Fr Colm Cassimir Graham OP was born in Dublin , Ireland on March 1912 and baptised in the Church of Columbon on March 15, 1912 . He was confirmed in 1921 and ordained priest in the Dominican Order on September 27, 1936.

He arrived in Trinidad in 1950 and soon afterwards was appointed parish priest of the parish of St Francis Assisi in Belmont where he spent 20 years.

As parish priest, he spared no effort to provide and improve facilities for the people of the parish. He built the sacristy and adjoining halls, constructed the Maryland RC School and bought a house in the parish to institute the Dominic Savio College (now closed).

He was instrumental in the building of the St Andrew's Home for the Aged and the large adjoining hall was named St Colm's Hall after him. He also constructed a house for his Scouts on Monos Island but sadly this has passed from the parish. With the help of the Legionaries of the parish he organised Sunday lunch for the poor.

Because it was difficult at that time for the people of Maryland and the other parts of both valleys to attend Mass, Fr Graham said Mass one Sunday a month at the school.

During his 20 years in Belmont , he organised a league for teams of acolytes from parishes in and around Port of Spain and was partly responsible for a basketball team, which he helped to established here in Belmont .

Fr Graham (IN PHOTO) had been an athlete and footballer and he used his experience and skills to help the boys of the schools he managed especially Belmont Intermediate (now Belmont Boys' Secondary School). He visited both primary and intermediate schools of the parish and while he did not always visit the classrooms, he met the principals on a regular basis.

In my own school we often saw him in conference with the principal. He was very strict concerning the Sacraments and attendance at Sunday Mass. Before First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies he had the children and their teachers over to the church for questions, discussions and rehearsals so everyone knew exactly what to expect.

Although what most people remember is the sign made famous by Mr Chookolingo in the Mirror newspaper, our parishioners loved him because they knew what he stood for and that he had their welfare at heart. He had the sign at the church entrances so that there was no mistaking what to do.

“Is your dress sleeveless? Then do not enter this Church” Of course sometimes people challenged the sign and were asked to leave and on many occasions groomsmen and grooms had to give their jackets to bridesmaids and brides at weddings. What do we see at Church now? People dressed in outfits they would not dare to use in a court house.

Fr Graham had a great relationship with his scouts and acolytes and often accompanied them to the house “down the islands”. He accepted invitations to visit homes and his visits were also enjoyed because of his great sense of humor and his care and concern for those he visited.

We know of at least one parishioner who was a bit apprehensive before her son was born and because of Fr Graham's counselling and prayers when he visited, the child was named Colm after Fr Graham. Needless to say he celebrated with the family that day after baptism.

Although Fr Graham left Trinidad so many years ago, he kept in constant touch with Maryland School and at least one of our long-living parishioners. He spent 36 years in Trinidad and would have celebrated his 69 th year as a priest on September 27, 2005 .

May God grant him eternal life in heaven.