History of Santa Rosa
Saint Rose was born in Lima, Peru in 1586 of Spanish heritage although her mother was part of Inca. She was graced with extraordinary beauty, hence the name Rosa, and profound personal holiness. From a very early age, Rosa dedicated herself to a life of prayer and atonement for the great social and personal sins of her time. She also devoted herself to good works among the many ill and needy persons in the city of Lima. When she was only 20 years old she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic. She died at the relatively early age of 31 years on August 23, 1617. In her own lifetime and among her own people she was viewed as a Saint.She was the first Saint of the New World, an extraordinary occurrence, as not only was she a woman, but she was also part an Inca, Amerindian descent.
At her canonization in 1671, only 54 years after her death, the Pope proclaimed her Patroness of the Americas and the Philippines.
The name Santa Rosa and the Moruca Mission
The history of the Catholic mission to the Amerindian of Guyana actually began in Venezuela. Throughout the 18th century Spanish Franciscans 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 put to death 26 priests and two lay brothers. 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.
The community had always been especially dear to Bishop John Hynes and from 1840 until 1853 it had been well served by a much loved and respected resident Irish priest, Fr John Cullen. With Moruca as his base, this intrepid missionary had made numerous visits to outlying villages even as far as the Orinoco. Under his direction a new church had been built in Moruca in which was solemnly dedicated and opened by Bishop Hynes on 27 October 1844. The saint selected as patroness for this church was St Rose of Lima. From that day to the present Catholics have referred to the Moruca community as “Santa Rosa”.
Reference:
Our Catholic Tradition,p.20, 2004
The Catholic history of Guyana.
Happy Feast of Santa Rosa to all Morucans!!
Medino Abraham
