SDCH celebrates Dominican Sisters’ arrival to T&T

Palm Sunday (March 25) at the St Dominic’s Children’s Home (SDCH) was even more special as the extended community marked the arrival on March 26, 1868 of the first Sisters of the Congregation of St Catherine of Siena to our shores, from France.

Since that time, 150 years ago, the Dominican Sisters have continued to provide unbroken service in a range of apostolates, including the Belmont Orphanage (as the Home was first known) which was established in 1871.

Our Palm Sunday Mass began at 8 a.m. with the traditional procession into the chapel as the assembled children and adults waved palm branches re-enacting Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. At the end of Mass, Sr Marie Thérèse Rètout OP– the oldest member of our local community and the only Sister of French origin in our region— took us on another inspiring journey as she told us stories of those early Sisters, the sacrifices they made and their utter commitment to their call to serve. What a legacy!

Sr Arlene Greenidge OP, the Home’s Manager, assured Sr Marie Thérèse and all gathered that, drawing from this legacy, the journey of the Dominican Sisters continues as the Home moves into a continuum of care at the newly refurbished Veritas Centre.

Special thanks to Fr Gregory Augustine CSSp, our Chaplain, for leading us in our celebration of the Eucharist, and thanks too to the hardworking team who prepared and served us a most scrumptious brunch. We journey on! – SDCH