Reflection about the church in Santa Rosa Moruca.

The history of the Catholic mission to the Amerindian of Guyana actually begins in Venezuela. Throughout the 18^th century Spanish missionaries ministered to the indigenous people of territories around the Orinoco. Their mission however came to an abrupt and tragic end when on 3 May 1817 Simon Bolivar’s forces killed them. 


The Amerindians fled from the destroyed mission, some seeking refuge in the British held territory around the Moruca River.  Years later, when these Arawaks heard that a Catholic priest had arrived in Georgetown they sent word to him asking for someone to come to minister to them. On 24 June 1830, John Hynes, OP arrived in Moruca to spend three days during which he baptized 75 children and married two couples.  

From such beginning, the Catholic faith was planted and became part of the people’s heritage which accompanies them in their spiritual life through its mission of preaching the good news. Apart from that, the history of the church in Santa Rosa has also a unique aspect to it which is, unlike other foreign missions of the Catholic Church, the faith was not imposed directly on the Amerindians. But rather, was introduced by their ancestors who were converted in Venezuela and brought it to Moruca, their new home. 


This historical understanding of  the church in Moruca is good to highlight, because it gives the people a genuine appreciation to regard it as their second home in terms of spiritual accompanyment. A history similar to the bible story where Moses accompanied the Israelites to the promise land which God had chosen for them!! The commemorative time for such history is held on the feast of St John, the 24th of June a solemn day yearly, celebrated in the form of a bonfire which symbolizes the Catholic faith being alight in the lives of the people of Moruca.

Medino Abraham