Our story began in the heart of a young nineteenth century Frenchwoman, Catherine (Gérine) Fabre: a woman of limited education but with early experience of life’s hardships, and the deep mystery of God in suffering, neglected humanity. Drawn into deep contemplation of the Pietà, the Madonna holding her dead Son on her lap, she received the charism of manifesting the motherly face of the Father’s Mercy, and felt herself called to focus her self-giving to the Lord, her proclamation of his Merciful Love, in service of those far from God and of the frail and needy.   

Brimming with this desire, she looked for a way of expressing it and sharing it with others, and found inspiration for her own life’s journey in the life and spirituality of St Dominic. Taking the name of Marguerite Gérine, and known as Sr Gérine, she served the sick as a Dominican lay Tertiary, but later, faithful to her desire and wishing to respond to the signs of the times, she founded at Albi, in southern France, a new religious Congregation dedicated to St Catherine of Siena, the inspiration and teacher of those living as Dominican women at the heart of the world. 

In a very few years the number of communities had increased greatly, and Mother Gérine, with the courage typical of those who have complete and sole trust in God’s strength, sent her sisters to Italy, Uruguay and Argentina, difficult journeys in those days.

The religious Family she founded separated into two different Congregations in 1879, and continued their mission on parallel paths until the year 2005, when the branches joyfully reunited - a proclamation that the unity desired by Jesus is possible.

Re-experiencing the enthusiastic days of its foundation, our Family, having received the gift of Union, is seeing with wonder the birth of a different way of living Mother Gérine’s Dominican charism: our Lay Associates. 

As sisters and laity begin this new venture together in joy and humility, attentive to the Lord’s call in the depths of every heart, we are seeking TOGETHER how to proclaim to today’s world the passion and nearness of the Mercy of the Father - on the four continents where we are present.