Catholics & Amerindians celebrate - Oct 6, 2013

Villagers from Aishalton walk from their church to the benab for Mass on September 22, some dressed in their traditional wear.

On September 22, the Catholic community of Aishalton in the South Rupununi of Guyana celebrated two events, one being the feast of the parish saint, St Robert Bellarmine, after whom the Aishalton church is named. Although the feast day was on September 17, it was carried forward and combined with the Catholic Church’s celebration of Amerindian Heritage Month with the community. These activities are aimed at promoting and preserving the country’s indigenous people’s culture and this year’s theme was “Embracing our culture and advancing our future”. 

The day’s events began with a procession from the church to the benab (thatched hut) located on the church compound for the celebration of Mass in the Wapishana language. Parish priest Fr Varghese SJ was the chief celebrant, and most of the villagers were clad in their traditional outfits. Besides the gospel being proclaimed and the homily being preached in Wapishana, there were also dances performed to accompany the songs of praise and worship, and offerings. There were also other rituals which were performed, like the burning of incense in the benab at the beginning of the Mass for the purification of the environment.

After the Mass, there was a cultural programme organised by the parishioners, at which there was a lot of local food and drinks, contributed generously by the villagers.

The evangelical Christian churches were also present, with their youth doing some traditional dances and spicing things up with gospel music in Wapishana.

The celebration had a fraternal and community spirit and everyone enjoyed themselves while commemorating the feast of St Robert Bellarmine and celebrating the heritage of the Amerindian people.

– Adapted from a story in the Catholic Standard by the Jesuits of the Rupununi and Pakaraimas Mission