For the past six years, the local Lyceum Club has elected a Woman of the Year in honor of International Women's Day on March 8. This year the vote was unanimous: the members of this women's club all voted for Sister Claire Madeleine, a member of the Order of the Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres. A ceremony in her honor was held at Town Hall on Tuesday evening, March 8, with a standing room crowd in the municipal council chamber. Deputy mayor Nicole Gréaux presented brief biographical information about the nun's life, then mayor Bruno Magras presented Sister Claire Madeleine with the Medal of Honor of Saint-Barthélemy. The entire order of Saint Paul de Chartres, a community that has been present in Saint Barth since 1855, was honored on March 8 through the intermediary of Sister Claire Madeleine, The reception concluded with a champagne toast and the Chorale Aux Bons Choeurs lead the entire room in singing the Hymm of Saint Barthélemy.Born Rita Francoise Gréaux, Sister Claire Madeleine is originally from Lorient. One of six children in a religious family, Rita was just 18 years old when she decided to leave Saint Barth for Martinique and join the provincial convent of the Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres. Along with three other young women from the island, who became Sister Irene, Sister Emerance and Sister Tarcicius, she set sail for Fort-de-France on July 9, 1942 on a sailing ship, the Marie Stella. After two years as a novice, Rita decided to take her vows and chose the new names of Claire, in memory of an outstanding nun, and Madeleine, for the woman who loved Christ above all else. The young nun spent a year at the clinic Saint Paul while deciding on a career, and eventually became a nurse. She went to nursing school in Guadeloupe and graduated with honors in 1952. Sister Claire Madeleine was a nurse for 16 years in the general surgery unit at the hospital in Pointe-a-Pitre. Her next post was as head of the group of nuns working at the hospital in Lamentin (Martinique) for the next seven years, and she continued to work as a nurse at the Sainte Hyacinthe Hospital until 1978, when she moved to a hospital in Saint-Martin. After 11 years on an island so close to her native Saint-Barth, her congregation authorized her to move to the Hospital de Bruyn in March 1989. She worked at this hospital in Gustavia until her retirement in July 1993, at which time she joined the two nuns who serve the church in Saint Barth.
Founded in the 16th century by Countess Anne de Tilly, the Order of the Sisters of Saint-Paul de Chartres is dedicated to helping mankind and the poor, as well as educating children. The Order was present in Guyana as early as 1817 to aide convicts, and was then asked by the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of the Navy to bring 12 nuns to Martinique and another dozen in Guadeloupe. Throughout epidemics, hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, the Sisters remained steadfast in their devotion to the inhabitants of the French West Indies, even at the risk of their own lives. Once they were started working at the military hospital in Saint Martin in 1853, the nuns began to make regular visits to Saint Barth. They helped Father Irénée de Bruyn with the work at the hospital de Bruyn, and until civilian nurses started working on the island, the local population benefited from the care of the nuns. At present, the Order of Saint-Paul de Chartres has 300 members throughout the French West Indian islands, where they have various careers. The three nuns serving the church in Saint Barth are head nun Sister Marie Michele, Sister Veronique, originally from Vitet, and Sister Claire Madeleine.
Beyonce and Jay-Z have taken their daughter on her first vacation. The couple, who celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week, have been enjoying the sunshine on the Caribbean island of St. Barts with three-month-old Blue Ivy over the weekend, and took the tot for a day trip on a yacht.
...
Kick-off Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2012 Caribbean regatta in the magical French West Indies sailing paradise!
Today the prestigious and top-class Caribbean sailing regatta Les Voiles de St. Barth 2012 with Gaastra Sportswear as the official partner starts: At the third edition run...
Inside the Bucket.
This video features the 2012 St Barths Bucket Regatta and music by the Evan Goodrow Band. Special thanks to the entire crew of the Rebecca, Baz Bar, St Barths Online and the guys from the Evan Goodrow Band for putting on a fantastic show. The song from the Evan Goodrow Band is c...
On board with Rebecca.
The best event in St Barths took place on March 24 - 27, 2012. This video features the beautiful 141 ft sailing yacht, The Rebecca.
produced by Real Media Travel for St. Barths Online and Baz Bar St Barth.
The age old saying of "I need a holiday to get over my holiday" actually seems applicable if you happen to be Paul McCartney.
The Beatle took wife Nancy Shevell on a romantic break to the Caribbean island of St Barts, just days after the pair visited Paris.
Last week, the lovebirds showed support ...
On the day their pregnancy news was announced, Thor star Chris Hemsworth, 28, and Elsa Pataky, 35, were seen in sunny St. Barts, France on Wednesday (January 18). The Fast Five actress looked lovely in blue, sporting her beautiful baby bump.
Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky
Chris and Elsa - w...
She might be 44, but Tamara Mellon still boasts a figure that women half her age would be proud of.
The Jimmy Choo co-founder showed off her toned figure in a sexy animal-print bikini as she hit the beach with her daughter in St Barts yesterday.
The skimpy string two-piece highlighted Tamara's env...
With almost every other celebrity couple enjoying the New Year in exotic locations, Gary and Danielle Lineker weren't going to be any different.
The married couple were spotted enjoying a romantic walk along a beach in St Barts today - and looked very much in love.
Gary, 51 and his wife, 32, had o...
Which beaches to choose?
The glamorous island of St Barts is one of the Caribbean's top beach destinations. Ringing the island are immaculate strips of sand and ethereal turquoise waters. The shallow reefs that encircle the island help to protect these renowned beaches, and they also provide excell...
St. Barts, Why Not?
Since the wealthy and celebrated frequently visit St. Barts for a tropical vacation, you will find that many plush St. Barts Resorts can be found on this stunning island. For those taking St. Barts holidays, it is simple to find hotels with each luxury available. Frequently thes...
Vacation With the Rich and Famous at St. Barts.
Want to bump into celebrities and be seen hanging out where the rich and famous play? Then the Caribbean island of St. Barts is the place to be.
While warm sand and blue waters do make an ideal vacation location, this destination has that and a whol...
Where to go for one day in Caribbean?
St. Maarten / St. Martin
The half-Dutch, half-French island of St. Maarten/St. Martin, with its many restaurants and hotels, makes a great base for an island-hopping adventure. Graced by the nickname Unspoiled Queen, tiny little Saba is not the kind of Caribbe...
Villa La Plage in St Barts.
The posh French resort isle of St. Barth's was already a prize destination when Roman Abramovich purchased an estate there for $89 million in 2009; since the oligarch arrived it has become even more so.
Now Christie's International Real Estate has listed another impres...
Baywatch in St Barts.
Making it official after five years of engagement, Brooke Burke and beau David Charvet have reportedly tied the knot while yachting in St. Barts.
According to Life & Style, the "Dancing with the Stars" host and the former "Baywatch" hunk, who have been vacationing in the...
St. Barth Summer Sessions Aug. 5-15, 2011
St Barth Summer Sessions 2011 this year will have a focus on artists from Brazil. The festival will take place at a variety of different venues all over the island, and in the end of the festival there will be a big common concert in the Harbor of Gustavia ...
The Eclipse, no ordinary yacht.
It probably hasn't escaped your attention that, with modern methods of transport, measuring and telecommunication, no "terra incognita" is safe from the crazed enthusiasm of certain explorers of scientists. Everything has already been discovered and minutely placed o...
Ashley Rodriguez Trio
Ashley Rodriguez, one of the famous finalist from the American Idol 2010 is back in St Barth between May 5-15. Ashley was participating last summer for the St Barth Summer Session in august 2010 at La Plage and she will now come with her 'All Girls Band', Liz on the guitar ...
The La Plage restaurant introduce :
ST BARTH SUMMER SESSIONS
« 5 to 15 august 2010, 10 days of crazy music ! »
Festival program
La Plage St Jean Tel: 0590 52 81 33 Email: tombeach@wanadoo.fr Site: www.stbarthsummersessions.com
THE GREAT FISH DEBATE There seems to be a bone of contention among a few of my friends. Fine folks who love some of the finer things in life, such as Dover Sole That flat fish floating in butter and capers. Known in French as Sole Meunière, it is made from what is called in European fisherman ver...
