Brief History of The Church of La Divina Pastora

1703 Our Lady appears to Spanish Capuchin Monk, Ven. Isidore in Seville, Spain. She asks to be called ‘La Divina Pastora’.

1715 Spanish Capuchins arrive in Venezuela as Missionaries to the native people.

1756-58 Capuchin Missionaries come to Trinidad from Venezuela, and establish a Mission at Siparia. This Mission is dedicated to Our Lady, La Divina Pastora.

1795 La Divina Pastora is named as the official Patroness of all Spanish Capuchin Missions. An official Feast day of La Divina Pastora has been declared. Feast day celebrations occur.

1835 Siparia has been operating as a Parish and not a Mission, for some time. It has been a pilgrimage site for a number of years.

1860s East Indian Immigrants have been coming to this shrine.

1889 Siparia R.C. Primary School is established.

Late 1880s -1906 La Divina Pastora Siparia is administered from the Parish of the Assumption, South Oropouche.

1906 La Divina Pastora becomes an autonomous Parish once again. Fr. Modeste Osenda is Parish Priest.

1924 Fr. Modeste Osenda dies and is buried at Siparia.

1924 – 1929 Benedictine Priests (Dutchmen) administer the Parish of La Divina Pastora.

1929 Irish Dominican Priests begin administering the Parish.

1953 Construction of St. Brigid’s Girls R.C. School. (Fr. K. Lennon).

1954 Irish Holy Faith Sisters arrive in Siparia to run the new St. Brigid’s Girls’ R.C. School, opened in January. Siparia R.C. Becomes Siparia Boys’ R.C.

1957 Building of the present Church building, with a new presbytery beside it, begin. (Fr. K. Lennon).

1960 Completion and blessing of the present La Divina Pastora Catholic Church, Siparia. (Fr. E. Delahunt