Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Saint Lucia (Agenzia Fides) – The Monastery of Coubaril is located on the island of Saint Lucia, in the Antilles, a former English colony that gained its independence in 1979, while remaining part of the British Commonwealth. Opened in 1975, it first began in the Bishops' Residence and later moved to Coubaril in 1983. It has experienced constant growth, so much so that it has sent various nuns to missions in Africa. Today, the Benedictine Family has 8,000 monks and 15,000 nuns and religious sisters. In the Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption, there are ten postulants and novices from Zambia, where the Benedictine Sisters have placed a mission.
Mother Marianna Pinto, OSB, from Italy, became Abbess of Coubaril in November 2007. The Apostolic Delegate of the Antilles, Archbishop Thomas Gullickson, highlighted the particular openness of the Benedictine Community towards the youth of Zambia, come to Saint Lucia to be formed according to the Benedictine style of life: “They will learn that the monastery is a house of prayer, study, and hospitality, a place in which they can await the return to Christ, the Spouse, in order to participate in the Heavenly Banquet.” Archbishop Kelvin Felix of Castries is firmly convinced that “the nuns of Saint Lucia, with their vows, are deeply rooted in the Church and the culture of our inhabitants.” On the naming of the new Abbess, the Abbot Primate of the Benedictines, Notker Wolf, OSB highlighted “the great influence of the monastery in the life of the island and all the Caribbean islands.” (AM) (Agenzia Fides 21/11/2008)
