For several years, some of us regularly attended the community of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena of Albi, in Capesterre Belle-Eau (Guadeloupe), whether as members of their apostolate at the parish of Saint-Hyacinthe, as trainees in vocational training, or as employees at their “Women’s Pre-training” Center.
At that time, we also shared with them times of prayer, gatherings, and spiritual retreats… and it was thus that, under the impulse of Sr Marie-Georges PELMAR, a first “fraternal group” was born, under the patronage of St Martin de Porres, a group that experienced moments of fraternal gathering for the deepening of the charism of Saint Dominic.
Over the course of these lovely gatherings, these times of sharing and of prayer, our vocation was born and gradually grew, but, as sometimes happens with certain groups, ours grew faint and little by little fell almost dormant. But we were still there, awaiting a new impulse; and so, after several years, the group was reborn under the name “Laity on the Way” (Laïcs en Chemin), together with a deeper knowledge of the charism of Mother Gérine Fabre.
Always with the fraternal support of Sr Marie-Georges, our spiritual guide, and counseled by Sr Maria del Rosario Peña (at that time General Assistant of the Congregation), after some years on this journey, we submitted our request to become lay associates, which was not immediately taken up, but we were not discouraged.
With the election of Sr Viviana SISACK as Prioress General of the Congregation, a first meeting to get to know her in Guadeloupe, and following exchanges also with the other General Assistants, Sr Romina PIETRANGELO and Sr Paulina OGBONNAYA, we were encouraged to renew our request for commitment.
And on 4 July 2026 we officially became LAY ASSOCIATES within this beautiful and great DOMINICAN FAMILY OF SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA, represented for the occasion, during that day’s celebration, by Sr Romina PIETRANGELO and Sr Lara MORELLI.
Today, we are deeply grateful and happy to be part of this great family of Mother Gérine FABRE. This belonging is for us a source of joy, hope, and encouragement to live the charism of Mother Gérine ever more fully in faith, in the service of God and of our brothers and sisters, certainly in Guadeloupe but also wherever the Lord may ask it of us.
We give thanks to God for the whole journey traveled, aware that this is only a beginning, and that OUR MISSION as Associates is only just beginning.
May Mother Gérine, Saint Dominic, and Saint Catherine of Siena intercede for us.
Frantz, Céline, Evelyne, Marie-Claude, Eliane
