We are Jerry and Caroline (Zoobi) Jones.
Jerry has recently retired from 40 years of full time ministry, in Oxford, UK, and Southern California. Zoobi has also retired from 19 years as a high school teacher of French.
Jerry is from Southern California, and Zoobi from Liverpool, England.
We have three adult children: 2 boys and a girl.
When we were ministering in Oxford, England, in the 80’s, we longed for a small cottage in France. One day, when we were least expecting it, we decided to look for one. We found our farmhouse 31 years ago. It was a decision of faith, and one of the best decisions ever. That house brought so much pleasure to us and to so many others over the years.
When we moved to LA, Zoobi started teaching French, and she began taking her students to stay in our village in France. Over the years she has taken over 270 students on 28 twelve day visits, and 5 three week programs.
We outgrew the farmhouse, so decided to look for somewhere bigger. We fell in love with La Maison de Perrine. We have several different offerings, including a high school summer school, and a college-age summer session, and now, the Christian Study Center at La Maison de Perrine offering teaching weeks/retreats.
History of La Maison de Perrine
Perrine Thulard (née Brunnet) was born in 1654 just outside of the village of La Chapelle au Riboul, Mayenne, France. She was a young woman of prayer and faith. At around the age of 18 her parents insisted that she marry René Thulard. She obeyed, as one did in the 17th century, even though she really wanted to lead a life of celibacy as a nun. However, René Thulard died, leaving the young widow with financial means. Perrine’s desire to live a life of faith helping the sick, and teaching the village girls, came to fruition. In 1682 the first convent school was built on the site of the present day school. After a serious fire in the early 1700s, the school was rebuilt and completed in 1731, four years before Perrine died.
Perrine founded a Roman Catholic order: the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Evron (Les Soeurs de Charité de Notre-Dame d’Évron). Perrine’s spiritual testament was “to preserve charity, simplicity, unity and humility”.
