| The vision of the parish has three main elements: • to be a centre for spirituality, • to be a centre for social development for the youth of the inner city • to be a centre for the arts.
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The Holy Rosary church has become a centre of spirituality for those working in the city. Firstly, the midday liturgies have been shaped by time constraints and needs of the city worker. Secondly, the parish has hosted a number of seminars and teachings on spirituality that offer workers a grounding in prayer/meditation, ethics, meaning of work, the relationship between work and spirituality and the relationship between spirituality and social justice. Finally, Rosary Parish has plans to create a space for silent meditation in one of the upper chambers, in addition to the existing Eucharistic Adoration. |
| A Centre for Social Development |
 In
addition to being a center for prayer/worship the Holy Rosary
Churchis returning to the original vision of Fr. Francis de Ridder. It is fast becoming a centre for social development for the youth of the city. In September 2003 the parish launched a programme called CITY (Community Intervention Transforming Youths), targeting the secondary school students of the inner city. The participants were exposed to homework supervision, music training theory and practice, an adolescent development programme, and sports. The parish also opened an internet café in the Gonzales area. This has allowed many children and young people to access the new technology. This programme has expanded into a homework club for primary school students, a July camp for pre-teens and movies on Friday and Saturday nights. These facilities are available to all of the approx. 1,500 youth in the area. In addition to these programmes, the Parish sponsored a football competition in the Gonzales area. This competition was dormant for three years but in August 2004, a one-day match with ten teams was held and a three month competition with twenty teams is to be launched. We have also undertaken a survey of the area to assess the social development needs and to ground all future social programmes in a more stable social analysis. |
| A Centre For The Arts |
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A prime purpose of the renovations is to facilitate the parish becoming a place where good music is heard on a regular basis—not just in liturgies, but in concerts and recitals. There are also plans to have a craft market at Rosary where some of our unknown artists may display their skills and products for sale. Beauty and aesthetics are integral aspects of good humanity and civilisation. This architectural treasure could be developed as part of the local heritage and cultural sites thereby giving the people of the area a sense of pride in their community. The Holy Rosary Church is not just a beautiful building. It is an important cultural and social asset in the inner city. |
To
make the Holy Rosary Parish a centre for the arts within the city
for, as the saying goes, “art transforms reality transforms art.”
The church is one of the architectural jewels of Trinidad to be
preserved and restored to its former glory. The beauty of the
building and the space that it creates is part of the ministry of
the Rosary Parish. Art informs our understanding of humanity,
society and God. The beauty of the church is not just a physical
attribute, it is also a cultural heritage.