Martinique
Population: 400,000
Life expectancy male/female: 73/79 years Infant mortality rate: 9‰
GDP per capita: US$ 9,500 (1995)

Besides parish work which still occupies the majority of the active confreres, the Spiritans are involved in an orphanage connected to Auteuil, several chaplaincies, running a hostel (Foyer de Charite) etc.. A group of laity interested in Spiritan spirituality meet regularly, and are in contact with "Esprit et Mission", France.

There are two Spiritan local communities: the district and retirement house, and François' community. The other confreres live alone or in communities of another type. The regional communities allow the confreres to meet each other regularly, and three times a year a meeting gathers all the confreres during half a day.

 

Also in Martinique the bishop manifested the desire that the Spiritans would participate actively in the development of the missionary spirit ad intra (with the most abandoned people, and in certain sectors of social life still a long way from the evangelical spirit) and ad extra.

The ordination of two young Martinicans and the presence of another one in formation, are signs of this openness to universal mission. Others could follow them.