WESTERN RITE VICARIATE
GUADELOUPE, FRENCH WEST INDIES
The Vicariate of Guadeloupe, French West Indies, was formerly a mission of the NAORCC founded in 1981, a mission of the Society of The Good Samaritans of St. Francis who were invited by several families determined to have a national church upholding their spiritual and liturgical traditions. For more than ten years, the Mission laboured in the inner city with the assistance of a family who gave the use of a private chapel and well as small rectory. At that time, the liturgy was celebrated in both French and English. In time, the mission also began an educational assistance for children who could not continue their education.
Besides a full-time ministry, the mission also began prison visitations which helped launch the creation of a structure for the needs of inmates. The existing parish relocated to its present location building a much larger church and rectory in 1993, and served until 2003 as one of the island’s first detoxification centers for substance abusers. This project gave the parish the opportunity to assist in extended programs with state funding. Our resident deacon is employed full in a center for the cure and reintergration of former addicts into society.
Warm relations with the Orthodox community brought about the decision of the Vicariate to seek reception into the Orthodox faith as a Western Rite. The Parish of the Epiphany-Shrine of Saint Rita serves Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, St. Martin and St. Barth’s as well as Dominica. Members live as well in France and Corsica. Membership is composed of the local society and ethnic groups of various Orthodox traditions.
The Liturgy of St.Gregory the Great is celebrated daily at 9 am and Sundays at 9:30am with Sunday School for small children. Several prayer groups are active within the parish, and there is a weekly office for the sick.
The French Islands, known as Les Antilles in French, are a full part of the French Republic and are well-known for their resorts and cusine as well as for their rain forests, beaches, culture and rich Afro-Caribbean traditions.
The Vicarite continues to have warm fraternal ties with the canonical NAORCC jurisdictions and other Orthodox communities in the French speaking world, and plans are being made to receive a mission in India into our blessed jurisdiction this year.
We invite all to visit us and to share in the beauty of our Island and in the depth of spirit of our local Orthodox community.
