Meet Some of Our Sisters
in Trinidad and Tobago
In 2001, the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters began a House of Discernment in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. The following are stories of some of the women that are called to preach and teach the Gospel in this part of our world.
Sister Sabrina Paty
My first introduction to the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters was through Sister Glenda Rodriguez whom I had known for many years. It was through my relationship with her that my desire to become a Sinsinawa Dominican was nurtured. She was a person filled with joy, compassionate to all, spoke the truth in love, built relationships with those she met from different walks of life, loved those around her into being, and was a woman of deep faith. Most importantly, she was real, she was free to be herself.
When I entered the Sinsinawa Dominican House of Discernment, I was still working for Servol. I have done so for the past 15 years. It is a charitable organization that works for the poor in our country and has trained people from other countries to set up similar programs. There are different areas in the programs offered. I worked with the teenage group—those society considered dropouts, illiterate, unmanageable and unambitious.
Sister Christine Walcott
The first time I came in contact with a Sinsinawa Dominican Sister was in 1976 while I attended St. Joseph’s Convent in St. Joseph. Sr. Anne Marie (the principal) introduced Sister Glenda Rodriguez to us to talk to us about religious life. The seed was planted then, and in January 2003 at the Synod, she watered the seed by inviting me to join the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. Although Sr. Glenda helped to eliminate my fears and misconception about religious life, it was in August that same year when I attended a retreat directed by Sister Jean Tranel. With that, the butterflies in my stomach ceased. I entered in January 2004. I have been a teacher since 1984, a vocation that has been fulfilling and rewarding yet very challenging. My vision is for mission in the Caribbean. My desire for the future is for the establishment of a halfway house for young women who can no longer remain at the correctional facilities after age 18.
Sister Lystra Long
I was born to Winston and Patricia Long on May 10, 1972. I have one brother, Wendell. Although I was born in the city, I spent most of my growing years in a little town called Sangre Grande which is situated in the east of Trinidad. It was after my school years in Sangre Grande and my off-and-on attendance at the local Catholic Church as a young adult that I felt God calling me to religious life. This was in 1994. I tried to ignore the call and went on with my life being a “normal young adult” and having a good time at it.
After running from God and realizing it was not working, and after some interaction with the Carmelites, I joined them in 1996. Among many obstacles, this did not prove to be a good fit mainly because this was not my spirituality or charism. After that time with the Carmelites, I went back to life as “normal” since I felt that I did my part and had tried to answer God’s call. However, it did not work out.
I continued dating and working as a teacher and as a library assistant. I was also studying for my degree in theology. During that time, I was even proposed to; however, deep within I did not feel that marriage was my vocation. I still felt called to religious life.
That call was answered in 2003, while reading the local Catholic newspapers. I noticed an advertisement in the paper, and something about it attracted me. It was an advertisement for a day retreat at the Sinsinawa Dominican House of Discernment. I had never heard about the Sinsinawa Dominicans or met anyone who was a Sinsinawa Dominican. I subsequently called and Sr. Jean Tranel answered. The rest is history.
I feel at home with the Sinsinawa Dominicans and am assured that God will continue to use me to help bring about a just and holy society by proclaiming and living the Gospel. I especially love the many joyful and contemplative women who continue to strive to do the same. This is why, in spite of the many obstacles, I continue to journey on.
Sister Christina Araujo
When I moved into the House of Discernment, I had been working for the Archdiocese of Port of Spain for 30 years, first in religious education and later in pastoral ministry with the deaf. Prior to that, I had worked as a teacher. I had also been in formation with the Dominican contemplative nuns for five years when I was younger. The coming of the Dominicans of Sinsinawa to Trinidad and Tobago provided me with the opportunity to bring together the commitment to ministry with my earlier Dominican roots.