The Cayman Islands comprise three islands situated about 500 miles due south of Miami. The main population centre is Grand Cayman with some 40,000 persons living on its 21 x 8 mile shores. Some 60 miles away to the east-north-east are the islands of Little Cayman (pop. <100) and Cayman Brac (pop. c.1200). The Cayman Islands are a British Protectorate, which in turn means that the Archdiocese of Detroit is the only US Diocese which drives both on the right and on the left.

There is currently no official Roman Catholic presence on either Little Cayman or Cayman Brac. A Eucharistic service is held each Sunday on Cayman Brac at 11:00am at the Little Chapel associated with St. Mary's Rectory, a building owned by the Kirkconnell family, and which was home to Monsignor Meany during the final years of his life. There is a growing Catholic population on the Brac and land has been identified fro a future church at Cotton Tree Bay on the lower Bluff. Visitors may contact either Tania Drebenstedt (+1 345 948-2616) or Barbara Malone (+1 345 948-0551) for further information.

Grand Cayman is the main business centre of the islands and is one of the largest offshore financial centres in the world. The majority of the population of Grand Cayman is situated on the western half of the island in the Savannah, George Town, Seven Mile Beach and West Bay districts.

The Parish

Founded in 1950, Saint Ignatius Parish celebrated its 50th anniversary during the Millennium year of 2000.

Originally part of the Archdiocese of Kingston, the Parish was moved to the pastoral control of the Archdiocese of Detroit in November 2000. The legal name of the Parish is: The Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Cayman Islands.

Located on the island of Grand Cayman, the largest of the three Cayman Islands, the Parish has two churches, Saint Ignatius on Walkers Road, in George Town, and Christ the Redeemer in West Bay.

Parish activity is centred around two churches, namely St. Ignatius Church on Walkers Road in George Town, and Christ the Redeemer Church in West Bay. Pastoral activity is directed from the Rectory at St. Ignatius Church whose grounds also house the St. Ignatius Preparatory and High Schools.

Parishioners are culturally diverse with backgrounds ranging from Cayman, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands, to North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and East Asia including the Philippines.

Visitors to the parish are immediately struck by the Caribbean flavour of the music which accompanies the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Saturday evenings and Sundays. The hymnal features all of the well-established hymns but adds many new ones, authored by Caribbean priests and laity, whose rhythms are definitely Caribbean in nature. In addition, the sung portion of the Eucharistic celebration is a joyous sing-along for our visitors who quickly pick up and adapt to the exciting celebratory  vocals.

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration

St. Ignatius Church hosts perpetual Eucharistic Adoration on a limited schedule due to the small population of the Parish. On all days except Friday, PEA commences after the first Mass and terminates at midnight. On Fridays, PEA continues through the night.

Visitors are welcome - you will find the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament just off the sacristy of St. Ignatius Church.

Attendance at the Holy Eucharist

Please respect the sanctity of our churches. Neither chewing gum nor cell phones are welcome, and beach attire is best left to the beach.