Congratulations to Sister Limétèze Pierre-Gilles
on her First Profession of Religious Vows
Wilton, Conn.
Aug. 8, 2010
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Limétèze Pierre-Gilles made her First Profession of Religious Vows on Sunday, Aug. 8, at the SSND chapel at Villa Notre Dame in Wilton, Conn. |
During a Eucharistic celebration attended by more than 200 family members, friends and School Sisters of Notre Dame, Limétèze Pierre-Gilles made her First Profession of Religious Vows on Sunday, Aug. 8, at the SSND chapel at Villa Notre Dame in Wilton, Conn. “I ask you, Sister Kathleen Cornell, Provincial Leader of the Atlantic-Midwest Province, to accept my vows in the name of the Church,” she said from the altar after stating her promise to live consecrated celibacy, gospel poverty and apostolic obedience in community.
| S. Pat Hammond, S. Limétèze Pierre-Gilles and S. Justine Nutz |
The Rite of First Profession marks the culmination of two years as a novice, during which Sister Limétèze spent several months living in Malden, Mass., serving at Immaculate Conception parish and My Brother’s Keeper outreach program. Before that, as a postulant, she spent a year in Brooklyn, N.Y., living at St. Mark’s Convent and working as a teacher’s aide at St. Mark’s School.
A native of Haiti, Limétèze moved to Florida in 2003, at age 28, one of the last three in a family of 11 children to emigrate. The young woman, who had taught kindergarten and studied pre-law for three years in Haiti, spoke only French and Creole. In Florida, she enrolled in classes in English as a Second Language and ultimately earned an associate of arts degree from Palm Beach Community College in 2007.
Meanwhile, she became acquainted with the School Sisters at St. Ann parish and St. Ann Place in Lake Park, Fla., visiting with them, praying with them and learning more about their life in the small community. In time, she became an Affiliate of SSND, the initial stage of exploring the call to religious life.
| S. Limétèze Pierre-Gilles and S. Kathleen Cornell, Provincial Leader |
During the Rite of Religious Profession on Sunday, Limétèze professed her vows in English and Creole, for the benefit of family members who spoke only Creole. After signing her vow paper with her provincial leader, she shared a poignant moment with Postulant Director Sister Patricia Hammond, who in a final gesture pinned the SSND pin on her former postulant’s lapel. The congregation erupted in applause. There were smiles all around and tears of joy from sisters and members of Sister Limétèze’s family.
Later this month, Sister Limétèze will enter the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in Baltimore for full-time study toward a bachelor’s degree. She will live in community with two other SSNDs in nearby Timonium, Md.
As a professed sister, she will daily practice the integration of prayer, community and ministry. The next six years will be a journey toward perpetual profession, or the expression of her final vows.