It is a normal practice at St Ann’s Church, St Ann, to have Praise and Worship Service on public holidays except when the parish priest, Fr Godfrey Stoute, is on mission.

However, on Emancipation Day, Tuesday, August 1, it was praise and worship with a difference as we boarded The Treasure Queen, and sailed into the Gulf of Paria praying, praising and worshipping God. All proceeds went towards St Ann’s RC Church car park building fund.

We (my three friends and I who travelled together) did not know what to expect. I was once invited to a similar event but I could not make it. This time I made up my mind to go. After all, it was on a holiday, emancipation holiday, within the school holiday season. I was not going anywhere. I simply wanted to stay home and rest.

Before 10.00 a. m. that day the congregation gathered and waited eagerly to board the boat. Considering the bad weather condition the day before I wondered whether we would be able to sail.

However, it was a brilliant Tuesday morning and it remained like that throughout the day. This to us was a sign of good things to come. The sea was calm too. At 10.00 a. m. sharp we boarded the boat and docked at exactly 2.00 p.m.

The congregation

The congregation that gathered and waited was a mixture of all sorts of people. They were young and young adults and a few children. They were predominantly women.

Some were formally dressed (it was a religious affair) and being Emancipation Day, some were beautifully decked in different colourful African clothes and the parish priest, the spiritual captain of the boat, was not to be left out of this celebratory mood. He donned his white, spotless African caftan suit. He just looked radiant and we could not help commenting on it.

The congregation came from parishes across the country. Of course, the St Ann’s choir was there in their usual St Ann’s red jerseys.

Singing hymns

St Ann's choir with Fr Stoute on the microphone

As we boarded the boat we were welcomed by beautiful music provided by DJ. Darryl and maintained by Studio Guy Z.

I think they were playing some Gospel Jazz Music and as we entered we nodded our heads to the inviting rhythm of the music.

The choir had their instruments in place and the St Ann’s chairs were already arranged in rows with enough space to enable people move around.

Due to the large turnout of people more chairs had to be brought in and some people came with their own chairs.

When everybody settled down and everything was in place safety announcements were made in case of any emergency: the crew was to distribute the life vests, no alcohol, no smoking, no sitting on the rail, maintain dress code etc.

The session started with the first song, Lord, I lift Your Name on High, followed by another song with an African tune, Carry Your Candle, I Know my Redeemer Lives etc. The St Ann’s choir, their guitarists and drummers accompanied us.

When Fr Stoute took over the microphone he led us with the opening prayer asking Jesus to take control. He invited us to receive our anointing as we sought God’s graces and favours and throw all our burdens, worries, concerns anxieties, problems and sorrows into the sea of forgetfulness. Then the tempo of Praise and Worship increased as we sang hymn after hymn, chorus after chorus.

Among some of the popular songs that were sung were: Move Satan, move Satan, let me pass; Take a grip, take another grip and never let go; Hear my cry (Psalm 61) etc. These songs were thoroughly enjoy by the congregation.

By now we were in high sea aerobics as the boat swayed, the sea breeze moved in and we moved with the rhythm of the songs.

The witnesses

When the rhythm quietened down we were invited, as is the normal practice on such occasions (that is, those who wanted to, it was voluntary), to come forward and witness to God’s works in our lives.

This part of Praise and Worship also gave us the opportunity to share people’s experiences with them, how they coped with those experiences through prayer and faith in God and learn from them.

Seven witnesses, all of whom were women, shared their different experiences. The first speaker emphasised the importance of keeping focus on God and He would guide us through all our problems. This was what helped her in her married life.

The second witness invited the congregation to join her in giving thanks to God for delivering a relative from a 12-hour-long and life-threatening surgery that involved a team of medical experts. The importance of prayer was emphasised especially praying together.

Gratitude was extended to Fr Godfrey Stoute and those who assisted in the praying. God not only answers prayers in His own way but He also sees the bigger picture, the whole picture. When we cry, when we pray He listens.

We must pray at all times, always praying in the spirit. The importance of praying together was also emphasised for where two or more are gathered in His name He is there. We also thanked God for achievements in the recently concluded Central American and the Caribbean (CAC) Games.

The importance of standing firm in the Catholic Church; God’s ability to solve problems, in this case mother-daughter problem; God’s healing power as in the case of the woman with the swollen leg and the woman whose son was shot at were emphasised by other speakers.

Finally, a young woman who was told that she would not be able to succeed in life, narrated how she made it to A-Level with four As through help from God.

Witnessing is a very powerful way of spreading the Good News. The Word of God is manifested in our everyday lives and experiences.

After lunch

Lunchtime was not quiet either. We had lunch songs such as We Have the Victory, Hear My Cry (Psalm 61) etc were played. After lunch the tempo started again with Fr Stoute leading in the singing.

We were so engrossed in Praise and Worship that we did not realise that the boat was heading back. It was a lovely day, refreshing, reviving and fulfilling but short. As we were docking another group led by Fr Urban Hudlin was getting ready to board the boat.

Definitely the Catholic Church is not a boring place and there is not just one way of worship. Thanks to Fr Stoute and his group for a wonderful day.