Circular No 1060

 

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 8 July 2022. No. 1060

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Dear Friends,

I am including information from David Johnson on cancer and the consequences of the treatment.  You can contact him for further information.

I am crossing the same road as my wife is to have chemo cancer treatment before the operation.

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David Johnson Canada

21 april 2021

Hello everyone!

Very personal reasons for this post.

I'm sad, of course, in the hardest times of life you realize who your real family, friends or people are who really appreciate you.

Real people come out when attention isn't about them...

Sadly, some friends are about to press like but not really - because it takes time to read all of this and when they see it's long, they skip it.

Now I look at those who have time to read this post until the end..... (I think I'll find out 5).

Cancer is very invasive and harmful, even after treatment is over, your body continues to fight to restore radiation / chemotherapy damage.

This is a very long process.

Please in honour of a family member or friend who has died, or is still fighting cancer, or even has cancer, but it is in recovery copy and paste this (do not share) on your page.

So, I know who reads it, please write ′′ done ′′ so we can see the power of a team together!

To all those who have lost someone or are in the battle with cancer, hugs to each and every one of you

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DAVID JOHNSON <the-beetle@hotmail.com>

20 Mar

We are David and Debbie Johnson

I have been living in Canada for the last 27 years

My address is:

118 Forestwood Street

Richmond Hill

Ontario

Canada

L4S 1Z2

I have 2 Daughters, Dayna and Dawn, ages are 25 and 28, both not married with no children.

David Johnson

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Trinidad express

Fr Cuthbert Van de Sande, a Dutch missionary monk resident here for 67 years, celebrated his 90th birthday on August 18.

Fr "Cutty" also had the distinction of being the former prior of the Abbey of Mt St Benedict and Troop Leader of the second Mount St Benedict Scout Troop.

(The founder and inspiration behind the product, Fr. Cuthbert van de Sande)

He had also displayed his entrepreneurial bent supervising operations at the Mt St Benedict yogurt factory, which was an initiative of former Abbot Francis Alleyne. Alleyne is now the Bishop of Georgetown, Guyana.

Sharing in "Cutty's" milestone were a group of Abbey boys whom he had taught and mentored at Abbey School, at Mt St Benedict, St Augustine.

The eclectic assembly of successful businessmen, entrepreneurs, farmers and professionals gathered yesterday at the Goodwood Park home of fellow Abbey boy Dr George Laquis, chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Society.

Among those present were co ordinator/host Joseph Berment-McDowald, Gabriel Faria, Richard Farah, Elias Moses, Roger Maingot, Michael D'Ornellas, Nicholas Adams, Yunus Ali, Anand Rampersadsingh and Francis Pereira.

The Abbey boys' teacher Fr Harold Imamshah attended the event.

Consensus among the prominent gentlemen was "Cutty" had contributed significantly to their success. He had also helped them cultivate traits like compassion and caring for their fellow men.

During his remarks, Berment-McDowald said: "I want to thank Cutty for making my time a success.

I had a wonderful time at Abbey School.

Had it not been for Abbey School, it would have been different growing up with a single parent.

What a lot of young people need is encouragement.

The Abbey School was the most transformational experience I have had in my life.

It taught me it was possible by dint of hard work and persistence to succeed at most things especially those which suit one's natural aptitude."

Berment-McDowald added: "It shaped my morals, ethics and instilled a sense of responsibility in the wider community and wider human family.

Fr Cuthbert is the enduring symbol of the wise, kind guide, mentor and muse."

When Fr Imamshah asked him how he felt about being 90, "Cutty" said: "It has taught me how to use both of my legs."

Asked about the secret to his longevity, he added: "Because of the trouble the Abbey boys gave me."

When Berment-McDowald asked him to address the doting gathering, Cutty said: "I am happy to be here this afternoon.

I hope you all would have spent the evening in the spirit of happiness and love. "

Asked how he felt about being 90, Cutty added: "I won't know until it's all finished."

On the heels of the formalities, the Abbey boys enjoyed delicious Arabic cuisine, perused black and white photographs, traded memories and cracked salacious jokes. Richard Farah said, "One event that determined my life when I fell off a mango tree and lost my leg to gangrene. Now I am a bionic man."

Dennis Gurley chided the boys about "No hedging".

Then he explained "hedging" meant a new Abbey boy was mercilessly thrown into a patch of bougainvillea and left alone to extricate himself from the thorns.

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Birth of a Parish

Parishioners of St John the Baptist RC Church (St Augustine) located on the road to Mount St Benedict have a new Church.

The completely refurbished and modernised Church has a character and beauty of its own.

The new church has a capacity of almost 200.

Born in St John, Vernon Khelawan, one of the oldest parishioners gives us a brief history of the growth of the parish, the smallest in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain.

Vernon Khelawan

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Jan 9, 2021 Trinidad Express

Way back in the 30s or thereabouts there was a little rural village called St John, nestled snugly in the foothills of the Northern Range, watched over caringly by monks of Mount St Benedict.

There were few villagers occupying even fewer homes.

This did not stop their religious zeal or fervour.

There were two or three cars and the Mount bus to take you to the Monastery, but the simple villagers almost always trudged up the hill, never availing themselves of a ride.

A bridle path cut through the bushes and the hill called the “short cut” assisted them to go “up the hill” for their Sunday Mass and other services.

Years later, Fr Bede Theunissen, a Dutch monk from the Monastery decided to take the weekend Mass to the villagers.

A classroom in the St Benedict’s RC School in the village became the place for Mass.

Volunteers converted the classroom on Fridays and replaced the desks on Sunday afternoons.

This continued for several years.

Then in the 40s came that big Caura Dam fiasco, with the village, including the Church, being decimated.

This saw a number of Caura families migrating to St John and growing the population exponentially.

Naturally, the Catholic population increased and the congregation kept growing.

A larger place of worship was needed.

The schoolroom had become too small.

A community centre/hall type structure had been built by St Benedict on donated land and this was used by several groups in St John.

All those activities gave way when it was decided to use the building as the village church.

At that time, we were not yet a parish, but gratuitously overseen by the Mount who assigned another Dutch monk Fr Gregory Kloeg, who worked tirelessly in the village winning souls.

Fast forward to the 50s and Fr Bede organised for a new building on the same piece of land, on part to house his woodworking school and the other part as a hall for the Catholic Youth Organisation (CYO).

Then it happened.

The workshop was moved.

The CYO was disbanded nationally by the late Archbishop Count Finbar Ryan.

All the while, St John really formed part of the St Joseph Parish.

All baptisms, first communion confirmations, weddings and funerals had to take place at the St Joseph Church, some two miles away.

After several years, through the hard work and negotiations with St Joseph and the Archdiocese and with Fr Gregory at the helm, finally it was done.

St John had triumphantly become its own Parish—the smallest in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain.

Naturally the indomitable and well-loved, people’s priest Fr Gregory Kloeg was appointed our very first Parish Priest.

The building, the same in which we now congregate for worship, with renovations and fully refurbished interior was consecrated as the village church in the late 50s.

The altar was originally off the northern wall until it was placed along the eastern wall by Parish Priest Fr Geofrey.

Now more than five decades later we gather in that same building but worship in an almost completely rearranged Church, complete with special choir area, modern pews, baptismal font, child-care room and brand new offices and a private sanctuary for priests.

The Parish of St John the Baptist (St Augustine) is proud and grateful to have a new and modern Church and the facilities will be well-utilised by both parishioners and visitors.

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CORREIA'S jewellery store Barbados

Timothy Mew timmewaussie@me.com

Sun, Jun 19 at 9:29 PM

Hola, saw this in one of your last MSB blogs and yes Michael Correia died in Guyana some years ago, but his wife Jan (De Cambra) Correia still manages and runs the store & business in Bridgetown.

The gold and diamond products mainly come from the business in Georgetown.

So if ever there just drop in ask for Jan, mention MSB and get a huge discount

Tim. 

(The photo of the corner building in Georgetown was taken from an ad, where the property was being sold, EDITOR)

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From: "Jerry Bain" <jerry.bain@sympatico.ca>

Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 18:21:53 -0500

Hi guys,

Well, what a lovely surprise to open my e mail and find a picture of myself in your archives (Lookup Class of 1966 photo, third on the right of Mr Tyrell, back row).

I'm Jerry Bain, # 80 (it would really be nice to know how many people remember their numbers).

My fondest memory of the Mount, was trying not to get a green soft drink after school, that special toast bread we had at breakfast, a teacher we called "Toots", the Serrao brothers, (Small World 1 & 2), remember " Box head"?

I think I had one of the best teachers of the time, Mr. Ernie Tyrell, you know, I can still sign his initials.

I also remember that mango tree that used to look like a Christmas tree at night from all the cigarette smokers in the tree.

And Joan who worked in the kitchen (smile), the "siphon" gang.

St. Francis short pants with a white long sleeve shirt, (collar had to be up, shirt open 3 buttons).

I've been living in Canada for the last 30 years now, married to Debbie, 2 daughters and a son.

As a matter of fact, those interested can check out my web site, just enter " Trinidad and Tobago in Canada" (preferably on Yahoo) and there you'll get the rest of the story.

Anyone know the whereabouts of Herman Vercrissen #77 (Aruba), Cornel De Freitas, David Narine, Leon Alves or Bobby Wharton? Drop me a line if you're still out there, guys.

Regards to all,

Jerry Bain.

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April 27, 2005

My dear Ladislao:

Greetings in Jesus name and thanks a million for all the wonderful informational work that all your circulars are doing and providing for all of us.

The “Mount” remains an unforgettable institution in the lives of all of us who were fortunate to be part of its history.

These few notes, handwritten instead of being typed in a computer convey a sense of brevity in order to send this off to you quickly.

So, I do not intend to be lengthy here.

But I want to embrace this opportunity to enclose the attached little donation to assist you in your wonderful work.

It is my hope that it would emphasize several things, such as how much I appreciate your Circulars also my tardiness or inability to contribute many articles (I hope later on to do better in this regard) and my thanks for providing me with at least the e-mail of so many “old Boys” whom I intend to write when more time allows me to do so.

I have been in close touch with Dr. David Bratt and his family in Trinidad.

I also had the opportunity to meet with Mervyn Assam as well as Fr. Benedict and Bro. Rupert.

I am also in the process of purchasing a house in Trinidad where, God willing I hope to spend time.

Hoping to split my time between the U.S. and Trinidad.

I am also in close touch with Abbot John Pereira of the Mount, so busy as I am, I have not been completely out of the “Loop”.

That is all for now Ladislao and I ask our dear Lord to bless you and your family abundantly.

Your Lionel

(Formerly: Brother Vincent)

Now: Deacon Lionel V. Roberts.

Enclosed USD 75.00

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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz,  kertesz11@yahoo.com,  if you would like to subscribe for a whole year and be in the circular’s mailing list or if you would like to mention any old boy that you would like to include, write to me.

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Photo:

55HH0016ENGLISH

18LK7858FBNSAGRP, Nathaniel Sampath and group

59HG0123HGUGRP, Michael Herrera, Harry Guildner and Manuel Prada

60BV0100BVIGRPBG, Bro Vincent with Guiana boys, unknowns