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DOMINICANS IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
1513 Arrival of the first Dominicans to Trinidad: the Spaniards, Francisco de Cordoba and Juan Garces. Both were martyred some time later.
1819 The British and colonial governments petitioned Rome to have the resident bishop a native English speaker. James Buckley was appointed.
1864 In spite of the above mentioned request, Archbishop Louis Joachim Gonin, O.P. arrived in Trinidad as the 4th archbishop of Port of Spain. With him came 6 French Dominicans. The then cathedral presbytery served as the first home for this new community.
1895 The mission was transferred to the Irish Dominicans (again to satisfy the language need). Augustine Coveney was appointed superior.
1897 A contract is established between Archbishop Patrick Vincent Flood, O.P., 5th archbishop of Port of Spain, and the Master of the Order confirming the transfer of the mission to the Irish Dominicans.
1943 Archbishop Finbar Ryan, O.P., 7th archbishop of Port of Spain, opened the Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Ugandan Martyrs. The archdiocese was now coming into its own.
1963 The Priory of Holy Cross was founded. A college was also established. The resident community served on staff.
1967 Archbishop Ryan, O.P. resigned. Bishop William Fitzgerald, O.P. was appointed Apostolic Administrator.
That same year Anthony Gordon Pantin C.S.Sp. was appointed 8th archbishop of Port of Spain., He was ordained the following year on March 19th 1968.
1979 The beginning of a long period during which Holy Cross Priory served as a novitiate community. This also included a Caribbean novitiate.
1985 A house of formation was established at the R. C, Presbytery of St. Joseph.
1990 Robert Rivas, O.P. became the first Trinidad born Dominican to be appointed as the first bishop of St. Vincent and Grenadines.
1991 Holy Cross Priory became a formation community for students. St. Joseph became a formation community for postulants.
1995 December 8th a thanksgiving mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain, to mark the centenary of the Irish Dominicans in Trinidad and Tobago. My E-Mail Address |
