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Catholic St. Croix
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Published: November 14, 2006
Amid a tumultuous history involving indigenous massacres, slave riots and continual changes in island ownership, residents of St. Croix have managed to maintain a common religion.
Of the more than 123,000 residents in the United States' Virgin Islands, approximately 34 percent are Catholic. In fact, the islands were named by Catholic explorer Christopher Columbus in honor of the massacred Christian saint, Ursula, and her 11,000 slain handmaids.
Religion plays a large role in island life on St. Croix. It provided the island's namesake; St. Croix is French for holy cross. Holy Cross, the Virgin Islands' first Catholic Church, was built in Christiansted in 1755, nearly 300 years after Columbus discovered the region.
Though Catholic residents on St. Croix date back to 1685, they did not receive permission to build churches on the island until the Royal Danish government passed a freedom of religion act in 1754. At this time, the English Jesuits came to aid the burgeoning Catholic evolution followed by the Irish Dominicans, who had strong ties with the Vatican.
In 1898, Holy Cross expanded to encompass Mount St. Mary's school, which recruited 250 students from Catholic backgrounds during its first year.
While Holy Cross is the principle church in St. Croix's old Dutch capital of Christiansted, St. Patrick's Catholic Church is the main church in the island's second-largest city, Frederiksted. Built in 1843, St. Patrick's is a Gothic revival structure constructed from limestone and yellow brick. It offers a glimpse into the island's unique style of architecture, which is a hybrid of traditional Dutch, French, English and Spanish styles. Its adjacent cemetery also dates back to the 1800s and is one of St. Croix's prime tourist attractions.
Today, there are more than 140 congregations peppering St. Croix's 84-square-mile terrain. Several of the island's tourist organizations pass these churches on historic island tours, even though most are still active worshipping grounds for devout Catholics providing a myriad of services to both island natives and visitors.
Though St. Croix is known as the Land of Churches, many people still opt to celebrate special events at the island's oldest Catholic Church. Holy Cross performs wedding, funerals and baptisms for island natives and visitors alike.
Parishioner weddings cost $200 at Holy Cross, and take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Couples who wish to get married at this breathtaking, historical establishment must meet with the Holy Cross deacon to make sure all their paperwork is in order.
For a complete listing of St. Croix's churches, contact the Interfaith Coalition at (340) 778-2880.
Sources:
History of the Parish. Holy Cross Catholic Church. 14 Nov. 2006.
Home and Abroad. 2006. 14 Nov. 2006. < http://www.homeandabroad.com>
Nation's Encyclopedia. 2006. 14 Nov. 2006.
St. Croix Property Showcase. Coldwell Bank. 2006. Media Mate Inc. 14 Nov. 2006.
U.S. Virgin Islands. Lonely Planet. 2006. 14 Nov. 2006. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destination s/caribbean/us-virgin-islands?v=print>
Of the more than 123,000 residents in the United States' Virgin Islands, approximately 34 percent are Catholic. In fact, the islands were named by Catholic explorer Christopher Columbus in honor of the massacred Christian saint, Ursula, and her 11,000 slain handmaids.
Religion plays a large role in island life on St. Croix. It provided the island's namesake; St. Croix is French for holy cross. Holy Cross, the Virgin Islands' first Catholic Church, was built in Christiansted in 1755, nearly 300 years after Columbus discovered the region.
Though Catholic residents on St. Croix date back to 1685, they did not receive permission to build churches on the island until the Royal Danish government passed a freedom of religion act in 1754. At this time, the English Jesuits came to aid the burgeoning Catholic evolution followed by the Irish Dominicans, who had strong ties with the Vatican.
In 1898, Holy Cross expanded to encompass Mount St. Mary's school, which recruited 250 students from Catholic backgrounds during its first year.
While Holy Cross is the principle church in St. Croix's old Dutch capital of Christiansted, St. Patrick's Catholic Church is the main church in the island's second-largest city, Frederiksted. Built in 1843, St. Patrick's is a Gothic revival structure constructed from limestone and yellow brick. It offers a glimpse into the island's unique style of architecture, which is a hybrid of traditional Dutch, French, English and Spanish styles. Its adjacent cemetery also dates back to the 1800s and is one of St. Croix's prime tourist attractions.
Today, there are more than 140 congregations peppering St. Croix's 84-square-mile terrain. Several of the island's tourist organizations pass these churches on historic island tours, even though most are still active worshipping grounds for devout Catholics providing a myriad of services to both island natives and visitors.
Though St. Croix is known as the Land of Churches, many people still opt to celebrate special events at the island's oldest Catholic Church. Holy Cross performs wedding, funerals and baptisms for island natives and visitors alike.
Parishioner weddings cost $200 at Holy Cross, and take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Couples who wish to get married at this breathtaking, historical establishment must meet with the Holy Cross deacon to make sure all their paperwork is in order.
For a complete listing of St. Croix's churches, contact the Interfaith Coalition at (340) 778-2880.
Sources:
History of the Parish. Holy Cross Catholic Church. 14 Nov. 2006.
Home and Abroad. 2006. 14 Nov. 2006. < http://www.homeandabroad.com>
Nation's Encyclopedia. 2006. 14 Nov. 2006.
St. Croix Property Showcase. Coldwell Bank. 2006. Media Mate Inc. 14 Nov. 2006.
U.S. Virgin Islands. Lonely Planet. 2006. 14 Nov. 2006. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destination s/caribbean/us-virgin-islands?v=print>
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