By Beverley Causey-Smith The Portuguese people of Portugal, the Azores and Madeira have been predominately Catholic for hundreds of years.

Commencing from 1849 was a small but steady influx of Portuguese immigrants from Madeira, Cape Verde Islands and the Azores into Bermuda to conquer Bermuda's agricultural challenges.

According to the book, "Portuguese Bermudians 1849 - 1949'' by Patricia Marirea Mudd,the first Catholic Church erected in Bermuda was 1859 at St.

Edward's Church, Hamilton.

Mrs. Mudd writes: "According to the St. Edward's Church records, the first three Portuguese marriages officiated by a Catholic priest in Bermuda, all took place at the St. George's Garrison Chapel, covering a span of seventeen years.

"The first marriage was between Antonio Joseph and his non-Portuguese spouse Jane Frith, on October 17, 1860.

Her research reveals that the first child of Portuguese descent to be baptised by a Catholic priest in Bermuda was Mary Anne Louisa Joseph, daughter of Anthony Joseph and Fostina Maria de Silva Joseph on June 23, 1872 at the Garrison.

Mrs. Mudd discovered that there was a marked increase in the number of baptisms in Bermuda's Roman Catholic Church in the 1880s while the Azoreans made a steady arrival to Bermuda.

The Most Reverened Catholic Bishop Robert Joseph Kurtz of the Cathedral of St.

Theresa and visiting Father Jose Constancia, Vicar for Pastoral Ministry Diocese of Azores give an insight into the roles of the Catholic Church in Bermuda.

They explain that the Azores remained virtually unknown until they were reputedly discovered by a Portuguese navigator in 1427 . The majority of people living in the Azores have always been Catholic.

Father Constancia said: "Corvo is the smallest of the nine Azorean Islands and has only about 300 people living on it. I am from San Miguel, the largest island.

Bermuda's Bishop Kurtz explained the role of the Catholic Church in Bermuda.

"The Catholic Church in Bermuda is attended by a large number of Portuguese.

It offers faith and is a part of the Portuguese culture.'' Hamilton's St. Theresa's was built in 1931 in the Spanish flavour followed by St. Joseph's in Somerset and in due course six churches were built in Bermuda.

They include: Stella Maris built in 1947, St. Michael's built in 1956 followed by St. Anthony's in 1959 and St. Patrick's in 1968.

Bishop Kurtz talked about the changing roles of the Portuguese settlers since they first arrived.

"Originally they worked on farms and were significant to agriculture. They have spread into other businesses and the younger Portuguese have moved into all aspects of Bermudian society.'' When Bishop Kurtz was asked what the church offered it's young people he responded: "For the last two years our Catholic Youth Ministry has been led by Father Michael Manhardt. Many of our young members come from Portuguese speaking families. The Cultural Association offers the language school and a dance group.'' The issues which were unifying forces for the original Portuguese Catholics were discussed and Bishop Kurtz listed three key factors: Unity through faith and culture.

Immigrant status.

Common problems of learning a new language.

Father Jose visited Bermuda for the month of October. He is the Vicar for Pastoral Ministry Diocese of Azores. He was helping Bishop Kurtz plan for a priest to come to Bermuda in the near future.

Father Jose said: "The standard of living has improved in the Azores in the last 25 years. People are not so prone to leave today. Over time about a million people have left.

"We have a saying: `There are 250,000 people on the nine Azorean Islands and a million outside the tenth Island is the rest of the world,'' he concluded with a warm smile.

Bishop Kurtz became the Ordained Catholic Bishop of Hamilton on September 15, 1995 and closed with the following thought: "This 150th celebration between Bermuda and the Azores is fascinating. It is encouraging to see the cooperation of our countries merging and the two dioceses merging to minister to Portuguese people in Bermuda.'' Bermuda's Catholic Bishop Robert Joseph Kurtz, with Father Jose Constancia visiting from the Azores.