Patrick’s was built in 1958, it was only the second Church (the first being Penwood Church of Christ established in 1956), it had been the principal place of worship for the majority of the Waterhouse residents. However, at present St. Patrick’s is surrounded by about 24 non-Catholic Churches, such as the Penwood Church of Christ, the Penwood Seventh-Day Adventists Church, and the Maranatha Christian Church.

St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church has passed through years of much growth as well as periods of decline. The earliest of records (Status of Missions 1956-57) report the estimated Catholic Population of Waterhouse Community to be about 500 people.  It had peaked to a high of 8000 persons during the period of 1966-1972, with an average Sunday Mass attendance of 870 (1966-67), and a Sunday School population of 790 children (365 boys and 425 girls) in the same year of 1966-67.  We see a drop in the total Catholic Population to 4000 persons in the years to follow.  Since 1974 onwards, there has been a steady drop in the Catholic Population, or rather population professing adherence to Catholicism.

Although no census has been taken recently in the parish, it is safe to say that presently the Church is experiencing a revival as many of our projects to bring back the non-practising Catholics seem to bear fruit.  A slow growth in the membership in the past two years is seen as the membership has grown from 120 people in 2003 to 180 presently, and Sunday attendees growing from 85 to 120 in 2006.  The present membership of the Church is largely composed of older people, and a few middle-aged persons and a large number of children (about 60).  We have about 15 youth who are regular Church attendees.  Many of the members are females, especially in the older parishioners.  Many are pensioners as well.  The parish also has a large number of homebound parishioners, about thirty-five (35).

The congregation at St. Patrick’s is made up of mostly retired or pensioners and as such the parishioners are economically struggling; and most of the parishioners live within the Waterhouse Community and travel to the Church by foot.  The few who live in Portmore and Duhaney Park area travel to the Church by public transportation.

The parish of St. Patrick is surrounded by its Mission Station, Christ the Redeemer in the South, by Our Lady of the Angels in the North, by St. John the Baptist in the North-West, by St. Pius X in the East, and by St. Jude’s in the North-East.  Although when St.