My Paramin Pilgrimage experience

By Lyndon McShine

Photos: Sabrina Marks

From the moment I arrived, I knew it was going to be an awesome day because we met at the Anglican Church compound, with the Roman Catholic Church being only a stone’s throw away. The morning’s greetings were warm and friendly. We were warned to be there early: “We are leaving at 9 a.m. sharp. Don’t be late!”

Fr Robert Christo said the greeting and morning prayers and asked us to embrace each other to get familiar with those we were going to spend the day with. First off, we had two birthday girls, ages 92 years and 87 years young and we were blessed with the presence of a 93-year-old gentleman.

We were also introduced to Carlos, who would be our tour guide and proved himself to be a walking encyclopaedia.

Before making our first step, Father taught us the five virtues of a mature Catholic Christian. They are:

1. Life hard.
2. You are not important.
3. You are not in control.
4. Yuh go dead; you shall die.
5. You are not your own.

AMEN!

The maxis were loaded and heading up the hill. On our ascent, we recited the Rosary.

Our first stop took us to breakfast at Aunty Julia’s, where we were served cocoa tea in small enamel cups and had a lesson in Patois from Carlos. I learnt to speak a bit of Patois. The word for God is ‘Bondye’. I also forgot to mention that there was a mud oven!

Our second stop was the La Vigie Lookout. Up and up we went. Yuh talk about hill and steep! But the area was beautiful. I wish I had pictures to show.

There, we had the Sacrament of Reconciliation and listened to some stories from Carlos, one about why Tobago doesn’t have any corbeaux (a Patois word) and why corbeaux doh eat sponge cake.

Onward to lunch at Ms Sylvin’s. Yuh talk about food and well-cooked meals! With our bellies full, the Parang band struck up: Los Amigos de Paramin, Maraval—’100 days till Christmas!’. We enjoyed dancing and a Congo line. Guess who were the life of the party? Duhhh! The birthday girls!

What a wonderful lunch! On the move again, this time to St Augustine RC Church for meditation, Gospel reading, and Lectio Divina. But first, the drive there, with our tour guide/driver saying, “Look out and look up; that’s where we are,” or, “Don’t look out your windows here.” This drive is not for the faint-hearted!

St Augustine RC Church is located 3,000 feet above sea level, or ‘Heaven’s front yard.’

Our Gospel reading was Matthew 20:1–16: “The first shall be last and the last first.”

The basics for Lectio Divina are:

1. Read
2. Meditate
3. Pray
4. Contemplate (do nothing)
5. Act

Our final visit for the day was to Paramin RC Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was built with materials from the surrounding environment and boasts that there are no windows in the church—the only one in the world! Another first for Trinidad.

Inside the church, the aisles are sloped, so couples getting married walk down the aisle literally!

The highlight of our day was Holy Mass, celebrated by Fr Christo. After Mass, we were treated to some fresh Paramin produce.

In all, it was a wonderful pilgrimage, and if the good Lord spares my life, I will be back!

Special thanks go out to Carlos and the other tour guide/drivers George, Ricardo, Junior, and Dusty; Aunty Julia and her team for breakfast; the La Vigie concessionaires; Ms Sylvin and her team; the caretakers of both St Augustine and Our Lady of Guadalupe; Los Amigos de Paramin, Maraval, the Parang group; the friendly hosts at Chapel of Ease; and the parking and welcoming crew.

You all made our day special and enjoyable.

“I will be back!” — English “Mwen ka diwe.” — Patois