Sawariwau  Catholic Church celebrates 100 years                                                                                                           

Photo credit: Leah Casimero

By Leah Casimero

“Wakonaukiikida wakamoon kaawan!” “We rejoice that our day is here!” This song of rejoicing resonated throughout the newly constructed church at Sawariwau village on the First Sunday of Advent, December 1st 2019. Seven hundred and four Catholics from South Rupununi joined the people of Sawariwau in praise and prayers of thanksgiving for the gift of the Word of God that was brought by Fr. Cary Elwes SJ a century ago in 1919.

To commemorate 100 years of the Catholic Faith in the South Rupununi, the villagers of Sawariwau built an impressive “benab-style” church through self-help activities spearheaded by former Toshao Jerome Marques.

Heartfelt gratitude was given to the neighbouring Catholic churches which contributed, particularly to Katoonarib village for contributing 3,000 of the 15,000 ite palm leaves for the church’s roof.

The blessing and commissioning of the newly-built St John Berchmans church by Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB was followed by the confirmation of 54 candidates from Sawariwau, Katoonarib and Shiriri villages.

Bishop Francis, during his sermon, described this historic occasion as a time of reflection and a time of looking forward to the future with hope, keeping in mind the crisis of the Amazon. According to the Bishop, the establishment of Parish Lay Assistants (PLA’s), the participation of the two young Wapichan persons at the Special Synod for the Amazon, the Quality Bilingual Education Programme for Wapichan children and the ongoing bible translations are a few highlights of the journey of one century of evangelization of the Wapichan indigenous people of South Rupununi.

Also in attendance were Fr. Chris Llanos SJ, Regional Superior of Guyana and Jamaica; the priests of Regions #8 & 9: Fr. Elias Surin SJ, Fr. Ronald Fernandes SJ, Fr. Edwin Anthony SJ and Fr. Paolose Vellakada SJ; Mrs. Joakina Fredericks, pioneer teacher of Shulinab Primary school; and Fr. Varghese Puthussery SJ—the first priest to celebrate the Holy Mass completely in Wapichan.

May the Word of God continue to live in the hearts and lives of the Wapichan people.