Island Hikers

The monastery of Mount St Benedict has become part of the spiritual landscape of Trinidad .It is a significant tourist atatraction providing spiritual guidance to Christians and non- Christians.On the entrance to the monastery there is a large sign written in Latin "PAX" meaning a place where peace reigns.

In 1911 the eleven Benedictine monasteries in Brazil were having conflicts with the government and they needed to find a place of refuge for the monks.Abbot Dom Mayeul de Caigny of Brazil wrote to John Pius ,Archbishop of Port Of Spain to establish a Benedictine foundation in Trinidad.On the 17th January1912 abbot Dom Mayeul purchased a small estate in the hills above St Joseph called Tunapuna meaning "way of the water".The asking price was 4000 pounds and between1912-1918 a church ,guesthouse ,workshop ,living quarters and kitchen were constructed at the lower monastery.The first building was a small tapia hut where the first mass was said on 10th August 1913 and by 1918 the daily crowds had increase to such an extent that the monks needed a secluded place for recollection and study.

      The higher Monastery was built at Mt Thabor (1851 feet above sea level) to accommodate young monks studying theology and those seeking seclusion. 

By 1922 the building at Mt Thabor contained fifteen rooms ,a chapel,a large hall and two towers 40 feet high on each side reserved for the Papal Flag and the Union Jack.This place of solitude was not opened to the public and could be seen from miles around.The walk to The higher Monastery at Mt Thabor took 35 minutes and one felt transported to another world by the cool air and grandeur of the surrounding scenery.However due to the difficulty in reaching there ,the Higher Monastery was eventually abandoned and all is left of the Tapia House are the ruins.The forestry division has since planted pine trees to preserve it's natural elegance and protect this vulnerable area from bush fires.

On February1947 Mt St.Benedict was ready to become an Abbey.The first abbot elected was Dom Adelbert van Duin 1947-1972,he is  succeeded  today by Dom John Pereira since 2003.A trade school was built to teach mason and carpentry,a seminary,abbey shop for refreshments and souvenirs ,retreat house,guest house,rehab and Pax Yogurt Company .More information can be obtained from the book The Abbey Mount St .Benedict by Mark Tierney ,O.S.B .for details contact Mario749-2956 or islandhikers.com. 

Sunday 4th September ...... Mount St.Benedict and Mount Thabor

Assembly :7.00 Hilo Carpark St Augustine 

  Parking at The abbey of our Lady of Exile Mount St Benedict 

Rating :3 fair