower was constructed and solemnly blessed on the Feast of St. Ann, the patroness of the Parish, on July 26, 1921. A memorial slab reads: ST. PAUL AND ST ANN’S CHURCH A.D. 1918- 1921.
Fr. Bossuyt’s completed his work by installing beautiful stained-glass windows in 1922 and importing a church bell in 1936. The inscription on the bell, still in use today, reads:
“ NOMINOR JOSEPHUM
+ C. BOSSUYT MAHAUT, DOMINICA.”
The Redemptorists labored long and hard over the years to build the church here both physically and spiritually which has manifested itself in the growth which is seen today.
All the church structures which exist today throughout the parish were built by or with the help of the Redemptorists, most recent being the Holy Spirit Chapel in the village of Warner which was rededicated on the August 10, 2022. That chapel was destroyed by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
With the financial assistance of the Redemptorists the chapel was rebuilt into a beautiful, more climate resistant structure, much to the joy of the residents there. During the five-year interim, villagers had to journey about three miles on a Sunday for liturgy.
Although there have been no direct vocations to the Redemptorists from the parish, the spiritual growth and maturity which still exists in the parish must be attributed to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
There was one young man who entered the priesthood as a direct influence of the Congregation but was encouraged to serve the local church and so became a diocesan priest. This can also be viewed as the commitment of the Redemptorists to help grow the local church in which they serve.
The Parish of St. Ann has been blessed with Redemptorist priests of varying charisms; there were the builders; those who worked to improve the lives of the poor through the provision of scholarships for the less fortunate sometimes up to university level; others who would bring the surplus food from the house to those without; some who organized soup kitchens to feed the poor and marginalized and did not leave it entirely to the laity but fed them personally.
The fathers were not aloof but ameliorated with the community by being involved in the life of the community; participating in the villages local cultural activities, organizing activities which promoted the natural environment, promoting activities building the bond between fathers and sons, or the development and self esteem of the youth, or activities to bring the community together.
The Congregation did not monopolize the running of the church but enabled the local leaders through training to accept responsibility for the running of their church, and so in every community there was a local chapel committee to oversee the chapel that reported to the parish council.
The spiritual aspect of the church was never neglected. In each community, activities for the spiritual growth of the communities were promoted, be it Life in the Spirit seminars, bible workshops, and meetings of lay leaders to discuss and share on the Sunday’s readings, patronal novenas or Triduums, exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament, pilgrimages and devotion to the Blessed Mother - all the pillars of the Redemptorists.
We hold fond memories of deceased Fathers Jolly, Paul Loncke, Francis, Henrique, Vandenberg, Charles Vermulen and Jackie Merilan among others. We recall the St. Martin de Porres chapel being blessed and dedicated by Redemptorist Bishop Edward Gilbert.
We honor and express our profound gratitude to Fathers Rodney Olive, Glanville Joseph, Franklin Cuffy, Jude, Elton Letang, Matthew Allman, and John McLoughlin, as well as others who have ministered to us through retreats and novenas.
We also recognize and say THANK YOU to those who worked with parishioners to ensure the continuous improvement of the church buildings.
As our Redemptorist Fathers take leave of St. Ann parish, we the parishioners, past and present, extend our sincerest gratitude to you and assure you of our loving friendship and prayerful support for the continued work and growth of your ministry and congregation. We pray this through the intercession of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, dear Fathers! Blessings and more blessings always!
