In Jamaica, Pentecostalist-style churches dominate the religious landscape. Catholic churches almost always incorporate some element of Pentecostalist or charismatic worship, though the degree seems to vary by social class. Music is very important to worship and considered itself a religious experience. Catholicism also is deeply influenced by Afro-Jamaican cultural beliefs, particularly beliefs about witchcraft, spirits and possession.
The articles here focus Catholic life and practice in the metropolitan area around Kingston, the nation’s capital, including the civil parishes of St. Andrew and St. Catherine. About 2/3 of the island’s Catholics live in this area. The country towns in different parts of the island have long had a slightly different rhythm, and the tourist areas around Montego Bay are differently impacted by the daily influx of North American tourists. Read more...
