St Joseph

History of St. Joseph RC Church, Scarborough, Tobago

St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Tobago stands as one of the Island’s oldest and most revered places of worship, majestically overlooking the Scarborough port and the expansive Atlantic Ocean. This historic edifice is a living testament to Tobago’s Catholic roots and the enduring spirit of its people throughout the centuries.

The church’s original structure was erected in the 1890s, following the arrival of Catholicism in Tobago. However, in 1963, it fell victim to the wrath of Hurricane Flora, which wreaked havoc across the island, destroying homes, livelihoods, and several landmarks. Amid the widespread devastation, a cherished relic of the church survived—the Statue of St. Joseph. As recorded by Fr. Lennon O.P., he reflected, “Although the original church was obliterated by Hurricane Flora in 1963, the Statue of St. Joseph remained unharmed and was eventually placed on the porch of the ‘new’ church.” This statue was a gift from Mother Gabriel of the Order of St. Joseph of Cluny in France, a symbol of the church’s enduring ties to the global Catholic community.

Looking back at the church’s earlier days, some long-standing parishioners fondly reminisce about the era of the ‘Latin Mass,’ where acolytes were required to diligently memorize Latin prayers as part of their preparation for Mass. This tradition was an embodiment of reverence and solemnity, reflecting the timeless sanctity of the Catholic liturgy.

The Parish of St Joseph, has four (4) community chapels along with the main church, St Joseph, Scarborough.  They are Our Lady of Lourdes- Patience Hill, St Anthony – Mason Hall, St Peter – Castara and Our Lady of Fatima- Mt St George.  The Island was served by the Order of Preachers, Spiritan Priests and later on Diocesan Priests.   The foundation stone was blessed by the Most Reverend Finbar Ryan, Archbishop of Port-of-Spain on June 16^th, 1963.  The Church was recently consecrated by His Grace Archbishop of Port-of-Spain, Charles Jason Gordon on March 20^th, 2023.

1971-1976                Fr Kevin deLoughry OP

1977-1981                Fr David Ollivierre

1983-1987                Fr Michael Hayden

1987-1993                Fr David Timiney

1994-1996                Fr Hugh Joyeau

1996-2004                Fr Tom Willemsem

2004-2006                Fr Vincent Travers

2006-2012                Msgr Kenneth Spence

2012-  2016              Fr Steve Duncan

2016-2024                Fr Leslie Tang Kai

2024-present          Fr Peter St Hillaire & Fr Mathias Mulumba Ssajjabbi