New  Photo Gallery Includes Stories, Video Clips and More

British Virgin Islands: Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda 

Anegada: Travel Teachers:  Quote re: travel teachers 1973 to 1978

VISITS TO ANEGADA, British West Indies:

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of April 1988; revised 1991; October 1994, July 2011

NOTE: listed below are the National Spiritual Assemblies who were responsible for the Virgin Islands and the date the responsibility was assigned for ANEGADA

1953 South America;

1957 Greater Antilles;

1962 Dominican Republic;

1964 United States;

1967 Leeward, Windward & Virgin Islands;

1972 Leeward & Virgin Islands;

1981 Virgin Islands.

KEY:

TT = Travel Teachers

ABM = Auxiliary Board Member

Data enclosed in parenthesis (_____) refers to my source:  see source page for details   SOURCES 

*****************************************************************

TT : 1973: January or February; Elizabeth Thomas from USA. [PF/25-ALP-NTC]

ABM: 1977: Naw-Ruz; Shirley Mather from St. Thomas [PF/25-0.4D]

TTP: 1977:  Naw-Ruz; Nancy Desatnick from Tortola, along w/Shirley Matther from St. Thomas. [PF/25-0.4D] ____________________________________________________________________________________                TTP: 1978: 29-31 July: Lynn Berry, St. Croix [PF/25-0.5]

ABM: 1978: July 29-31: Shirley Mather, St. Thomas [PF/25-0.5]

Events on Anegada, BWI: None recorded

Jost Van Dyke: 1968 to 1978

TRAVEL  TEACHERS AND PIONEERS TO JOST VAN DYKE

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of 1988; revised 1991; November 1994, July 2011

KEY:

PIO:=pioneer:

TT :=travel teacher from outside the national area:

TTP:=travel teacher and pioneer from within the national area:

TTL:=West Indian travel teacher:

HND:=Hand of the Cause of God:

CBC:=member of the Continental Board of Counsellors:

ABM:=Auxilary Board Member:

NSA:=member of a national spiritual assembly.

Data enclosed in parenthesis (_____) refers to my source ( see sources link above)

________________________________________________________________________________________

TTP: 1968: July; David Morris & Frank Paccassi from St. Thomas. [NL/21.h]

TTP: 1968: 14 September; Katherine Meyer from St. Thomas. [NL.21.i]

_________________________________________________________________________________________

ABM/NSA/TTP: early for 3 days: Magda and Alan Smith, Richard, Lynn and son Ian Berry plus others??

ABM/NSA/TTs:1978: January; Shirley Mather, Lorana Kerfoot, Sandra Egerer, Ken & Linda Scott.  [AF/24.b]

ABM 1978 March. Shirley Mather, Bill Nedden, Alan & Madga Smith, Jo Ann Pack, Lise Lowern [AF/24.b]

ABM 1978  July 21-25, Shirley Mather, St. Thomas [PF/25-0.5]

ABM/TTP: 1978:  August. 3 to 4 days; Shirley Mather & Lynn Berry [AF/24.b]

***************************************************************************************

JOST VAN DYKE EVENTS

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of 1988; revised 1991; November 1994, July 2011

NOTE: The British Virgin Islands are linked administratively to the US Virgin Islands, but events and travel teachers are listed Septemberarately for each island.

NOTE: listed below are the NSA's who were responsible for the Islands and the dates the responsibility was assigned:

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY RESPONSIBLE FOR JOST VAN DYKE:

1953 South America/North America;

1957 Greater Antilles;

1962 Dominican Republic;

1964 United States;

1967 Leeward, Windward & Virgin Islands;

1972 Leeward & Virgin Islands;

1981 Virgin Islands.

Key: LSA = Local Spiritual Assembly

NSA = National Spiritual Assembly

*********************************************************************************

1968: July; Island opened by travel teachers/pioneers, David Morris and Frank Paccassi of St. Thomas; teaching done in only shop in Great Harbour with 4 enrollments.[NL/21.h] First believers: Elanzo Callwood [Y]; Christian Callwood; Mr. Norris Duport; Ethien Chinnery. [NL/21.i]

1968: 14 September; 2nd visit to Callwood shop in Great Harbour. Katherine Meyer teaching results in 3 enrollments: Mary Callwood, Mrs. Roselear Callwood, Albert Chinnery.[NL/21.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

1969:... Visit of team from St Thomas [PR]

L to R: Amanda Wrighton (STT), Mr. Callwood, ??, Lynn Paccassi, Judy Paccassi, ??, Frank Paccassi, Ms. Callwood _______________________________________________________________________________

1976: July; Shirley Mather, Bill Nedden, Tony Scimesa, Jeff Bailey, first visit in 7 years to this island, four of original enrollments are still firm Bahá'ís, Mary Callwood, Christain Callwood, Albert & Ethien Chinnery. [AF/24.b]

___________________________________________________________________________________________

1978: January; two of four are still firm, Albert & Ethien Chinnery. [AF/24.b]

1978: 23-25 March; team enrolls Naomi Hendrickson. [AF/24.b]

1978: August; for 3 to 4 days; Shirley Mather & Lynn Berry visit, have low key activities, visit the friends. [AF/24.b]

1978: ??; extension goal teaching activities by friends from St. John and St Thomas (see above in TT) [AF/24.b]

NOTE: see St. Thomas events for explanation of cutoff date...pp

Tortola: 1968 to 1982

 TRAVEL TEACHERS AND PIONEERS  Quote re: Pioneers TO TORTOLA:

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of 1988; revised 1991; November 1994, July 2011

Key: LSA = Local Spiritual Assembly:

NSA = National Spiritual Assembly

PIO:=pioneer;

TT :=travel teacher from outside national area;

TTP:=travel teacher and pioneer within the national area;

TTL:=West Indian travel teacher:

HND:=Hand of the Cause of God:

CBC:=member of the Continental Board of Counsellors; ABM:= Auxiliary Board Member:

NSA:=member of a national spiritual assembly    BVI: = British Virgin Islands .

*****************************************************************

PIO: 1976: September-May 1977, Nancy  & daughter Diane Sedatnick from USA. [AF/24.b]

___________________________________________________________________________________

PIO: 1977: July ???; Wally Cluet from St. Croix, member of BVI teaching committee. [AF/24.b]

___________________________________________________________________________________

TTP: 1968: July; David Morris & Frank Paccassi from St. Thomas. [NL/21.h]

___________________________________________________________________________________

TTs: 1975: July; for several days, Betty & Victor de Araujo from USA. [PF/25-0.5]

___________________________________________________________________________________

TT : 1976: 22 March- 2 April; for 1-day, Elizabeth Thomas from USA. [PF/25-0.5]

TT : 1976: April 10-17, Anthony Scimeca from USA. [PF/25-0.5]

___________________________________________________________________________________

TT : 1977: July; for several days, Pauline Oungst from USA. [PF/25-0.5]

TTP: 1977: October/November; for several days Shamsi Sedaghat from Trinidad. [24/M137]

[PF/25-0.5]

___________________________________________________________________________________

TT : 1978: March ???; Nora & Brad Henderson from Canada [PF/25-0.11]

ABM/TT : 1978: 25-27 March; Shirley Mather, Lisa Lowner [AF/24.b]

ABM/TTP: 1978: 25-29 July & 20-26 August; Shirley Mather, & Lynn Berry from St. Croix. [PF/25-0.5]

___________________________________________________________________________________

TT : 1981: 16 March; Dr. S. Mirafzali & Son. [24/M156]

TT : 1981: 27 June; John Rushford & Arnold Stein. [24/156]

TT : 1981. 17 October; John Rushford from St. Thomas, VI. [24/M156]

___________________________________________________________________________________

TTL/TTP: 1982: 16/17 January; Naomi Bair from Jost Van Dyke and Magda Smith from St. John, VI. [24/M156 

___________________________________________________________________________________

CBC: 1983: December; Fred Schecter from Canada. [AF/24]

NOTE: see St. Thomas events for explanation of cutoff date.... pp

***********************************************************************

TORTOLA EVENTS:

Compiled by Patricia Paccassi as of September 1988: revised; April 1991, October 1994, July 2011

NOTE: Tortola is linked administratively to the US Virgin Islands, but events and travel teachers are listed separately for each island.

NOTE: listed below are the NSA's who were responsible for the Virgin Islands and the dates the responsibility was assigned:

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY RESPONSIBLE FOR TORTOLA

1953 South America/North America;

1957 Greater Antilles;

1962 Dominican Republic;

1964 United States;

1967 Leeward, Windward & Virgin Islands;

1972 Leeward & Virgin Islands;

1981 Virgin Islands.

Key: LSA = Local Spiritual Assembly

NSA = National Spiritual Assembly

********************************************************************************************

1968: First teaching; at West End, by David Morris and Frank Paccassi, pioneers from St. Thomas. Entire population contacted.[NL/21.h]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

1977: October; large proclamation at movie theater G.L.E.; Tickets are $1.00. 40-50 pay to see Bahá'í movie, ”The Green Light Expedition” ; Hotel reception, Governor is presented with Book. Bahá'ís are involved with Kite Day on UN Day. [AF/24.b]

1977/1978: December/January; CBCs [which ones, none listed for nearby island visits at this time?] travel teach to raise up to LSA status. [AF/24.b]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

1978: January; local group takes over conducting of Bahá'í activities. [Af/24.b]

1978: 25-27 March; Shirley Mather & Lisa Lowner give firesides, make plans for Summer school, rents high school for August. [AF/24.b]

1978: 30 June; first LSA [which one ?] elected. [AF/24.b]

1978: -27 August; Summer School  with CBC Osbourne, see report in ISLAND  Bahá'í #21, July 1978.  [PF/25-0.5]

1983: April; LSA of Roadtown elected [AF/24]

____________________________________________________________________________________

Virgin Gorda: 1977 to 1978

TRAVEL TEACHERS AND PIONEERS TO VIRGIN GORDA:

KEY:

PIO:=pioneer;

TT: =travel teacher from outside the national area;

TTP:=travel teacher and pioneer from within the national area;

TTL:=West Indian travel teacher;

HND:=Hand of the Cause of God;

CBC:=member of the Continental Board of Counsellors; ABM:=Auxiliary Board Member;

NSA:=member of a national spiritual assembly.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

TT : 1977: August; for several days, Helen Barnes from USA. [PF/25-0.5]

TTP: 1977: October/November; for several days, Shamsi Sedaghat from Trinidad. [PF/25-0.5]

_____________________________________________________________________________________

ABM/NSA: 1978: 2 January; Shirley Mather & Lorana Kerfoot. [PF/24.b]

ABM: 1978: 31 July 3 August; Shirley Mather from St. Thomas. [PF/25-0.5]

ABM/NSA/TT: 1978: 12-23 October; Anthony Lewis, Jamaica, Shirley Mather & N. Krantz teach using Green Teaching book, 15 enrollments, 1st. LSA is formed week of 29 October 1978. [PF/24.b]

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Virgin Gorda Events:

No events recorded at this time  .pp

NOTE:

My goal was to trace the growth and development of the Faith in the  islands from their beginnings, as far as I could find, up to the formation of each ones own National Assembly.  As 1981 was the formation of the first NSA of the Virgin Islands and information is available from this time on in St. Thomas, I am using it as the cutoff date for this research document. The following years will be done by other researchers.

This document is neither exhaustive nor definitive, we learn as we go, but what I have, and/or discover, will be passed onto each national office.

Hopefully, I can put this material into a form which, through the medium of oral history, will breathe the life into the bare facts and statistics.

I feel that it is our stories and impressions and feelings that help to convey the enormous process that is taking place in the Bahá'í World during this period of development. I am only sorry that it was not done earlier, we have lost so many stories already.

I truly appreciate all the help given to me in this research and can only hope

it is helpful to others.  Pat Paccassi   November 1994

 New  Photo Gallery Includes Stories, Video Clips and More

Published with permission of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the Virgin Islands 

Date:  20 May 2012 

Postal Address:  PO Box 302488,  St. Thomas, VI 00802 USA

Location Address:  129 Estate Contant, St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands 

Email Address:  nsa.bahaivi@yahoo.com

[HOME] [INTRODUCTION] [MAP] [ANTIGUA & BARBUDA] [BARBADOS] [BRITISH V.I.] [DOMINICA] [GRENADA] [GRENADINES] [GUADELOUPE AND MARIE GALANT] [MARTINIQUE] [MONTSERRAT] [ST. CROIX] [ST. EUSTATIUS] [ST. JOHN] [ST. KITTS & NEVIS] [ST. LUCIA] [ST. MARTIN, ANGUILLA, SABA, ST. BARTS] [ST. THOMAS] [ST. VINCENT] [Alphabetical List of Pioneers and Travel Teachers] [Articles Etc]