A SURPRISING STORY
The history of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena began in the heart of a young French woman in the 19th century, Françoise-Catherine Fabre, who was moved by the cries of the poor and those who were far from God. Ever since she was a child, in the sanctuary of Chaudes-Aigues, Françoise-Catherine would stop to pray before the image of Our Lady of Mercy in the sanctuary of Chaudes-Aigues. Contemplating the disfigured face of her Son, dead in his mother’s arms, she embraced the call to consecrate her life to God in order to reveal the maternal face of the Father’s mercy to every man and woman she would meet.
Following in the footsteps of Saint Catherine and in the path of Saint Dominic, she founded the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena.
After establishing their first houses in France, Mother Gérine and the first sisters began to spread their charism also in Italy, first Civitanova Marche and then, gradually, in other cities. In 1874 Mother Gérine sent a small group of sisters to Uruguay and from there, to Argentina.
Wherever there was a call to proclaim the Gospel, Mother Gérine did not hesitate to respond and send her sisters.
In 1879, however, a painful event disrupted the serenity of the young religious family. For reasons that are still not entirely clear, Mother Gérine was forced to leave the leadership of the Congregation which – after a short time – is divided into two, the French branch and the Italian one. For over a century, the two distinct Congregations have followed parallel paths, while remaining united by an invisible and profound bond: the same Mother.
Starting from the 1980s, a long journey of rapprochement began, made up of exchanges, meetings, profound dialogue, listening, but also second thoughts and efforts; finally, on 14 June 2005 the Union Decree from the Holy See once again ratified the legal union of between the two Congregations.
Today the gift of UNITY is not only an administrative goal, but part of the charism, a responsibility to lived and cherished. Mother Gérine’s Dominican charism transformed the wounds of separation into an opportunity for renewal and growth. This story can and must bear witness that it is possible to heal fractures, welcome differences and that UNITY is possible.
