Dominican sister chosen to lead

ST LUCIA

Sister Marie Therese Clement OP recently assumed the esteemed international role of General Superior for the Dominican Missionaries of Our Lady of Deliverande. The congregation’s main residence is in France.

Sr Marie Therese, a native of Babonneau, St Lucia, has been living and working in her native land while serving as a General Councillor for her Order at the Morne Fortune monastery.

In an interview with DBS TV St Lucia, Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire of Castries congratulated Sr Marie Therese on her new post and urged Catholics in St Lucia to strive for such global causes both near and abroad.

“…I think it’s reason to boast with pride as an archdiocese,” the Archbishop said. He recalled Sr Marie Therese was elected as the General Superior last year during the general Chapter. A Chapter, the Archbishop explained, is a moment of reflection and discernment as to who is going to lead the congregation for the next six years.

“Before the meeting, they will have all the investigations made and what the needs of the congregation are and reflection on the past experience of how ministry has gone for them in the previous years.”

The Archbishop highlighted the series of events which precedes such a prestigious post citing that many nuns or monks from St Lucia have the capacity to serve in such international bodies if nominated.

Archbishop Malzaire then listed the various Orders which form part of the Catholic society where the said individuals may be nominated from to receive such post.

“We have the female religious congregation and the male religious congregations …in the past we’ve had the FMI fathers (Filles de Marie Immaculée – Sons of Mary Immaculate), we’ve had the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, and of course the Dominican sisters and many others,” he said.

Archbishop Malzaire advocated for more vocational groups to be given support by the public. He added that the benefits reaped from devoting time in service adds to a peaceful life and added longevity. Hoping that the lifelong dedication of Sr Marie Therese will inspire the upcoming generation, Archbishop Malzaire said that amid all the world’s distraction, the Catholic Church is in need of personal ministry to interact with the wider world spreading the Good News of salvation to all.

“Something of that magnitude is a great incentive for St Lucia especially when we see the tremendous need there is for local vocations,” he said.