By Archbishop Emeritus Robert Rivas OP
Well! I never thought I would see the day, but there it was on my WhatsApp: a video clip of my friend and daily communicant, Jesus Pazos, appearing at the QPCC Calypso competition and performing under the sobriquet ‘De Mighty’.
At age 84, he opened the show with confidence and was dressed for the performance: “Have no fear,” he said, “De Mighty is here!”
He danced with his hands and his feet and, with that public performance, De Mighty came alive and wrote his name in the story of Calypso and Carnival.
His catchy chorus with good backup singers is still playing in meh head! “Ah want to be a panman, a panman like mee ole man, ah want to be ah panman and jam with dem panwoman!”
The spirit of mas is not limited to any age group. If you can shake a muscle you can play mas. Ah interpretin’ de mas because ah seeing what ah didn’t see in de pas’!
We showcasing we pan, Calypso, Soca, Chutney and fabulous designs for the Kings and Queens ah de bands. There is a big paradigm shift embellishing we culture an ah proud ah dat! We culture evolving. How are we treating it? Doh bring it dong; lewwe lift it up.
How we see and judge our culture is critical in the process of interpreting de mas and taking pride in what we have. Often in the churches where I serve, I meet lots of interesting people: poets, artists, calypsonians and Carnival band leaders.
After Mass at the Church of the Nativity on February 2, I met three young people studying in California, who came back home to play with Silver Stars, the band that placed third in this year’s Panorama semi-finals.
What excited me was to meet enthusiastic young people immersed in their culture and immersed in their faith; at home with God and at home with pan.
This was an awesome encounter and something deep inside of me bubbled over with joy. I found myself interpreting de mas and the evolution of our culture, music and Carnival.
With the participation of schools and many young people immersed in the pan culture, there is great hope for the future of pan and Panorama continues to get better and better with the calibre of arrangements and leadership of the bands.
Nothing should stop us hitting crescendos on pan, jumping up and dancing on our streets on Carnival Monday and Tuesday, singing we Calypso and Soca, and on Ash Wednesday humbly receiving ashes on our foreheads and not feeling badly about ourselves.
The fun and the ashes can mix because we know what we have and want to be responsible for who we are. Ah seeing de difference but year by year we need to keep the standard high not only artistically and creatively but also with respect for our own and each other’s dignity and by maintaining a high level of responsible behaviour.
At the judging of Valley Harps in the preliminaries, I was invited by some parishioners to take in the vibes of the Valley and support our community steelband whose panyard is opposite to St Anthony’s Church.
I went and thoroughly enjoyed the evening after our 6 p.m. Mass. Who were there? Apart from the judges and supporters, I saw Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, readers, leaders of morning devotion and active church members all enjoying themselves and moving to the beat and rhythm of steel.
A deacon was also there blessing the panyard, the players and their instruments. Where there is joy and brothers and sisters are standing together in harmony, we are on holy ground.
That evening at Mass, an announcement was made regarding a Lenten Panyard Retreat at the same venue: Valley Harps Panyard. When we see these things happening, we need to listen attentively to what the Spirit is saying to the Church in Trinidad and Tobago and not stifle the Spirit. The interaction and conversation between faith and culture must continue and deepen.
The Church can speak when the Church journeys with its people differentiating what is good from what is evil; what is right from what is wrong; by being a voice that is authentic and recognisable; a sacramental presence at the centre of people’s lives and society and also by being a light in places of darkness.
The Church is not a watchdog but a sentinel interpreting de mas in all its aspects and offering moral leadership. Society and culture need a moral and prophetic voice that is transparent and recognisable.
The times are changing and our culture is clearly developing and evolving. The dialogue and openness between faith and culture must continue to progress and develop.
Every time we gather for a panyard retreat, we are interpreting de mas through our own music, talent and cultural forms from a faith perspective and finding new ground and ambience for encountering God and elevating our culture to a higher level.
As culture evolves, we need, as a people, to set the standards that we want for our society. Standards based on faith, morality and values. We cannot let the horse run wild. There is always need for discipline, respect and self-control.
We should never lose sight of our own dignity and the dignity of others. As law-abiding citizens, we need to work together in the interest of the common good for all. In this way, we will be interpreting de mas and raising our awareness and standards to a higher level for the benefit, peace of mind and enjoyment of all.
Let all we do be done in moderation and not at the expense of others especially the weak and vulnerable. This is a time for celebration. Come on! Let’s CELEBRATE!
“Ah want to be ah panman; ah panman like me ole man…!
