Father Jerome Hawes: Architect, Priest & Builder of Cat Island’s Hermitage
INTRODUCTION
Father Jerome Hawes is inseparable from the history and physical landscape of Cat Island. Born John Cyril Hawes and later known as Monsignor John Hawes, he was a priest, architect, builder and sculptor whose most recognizable Bahamian legacy stands above New Bight on Mount Alvernia.
Known locally as Como Hill, Mount Alvernia rises 206 feet (63 meters) above sea level and is recognized as the highest point in The Bahamas. Hawes renamed the hill Mount Alvernia after La Verna in Tuscany, a place strongly associated with St. Francis of Assisi.
At its summit stands Hermitage, the small stone retreat Father Jerome constructed for prayer, contemplation and solitude. Along the ascent, visitors encounter his hand-carved Stations of the Cross before reaching the monastery and expansive views over Cat Island.
Travelers interested in Bahamian history, architecture, religion and cultural landmarks will find Father Jerome's story particularly valuable. For the wider island—including beaches, settlements, accommodations and transportation—this article should link naturally to the Ultimate Cat Island Travel Guide.
WHO WAS FATHER JEROME HAWES?
Father Jerome was the name by which Monsignor John Hawes became known to Cat Islanders.
His story was unusually varied. Before becoming closely associated with Cat Island, Hawes combined religious work with architectural design and construction. Historical accounts document his earlier work in The Bahamas, including church architecture on Long Island. He later converted to Roman Catholicism, studied for the priesthood in Rome and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1915.
Architecture remained an important part of his religious vocation.
The Bahamas' official tourism authority describes Father Jerome as a skilled architect and sculptor, as well as a contemplative and admirer of St. Francis of Assisi.
This combination of faith, craftsmanship and architecture would eventually produce one of Cat Island's most recognizable structures.
WHY FATHER JEROME CAME TO CAT ISLAND
By the late 1930s, Hawes sought a quieter life centered on contemplation.
He returned to The Bahamas in 1939 after years of religious and architectural work abroad. According to historical material dedicated to Monsignor Hawes, he arrived in Nassau in November 1939 and soon traveled to Cat Island in search of a suitable location for a hermitage.
The hill overlooking the New Bight area offered what he was looking for: elevation, isolation and broad views over the surrounding island.
He chose Como Hill and renamed it Mount Alvernia.
The name refers to La Verna in Tuscany, associated with St. Francis of Assisi, whom Hawes deeply admired.
His selection of the hill transformed a geographic landmark into a site of architectural and religious importance.
MOUNT ALVERNIA AND COMO HILL
Mount Alvernia is geographically significant even without The Hermitage.
At 206 feet (63 meters), it is the highest point in The Bahamas. Local residents also know the elevation as Como Hill.
Its relatively modest height compared with mountains elsewhere can be misleading. Because Cat Island is predominantly low-lying, the summit provides extensive views across vegetation, settlements and the surrounding Atlantic landscape.
Father Jerome renamed the hill Mount Alvernia in reference to the Franciscan spiritual tradition that influenced him.
The connection between Hawes, Mount Alvernia and St. Francis is therefore central to understanding why The Hermitage was constructed here rather than simply viewing it as an unusual stone building on a hill.
THE HERMITAGE: FATHER JEROME'S DEFINING CAT ISLAND LEGACY
The Hermitage is the structure most closely associated with Father Jerome today.
Official Bahamas tourism information dates its construction to 1939 and describes it as a small medieval-style monastery constructed from local stone. Father Jerome intended it as a place where he could withdraw from the outside world and pursue contemplation.
Its scale is intentionally modest.
Rather than designing a monumental cathedral, Hawes created architecture suited to solitude, prayer and the exposed hilltop environment.
The resulting structure contains stone walls, arches and small interior spaces, while its elevated location makes the surrounding landscape an integral part of the experience.
This combination of architecture and geography helps distinguish The Hermitage from many other historic sites in The Bahamas.
THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Father Jerome's craftsmanship is not confined to the monastery itself.
Visitors ascending Mount Alvernia encounter his hand-carved stone reliefs depicting the Stations of the Cross along the route to the summit.
These carvings transform the climb into more than a route between a parking area and a viewpoint.
For Hawes, the ascent had religious significance. For modern visitors, it also provides insight into his work as a sculptor and builder.
The Stations help connect the landscape, the physical act of climbing and the religious purpose behind The Hermitage.
Visitors should avoid touching, climbing on or damaging the historic stonework.
FATHER JEROME AS AN ARCHITECT AND BUILDER
The Hermitage was not Father Jerome's only architectural contribution to The Bahamas.
Official tourism information credits him with constructing churches, cathedrals and convents elsewhere in the country, including on Long Island and New Providence.
His connection to Long Island is particularly important.
Before his later Catholic ministry, Hawes worked there as an Anglican missionary and designed St. Paul's Church in Clarence Town in 1910. His broader career eventually combined missionary work, priesthood, architectural design and hands-on construction.
This broader context makes The Hermitage easier to understand.
It was not an isolated experiment by an inexperienced builder. It represented a highly personal expression of architectural knowledge Hawes had developed over decades.
WHY THE HERMITAGE LOOKS MEDIEVAL
The visual character of The Hermitage is noticeably different from typical modern Bahamian architecture.
Its stone construction, arches, compact rooms and tower-like elements evoke European monastic architecture rather than a Caribbean resort or conventional residence.
That was consistent with Father Jerome's architectural philosophy.
The building was intended for spiritual retreat rather than comfort or display. Its materials and proportions create an austere environment that complements the exposed summit.
The use of local stone also physically connects the building to Cat Island itself. Official tourism sources specifically note that Hawes used local stone in constructing the monastery.
VISITING FATHER JEROME'S HERMITAGE TODAY
The Hermitage stands above New Bight in central Cat Island.
Visitors reach the site by approaching Mount Alvernia and then ascending on foot. The official tourism description notes a stone staircase climbing a steep, rocky incline toward the monastery.
The climb is relatively short but involves uneven and steep terrain.
Visitors should consider:
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wearing footwear with reliable grip
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carrying drinking water
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avoiding the strongest midday heat when possible
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taking extra care after rain
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allowing time to examine the Stations of the Cross
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respecting the site's religious and historical character
The summit offers broad 360-degree views over Cat Island.
For travelers interested in photography, history or architecture, allowing additional time at the summit is worthwhile.
GETTING TO MOUNT ALVERNIA
Mount Alvernia is near New Bight, making it accessible to travelers exploring central Cat Island.
New Bight Airport is also located near Mount Alvernia and serves the central portion of the island.
Because Cat Island's attractions, settlements and accommodations are dispersed along the island, independent ground transportation is useful for combining The Hermitage with other stops.
A visit can fit naturally into a day exploring New Bight and central Cat Island rather than requiring an entire day by itself.
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE HERMITAGE
There is no single season required to appreciate Father Jerome's architecture, but weather conditions affect the climb.
Morning generally offers cooler conditions than the middle of the day. Visitors should take additional care during wet weather because the stone and rocky surfaces can become slippery.
Clear conditions provide the best opportunity to appreciate why Father Jerome selected the summit: its commanding view over Cat Island.
Travelers primarily interested in architecture should also allow enough daylight to inspect the exterior stonework and Stations of the Cross carefully.
WHY FATHER JEROME MATTERS TO CAT ISLAND
Father Jerome's importance extends beyond the construction of one landmark.
His work created a lasting relationship between Cat Island's geography, religious heritage and architecture.
Mount Alvernia was already the country's highest natural point. Through Hawes' work, it also became one of the island's most recognizable cultural sites.
The Hermitage gives visitors a physical connection to an individual whose life crossed architecture, sculpture, missionary work and religious contemplation.
It also demonstrates how an individual builder could use locally available material and a remote landscape to create architecture strongly associated with a particular place.
Today, the silhouette of The Hermitage above New Bight remains one of Cat Island's defining images.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO WAS FATHER JEROME ON CAT ISLAND?
Father Jerome was Monsignor John Hawes, a Roman Catholic priest, architect and sculptor who built The Hermitage on Mount Alvernia and contributed to religious architecture elsewhere in The Bahamas.
WHAT DID FATHER JEROME BUILD ON CAT ISLAND?
He built The Hermitage, a small medieval-style stone monastery on Mount Alvernia, and carved Stations of the Cross along the ascent.
WHERE IS FATHER JEROME'S HERMITAGE?
The Hermitage stands on Mount Alvernia, also called Como Hill, near New Bight on Cat Island.
IS MOUNT ALVERNIA REALLY THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE BAHAMAS?
Yes. Mount Alvernia reaches 206 feet, or approximately 63 meters, making it the highest point in The Bahamas.
WHY DID FATHER JEROME NAME IT MOUNT ALVERNIA?
The name references La Verna in Tuscany, a place associated with St. Francis of Assisi, whom Father Jerome admired.
CAN VISITORS WALK TO THE HERMITAGE?
Yes. Visitors climb the hill using a route that includes stone steps and steep rocky sections. Appropriate footwear is recommended.
ARE THERE OTHER FATHER JEROME BUILDINGS IN THE BAHAMAS?
Yes. Father Jerome was associated with religious buildings elsewhere in The Bahamas, particularly on Long Island and New Providence.
HOW DID FATHER JEROME DIE?
Official Bahamas tourism information states that Father Jerome died in 1956 and is said to be buried somewhere at The Hermitage site.
EXPLORE MORE CAT ISLAND GUIDES
LOCAL & DESTINATION CONTEXT
Father Jerome's legacy provides an important connection between New Bight, Mount Alvernia and the wider history of Cat Island. The Hermitage overlooks central Cat Island from the highest point in The Bahamas, while Hawes' architectural work connects the island historically with religious buildings on Long Island and New Providence. For travelers, this creates a broader heritage trail linking architecture, settlement history, religious traditions and the distinctive landscapes of the Bahamian Family Islands.
CONCLUSION
Father Jerome Hawes left Cat Island with something more enduring than a conventional monument.
By constructing The Hermitage on Mount Alvernia, he transformed the highest point in The Bahamas into a place where architecture, craftsmanship, landscape and religious history intersect.
The site is especially worthwhile for travelers interested in Cat Island history, Bahamian architecture, photography, cultural heritage and religious landmarks. Walking past Father Jerome's carved Stations of the Cross and entering the compact stone monastery also provides a clearer understanding of the contemplative life for which the building was designed.
The Hermitage should remain a focused historical experience within a larger Cat Island itinerary rather than replacing broader destination planning.
For beaches, settlements, accommodations, dining, transportation and other attractions, continue to the Ultimate Cat Island Travel Guide as the main destination hub.
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