Seed of Faith Resource Centre logo designed by Karl Doyle

On January 22, 2005, five parishioners of Santa Rosa RC Church, Arima, met to plant a seed of faith, without then, being fully conscious of that fact.

Our original aim was to establish support for catechists where resources used in building the faith would be available for sharing. Initially, many envisioned a simple parish library.

As the dream evolved, however, we came to realise the vast potential of a resource centre that could provide opportunity for exploration, communication and dialogue on vital issues of faith within our community.

We started with the knowledge that our catechists were both hungry for support in the provision of suitable material on our Catholic faith and had expressed the need to be equipped to meet the changing communication needs of our age.

In dealing, for example, with Confirmation youths, they were finding it essential to utilise available electronic tools to maximise effective communication at some sessions. The catechists had raised funds with the help of enthusiastic parents and candidates and had donated the television set and video player obtained, for parish use. 

We also knew that while former catechists had often offered to share material, there was nowhere for housing, and/or organising it within the parish, to ensure availability to all.

Selwyn Rudolfo, Seminary librarian, was fortunately part of our original team. He provided invaluable guidance on where to begin, assisted with training, and catalogued the material we first received. Our first donation was from former parishioner Deborah Assing who was sold on the need for a resource service and had access to material in the USA, where she resides. Deborah shares the vision and continues to donate material to the centre.

The entire parish has shown in various ways that the vision is a shared one. Dion Dardaine’s suggestion of the name “Seed of Faith”, for example, emerged from among suggestions solicited from parishioners.

Following a session for key stakeholders in the parish, the Aripo community provided our first cash donation from a group within the parish, and parishioners have continued to support the dream via donations of material.

Parish Priest Msgr Christian Pereira has been incredibly supportive in having the vision realised. By April 2005, he had organised both the renovation of a corner of the Southern Parish Hall to accommodate the material we knew would come, and also the provision of its adjacent reading room.

The maturing of our seed has been slow but steady, and in January 2006 the facility was blessed. Thanks to the voluntary services of Louisa Peschier and others, we are now open twice a week and have continued to be blessed with books, regional and international periodicals, videos and DVDs, all on the Catholic faith. Marian Clark, retired school librarian, now catalogues.

It is an exciting place to be, in parish life! As our community pools resources for communication and discussion, the possibilities for total community faith formation and commitment are boundless! 

We are truly experiencing the germination of a vital aspect of community life, through, with and in the Eucharist: the heart and guiding spirit of our “Seed of Faith”.