On June 27 – 30, the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic of Madagascar hosted a Conference of the Dominican Laity in the capital city of Antananarivo. Participants included organizers and representatives of Madagascar’s lay fraternities, including Mrs. Linà Radert, OP, Mr. Fabrice Radert, OP and Mr. Jean Nantenaina, OP; fr. Chrystophe Randriambololona, OP; Sr. Marie Louisette Ravoahanginirina, OP; and the General Promoter for the Laity, fr. Cristóbal Torres Iglesias, OP, who served as keynote speaker.
Fr. Cristóbal delivered a presentation on Dominican preaching through art, as well as an additional presentation on Dominican spirituality and Christian hope. In addition to beautiful liturgies in Malagasy and in French, highlights of the conference included visits to the national shrines of two Malagassy blesseds: Bl. Victoire Rasoamanarivo and Bl. Raphael Louis Rafiringa; Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral; and a meeting with Msgr. Mamiharisoa Modeste Randrianifahanana, the recently appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Antananarivo.
The gathering culminated in a closing Mass at the Poor Clares Monastery in Soavimbahoaka, which was presided by the General Promoter for the Laity and concelebrated by fr. Chrystophe Randriambololona, where 3 Lay Dominicans made simple profession, 3 made perpetual promises, and one new member was formally admitted. A total of 39 members of Malagasy lay fraternities traveled from all over Madagascar for the gathering, which ended the following day with a brief visit to the famous Akamasoa Village.
