Marian Advocations of Jamaica

The national patron of Jamaica is Our Lady of the Assumption, a Marian advocation of Spanish origin. The Catholic presence is organized in the archdiocese of Kingston and the dioceses of Montego Bay and Mandeville.

National

History of Marian devotion in Jamaica

The devotion to the Virgin Mary in Jamaica comes with the first European evangelizers and is deeply rooted in popular piety. The Marian advocacy brought by the missionaries - the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of the Merced - merged with local religious sensitivity, giving rise to unique expressions of faith.

The Marian shrines of Jamaica are centres for pilgrimage and community meeting. The Virgin Mary is venerated as a patron of many localities and as a protector of families. The patron parties in honor of Mary are manifestations of a living faith that is transmitted from generation to generation.

Marian Advocations of Jamaica

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Our Lady of the Assumption, Patron of Jamaica

Jamaica, the Caribbean island with reggae rhythm and mountain landscapes, has a minority Catholic community (approximately 2 per cent of the population) in a country of Protestant majority. However, the Catholic Church has a historical presence that dates back to Spanish colonization in the 16th century. The island was formally dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption in 1953, at an event held in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity of Kingston. The archdiocese of Kingston, erected in 1956, and the dioceses of Montego Bay and Mandeville organize the Catholic life of the country. The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, built in 1850, is the most important Catholic temple in Jamaica and houses an image of Our Lady of the Assumption brought from Spain.

The history of the Catholic Church in Jamaica is marked by the educational and social work of religious congregations, especially the Sisters of Mercy and the Jesuits. Despite being a minority, Jamaican Catholics maintain active Marian devotion. The feast of the Assumption (August 15) is celebrated with a procession that runs through the streets of Kingston. The church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Morant Bay, built by Jesuit father John Alexander, is a historic place where the Catholic community on the south-eastern coast meets to celebrate the great Marian parties. The month of May is especially dedicated to Mary, with processions and floral coronations in parishes throughout the island.

The archdiocese of Kingston organizes each year the "Marian Festival of Jamaica," an event that brings together Catholic communities throughout the island to celebrate the Virgin Mary with music, dance and prayer. The festival includes the traditional "Coronation of May," where children crown an image of the Virgin with tropical flowers. The Jamaican Catholic community, though small, is known for its joy and hospitality. The feast of Our Lady of the Assumption (August 15) is celebrated with a procession through the streets of Kingston, followed by a concert of coral music and a banquet with typical Jamaican dishes.

The archdiocese of Kingston celebrates each year the "Marian Symposium of Jamaica," an academic and spiritual event that brings together theologians, historians and faithful to deepen the knowledge of Marian devotion in the Caribbean. The symposium, held in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, has had international speakers and has helped to strengthen the Catholic identity in Jamaica. The proceedings of the symposium are published annually and are a source of reference for the study of mariology in the Caribbean context. The Virgin Mary is presented at these meetings as a model of faith and resistance for a people who have faced slavery and oppression.