Trinidad and Tobago
Welcome to Trinidad and Tobago, where Sinsinawa Dominican life and mission are alive and growing!
Sister Glenda Rodriguez, a native Trinidadian, had a dream of establishing a House of Discernment in Trinidad. Today, there are six native Trinidadian Dominicans of Sinsinawa and eight Associates.
The Dominican House of Discernment is located in St. Joseph, a small town resting at the foot of the Northern Range of Mountains. Women are invited to come and experience Dominican community, prayer, study, and ministry as they discern life choices. We offer discernment retreats and continue to be in conversation with them as they search and discover God’s presence and the mystery of VOCATION in their lives.
Three Sisters share Dominican life at the House of Discernment, Sisters Gail Jagroop, Lystra Long, and Patty Rinn.
“I am in my non-canonical novitiate year and living in community here with Patty and Lystra,” said Sister Gail. “I do ministry at a Catholic school nearby teaching religious education once a week to a wonderful group of students. I am also studying theology in a blended program between the University of Dayton and CREDI in Trinidad. It is good to be here!”
Sister Lystra is campus minister at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, a public university with 18, 000 students that caters to students from the other islands in the Caribbean, as well as other countries. “I work at the Chaplaincy (Newman Center) along with another Dominican Sister who is a chaplain, and a priest,” said Sister Lystra. “My main purpose is to empower and be present to the students, assist where necessary in their spiritual, psychological, and emotional needs and also to work along with the chaplain. This is my second year in this ministry, and it has been a joy thus far working with the students and seeing their enthusiasm, faith, and commitment. It can also be very challenging at times. I look forward to the new challenges each semester brings, to implementing new ideas and especially to reaching out to the many students with whom we are not presently in touch.”
“I am blessed to experience the graciousness of the Trini people, their multicultural diversity, their faith traditions, their rich heritage of music and art, the beauty of this tropical island, her struggles as a developing nation, and my ministry—participating in our Dominican community, companioning women who are discerning a possible call to Dominican life, and sharing in the day-to-day life with Sisters Lystra and Gail,” said Sister Patty.
Two Sisters share Dominican life in Woodbrook at the Petra Street Community, Sisters Christina Araujo and Fran Koller.
“I am privileged to minister with the people of Holy Rosary and St. Martin de Porres Parishes in Port of Spain,” said Sister Christina. “Next door to Holy Rosary is the St. Rose's Girls Catholic School, once the monastery of the Dominican nuns. St. Rose's is the venue for the annual Christmas brunch of the senior citizens of both parishes.”
Sister Fran ministers as co-administrator of Mercy Home. “Mercy Home is a residential facility for persons with HIV/AIDS and is open to persons of all religions,” said Sister Fran. “It is one of the ministries of the Living Water Catholic Community in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Mercy Home cares for end-stage AIDS residents, journeying with them through death and ministering with their families. We also provide a quiet, peaceful atmosphere for residents able to return to the community. Prayer is an important component of life at Mercy Home. An important part of my ministry is to lead the staff for the Catholic residents.”
Three other Sisters share Dominican life in rural Toco, Sisters Martin Joseph, Sabrina Paty, and Christine Walcott.