The cradle of Aruba’s Christianity is found at the rough north coast, at a lonely, desolate part of the island. There is a little chapel that caught the eye even of the Aruban Postal Service that issued several stamps with its picture. This little chapel has a lot of history, attracts many tourists and is for the Aruba population a place of veneration, where they find quietness and rest.
In the 18th century, a few hundred Indians were living on this island, and about 60 were living in the vicinity of the chapel, where the still existing Pos di Noord (a well) made it possible to live. These Indians were mostly fishermen. Travelling Spanish priests landed here around 1750 and built the first church on the island.
They appointed a “fiscal,” a layman who could read and see on a calendar which days were Sundays and festive days in the Church. The fiscal would then hoist a flag on Cer’I Bandera (Flag Hill) to inform the people that they could come together or that a priest had arrived.
Here arose a typical Aruban tradition to walk in a procession around the chapel while praying the rosary and closing with the hymn “Salve Regina” in front of the altar of the chapel. This procession was headed by the old wooden cross that remains preserved to this day and can be seen in a glass case next to the altar.
In the second half of the 18th century, the Alto Vista residents moved to a site located somewhat more southerly, presumably because as the consequence of contact with a contaminated ship an epidemic of smallpox had erupted. More to the south of Alto Vista, the small village of Noord arose, where in 1777; the first church was built by the penultimate fiscal of Alto Vista.
Gradually, everyone moved to Noord; and in 1816, the chapel was closed. Although the structure fell victim more and more to decay and finally collapsed, the residents of Noord sustained their visits to the site. As the years went by, Alto Vista became not only a place of pilgrimage for former residents and their descendants, but also of all the Catholics in Aruba, even after the Indians were no longer there.
People who visited this site in 1940 were told that they found the circumference of the former chapel marked with stones, and a cross stood where the altar had been, and they could see two graves of the fiscals, a number of cans and pots containing fresh flowers – proof that people came here regularly to pray. The people kept up their visits, and they came frequently, because fresh flowers quickly wilt in the wind and the glaring sun.
In February 1942, during World War II, Aruba was threatened by German submarines, due to the presence of the Lago Oil refinery, which was at that time supplying fuel for the Allied Forces. A vow was made to re-build the chapel if the island would be spared. The island was spared, and Aruba made good its vow.
The direct plan to re-build a chapel materialized in the 40s, when the girls of the domestic science school of Shon Kita visited the site and again found fresh flowers there. In 1952, the present chapel was built in a time span of two months. The builders worked 10 hours a day, of which two hours were without pay. The new chapel was consecrated on May 25, 1952.
Visits have been on the increase ever since. Processions of hundreds of cars and daily tourist buses are alternated by individual visits. In 1953, “Our Lady of Alto Vista” was proclaimed Protectress of Aruba.
Visitors will not find here an imposing item of architecture or even a very beautiful image. Yet they will find here peace and quietness. They will find here people in prayer, or people who just visit the place for its uniqueness. After birth of a baby and when leaving the hospital where the child was born, young parents are accustomed on their way home to first visit the Alto Vista Chapel with their newborn child, as if to introduce the child to Our Lady. One will seldom be alone in the chapel which is open every day. Once a week, each Thursday afternoon, the parish priest of the village of Noord will be there to celebrate a Mass with those present.
Contributed by Gerard van Veen
