“France planted the seed but Trinidad made it blossom!” So said Sr Marie Thérèse Rétout, OP beaming with justifiable pride and joy as she ended her short reply to the speech of French Ambassador Charley Causeret on Thursday, March 22, at the ambassador’s residence, Mary St, St Clair.

Occasion was the presentation of the medal “Chevalier in the Order of the Legion d’Honneur” by the Republic of France to Sr Marie Thérèse for 48 years of “service religieux et caritatifs” (religious and charitable service).

In his citation Ambassador Causeret outlined Sr Marie Thérèse’s journey of service from the time she entered the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Etrépagny, Normandy in February 1948 and offered herself for service in the missions.

Sr Marie Thérèse and French Ambassador Charley Causeret

She made her first profession in 1949, after which she was sent to England for two years to study English.

Sr Marie Thérèse arrived in Trinidad in March 1952, via New York after spending a few months in Montreal, Canada.

Her work in Trinidad has been mainly at the St Dominic’s Children’s Home (some 20 years), at the Catholic News (1974-91) and as writer of a number of publications, the most well known Parish Beat (1977) having a second printing in 2006.

Since 1993 Sr Marie Thérèse has served as the archivist of the Trinidad Dominican Sisters and every month oversees the distribution of food hampers to some 40 needy families in the Malick/Barataria area where she resides.

In her reply to the Ambassadors speech Sr Marie Thérèse thanked the Ambassador and his wife for hosting the award ceremony at their home.

She expressed her gratitude for the award also paying tribute to the close to 3,000 years of service given to our country by Dominican Sisters who had come from France (122), England, other European countries, North America and Venezuela.

She expressed her delight and appreciation that so many had accepted the invitation to be present for the occasion.

Among the many guests were the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Thomas Gullickson, Archbishop Edward Gilbert, Dominican Provincial, Fr Ferdinand Warner, parish priest of St Theresa’s, Barataria, Fr Rodney Olive CSsR, Sister’s Dominican Sisters including her Provincial Sr Thérèse Antoine, Carmelite Superior Sr Antoinette Dickie and Cluny Provincial Sr Gabrielle Mason, Rose Jackman and Rhonda Maingot of Living Water Community, members of the media, including the Catholic media and many of Sr Marie Thérèse’s friends from different parts of the country, Tobago included.

Sir Ellis Clarke who raised the champagne toast to Sr Marie Thérèse expressed the hope that our own country would follow the example of France and give her a national award for her many years of service to her adopted homeland.

He said that Trinidad and Tobago today needs the kind of response to the call to serve that Sr Marie Thérèse gave over 50 years ago.
Félicitations, Sr Marie Thérèse! Ad multos annos!