L’Hospice is no stranger to many. It’s a chapel situated on Observatory St where on Tuesdays, you would find a lot of people from all over Trinidad, coming in with offerings of bread and other things for the poor. But why do they come here?

They come to offer prayers and ask intercession of St Anthony of Padua whose life size statue is found in the church. They come with all their problems and burdens of the day, believing that if no one else can understand, this saint surely will and he will beseech God on their own behalf. Many terms of endearments are used, such as: “My husband”, “lover”, “boyfriend”, and “sweetheart”, just to name a few, as they lay their problems before him.

How did it all start?

Well to begin this story, first let me say that L’Hospice is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in Trinidad and Tobago, and was founded in 1857, by the Archbishop Vincent Spaccapietra, the second Archbishop of Port of Spain.

Archbishop Spaccapietra was born in Italy, and when he first came to Trinidad in 1854 he spoke very little English. This did not in any way deter this man’s focus for what he wanted to do. It was also during the period of financial stringency and at the outbreak of the worst epidemic of Asiatic cholera in the history of the island.

For more than two months the epidemic raged and there were over 2,000 deaths in Port of Spain out of a population of about 20,000.

The newly appointed bishop laboured day and night, ministering to the needs of the lowliest, and he soon won the admiration and sympathy of all. Many of the elderly women were the sole survivors of their families, left without means of support or care. Seeing their plight Archbishop Spaccapietra built the present Hospice, which in its day, judging from early photographs, was a beautiful building.

A few brave and charitable gentlemen, disregarding the danger to themselves and families rallied around him during this time of crisis and assisted him in ministering to the sick and dying, poor and rich alike.

In 1854, to perpetuate this great work of charity, Archbishop Spaccapietra founded the first Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Trinidad, which was to carry on its good work to this day. The first Conference comprised the gentlemen who had worked with him during the cholera epidemic.

Before Archbishop Spaccapietra left our shores he entrusted the care of the residents to the Shrine Sisters, and, the Society of St Vincent de Paul continued to make their contribution to the home.

As the Shrine Sisters dwindled the Archbishop Pius Dowling OP invited the Dominican Tertiaries, who later became the Corpus Christi Carmelites to manage the home.

On November 14, 1919 three of the Tertiaries arrived in Trinidad from England in response to his request.

They were given the care of L’Hospice, as well as a convent, which became the first House of the Corpus Christi Carmelites in the mission field.

The following extract from a diary gives a glimpse of the lovely setting as it was then: “Behind the great hedge of hibiscus we find orange and lime trees, beautiful coconut palms and cotton trees, green pepper, cassava, peas which grow on a tree!

There is a small banana (which we know commonly as fig), there are coffee trees and mangoes, and for vegetables the yam and sweet potato. Outside in every direction are the cocoa plantations with their heavy yellow and red pods, all sheltered by the beautiful flowering scarlet immortelle.”

Today, this area is described as environmentally depressed with all the characteristics of the inner city.

L’Hospice, however, remains a major landmark in the area, not only because of its size and well –maintained buildings, but because of its chapel which draws many people every day.

There is a strong devotion to St Anthony and many people come to Mass there daily, especially on the second Tuesday of the month, others drop in during the day to pray before the Blessed Sacrament.

On June 13, 1920 Sr Josephine, one of the first Superiors of that institution introduced “Pound Day”.

People from all walks of life, east, west, north and south, all over Trinidad, brought gifts weighed in pounds.

This custom continues even today, and includes the children from various schools such as Rosary Boys’, among others, bearing their gifts to the poor and aged.

L’Hospice became a ray of hope, a light shining in the darkness for the poor. There is a small cottage near the entrance, which is now being renovated, where a Sister is normally available on the Tuesdays to listen to the problems of those in need, and to offer prayerful support. This facility has been in existence for over 70 years and the demand for it has increased rather than diminished.

There are countless stories from the penitents about how they began their devotions at this simple little shrine. Adults remember visiting there when they were children, seeing their mothers and grandmothers, praying before the statue and offering up their meagre offering of bread.

These acts made such an impact on their own lives that today they too continue that devotion as they recognise the rewards and graces they have received from these little sacrifices.

There is one story of a benefactor who shared that he remembered as a child coming to L’Hospice for food because in those days things were hard for his family.

He remembers always being given something; he was never refused. So today, now that he is in a position where he can give back, he willingly offers whatever he can.

Sr Ramona George, who is the present administrator of this home, has worked there for 24 years. In between these years she was assigned to other ministries, but somehow she kept returning to work at L’Hospice.

She began her ministry there in 1973 to 18 persons, soon raising it to 23. Today, the compound hosts almost 60 in residence. The list of responsibilities is long, from clothing, medication, food, to sometimes even funeral arrangements, not forgetting the spiritual care that the sisters tirelessly administer.

Sr Ramona is originally from St Lucia, and she shared that one thing that really struck her since arriving here in Trinidad in 1961, during her work at L’Hospice, is the generosity of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.

She said, before she came here, over 50 years ago, she always heard about the violence here and that the people weren’t very welcoming.

However, this was never her experience. She always felt at home, and she was always amazed at the fact that no matter how poor people are, they always give from their hearts.

This home is operated solely on donations from benefactors, it is not Government assisted, only the residents’ pensions are the added contribution. But the needs of this home are countless.

Who are the residents of L’Hospice now?

They continue to be the elderly poor of Trinidad who can no longer carry the burden of maintaining their homes because of physical weakness, disability or some other ailments.

In residence there are three grand ladies: Justina Baptiste, better known as “Dodoy” from Paramin, who will be 109 in September.  Mary Lee, from San Raphael, is 103 years old, and Rosalie Burke will be 100 in November. Heartfelt congratulations to these residents. There are also seventeen persons age 90 and over.

L’Hospice has become their home where they interact with each other and happily look forward to the day when they will be called to the heavenly banquet.

As we, the Sisters, staff and residents of L’Hospice, celebrate our 150th Anniversary on Tuesday, August 7, 2007, we want to express our heartfelt thanks first to God for sustaining us and bringing us to this glorious day.

Secondly, to Archbishop Spaccapietra, the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Shrine Sisters we say thanks for laying the foundation on which we built. Lastly we thank all those who continue to aid us with your donations, prayers and support. Without you, this home cannot continue to function.

Remembering that whatever we do to the least of our brothers and sisters we do unto Christ we want to encourage you to continue your loving support. May God continue to richly bless all those associated with L’Hospice as we celebrate our 150th anniversary.

All are invited to celebrate a Mass in thanksgiving with us on this special day, Tuesday, August 7 at 5:00 p.m.