PARISH OF THE HOLY HEART - SAINT GABRIEL

The first chapel was built in 1850, during the stay of Father Thévaux, a priest sent from Mauritius by Father Jacques-Désiré Laval, the apostle of the mother island. At the time, the chapel took the form of a hut, around 16 m long and 8 m wide, made of latan tree trunks and covered with leaves. It was the first on the island, along with the chapel of Saint-Cœur-de-Marie in Port Mathurin. Destroyed several times by fire and cyclones, it was rebuilt each time.

The current form of Saint Gabriel Cathedral dates from 1939. Work began in 1934, on the initiative of Father Legault: stone and coral blocks were cut, mainly from the limestone plains on the west side of the island. Father Wolff then encouraged the Rodriguans to continue construction and build the sanctuary. For several years, faithful and clergy alike took part in the work. Hundreds of volunteers, young and old, scoured the island carrying sand, cement, lime, coral blocks and sheet metal on their heads. The church was inaugurated on December 10, 1939 by Monsignor James Leen in the presence of thousands of Rodriguans. This immense stone building, framed in wood, seats 1,730 with 250 standing. Its sanctuary is one of the largest in the Port Louis diocese. The church continues to be very busy on Sundays at both 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. services. The atmosphere is as warm as a Creole mass!