Two New Books by Irish Dominican - Fr Paul Murray OP

Two new books by Irish Dominican Fr Paul Murray OP have recently been published. The first, Door Into the Sacred is a meditation on the Hail Mary. The Hail Mary is a prayer that, with great simplicity and ease, brings us at once into the mystery of God incarnate, the mystery of Jesus, son of Mary. And though it is a humble entrance, it has, again and again, and for countless numbers of people over the centuries, proved to be a privileged threshold of grace, a real opening into the mystery and meaning of God’s love, a ‘holy door’.

The Hail Mary also has a radiance and depth of theological truth. Door Into The Sacred leads into a world in which the strenuous task of thinking and the easeful grace of feeling can both be considered sacred, and where wisdom and enchantment, theology and devotion, are found, at core, to be one and the same thing. The book is published by Novalis.

The second book is Praying with Confidence - Aquinas on the Lord's Prayer. Fr Paul combines a stimulating scholarly study and an ideal introduction for the general reader on the Lord's prayer by Saint Thomas Aquinas. The most important reflections on the great prayer are drawn together and considered in a single book. This gem of a book will certainly have a wide appeal in the exposition of Saint Thomas as a theologian and also as master and guide of the spiritual and moral life. It is published by Continuum. Both new titles are widely available internationally and also in Ireland in religious bookshops.

Irish Dominican Vocations congratulates our brother Paul on these two fine new publications to add to his ever-growing output.

Videos of Clothing & Profession

Below are videos of two recent Dominican vocation events. The top one is of the first profession of eleven of our novices on 15th September last. The second and lower video is of the reception of two men into the novitiate in Cork on 14th September. Thanks to Br Luuk Jansen for his video work.

Eleven Dominicans make First Profession - Saint Mary's, Cork September 15th 2010

Back left to right: Brothers Damian Polly OP, Patrick Desmond OP, Ronan Connolly OP, Gary Burns OP, Daragh McNally OP, James Cassidy OP.

Front left to right: Brothers Stephen Hackett OP, Eoin Casey OP, David McGovern OP, Stephen Jones OP, Conor McDonough OP

The Irish Dominicans joyfully celebrated the first profession of eleven brothers of the province who have just completed their novitiate year. The event took place during the celebration of the Eucharist at Saint Mary's priory church at Pope's Quay in Cork. The eleven brothers made profession in the hands of the prior of the novitiate community, Fr Edward Conway OP. A large number of Dominican friars gathered to celebrate the event along with the families and friends of the newly professed brethren. Having completed the novitiate and made profession, these eleven brothers will now move to the student house of the Irish Dominican province at Saint Saviour's, Dublin. Please keep these young Dominican friars in your prayers and those who will accompany them through their formation. Below is a selection of images from the memorable and historic event for the Irish Dominican friars.

Gary Burns OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

David McGovern OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

Damian Polly OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

Ronan Connolly OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

James Cassidy OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

Patrick Desmond OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

Daragh McNally OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

Stephen Hackett OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

Conor McDonough OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

Stephen Jones OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

Eoin Casey OP makes profession in the hands of the prior, fr Edward Conway OP

The brothers seeking the mercy of God and the Order prior to making profession

The traditional blessing of the scapulars after the rite of profession

Reception of Novices at Saint Mary's Priory, Cork.

Brother Conall O Callaghan, Fr Eddie Conway (prior), Fr Philip McShane (novice master) and Brother Paul Hughes after the reception of novices today.

The Irish Dominican friars received two novices into the Order today at a ceremony during the celebration of Mass at Saint Mary's Priory church, Pope's Quay Cork. Brothers Paul Mary Hughes (Westmeath and St. Helen's, Liverpool) and Conall Mary O' Callaghan (Donegal) were clothed in the Dominican habit by the prior of the novitiate house of the Irish province, Fr. Edward Conway OP. Our new novices were joined by many of the Dominican brethren from around the Irish province along with their friends and families in a simple ceremony. Below are some images from the clothing ceremony.

Asking for God's mercy and that of the Order, the two postulants prostrate themselves.

The Gospel is proclaimed by the deacon, David Barrins OP

Brother Paul Hughes is clothed in the habit of theDominican Order by the prior, Fr Edward Conway OP

Brother Conall O Callaghan is clothed in the habit of the Dominican Order by the prior, Fr Eddie Conway OP

The newly clothed novices with their novice master, Fr Philip McShane OP

The Irish Dominican friars have further cause for joy today as Brother Alan Hopkins has rejoined the Order and will live with the novitiate community in Saint Mary's, Cork in the year ahead. He is pictured below with our new novices. Please keep our brothers Alan, Paul and Conall in your prayers as they embark on their journey into the Dominican way of life.

Brother Conall O' Callaghan, Brother Alan Hopkins and Brother Paul Hughes

New Novices and First Professions

Saint Mary's Priory church, Pope's Quay, Cork

The friars of the Irish Dominican province are preparing to accept new novices in a ceremony during Mass at Saint Mary's Priory church in Cork tomorrow September 14th (feast of the Triumph of the Cross and the feast day of the Irish Dominican Province) at 11.00 am. On the following day, September 15th (feast of Our Lady of Sorrows), our current novices will make profession also during Mass at 11.00 am in Saint Mary's, Pope's Quay, Cork. Photographs and a report on these two joyful events will appear in this blog over the next couple of days. Please keep these young Dominican friars in your prayers please.

Prayer for Dominican Vocations:

Lord Jesus, as you once called Saint Dominic to preach the Gospel,

so now send new preachers into your harvest.

Give them courage, wisdom and grace to make them witnesses of your death, resurrection and return in glory.

Through the intercession of Mary, patroness of the Order,

may they bring true faith and light to brighten the darkness.

You who live forever. AMEN

Interview with Master of the Order - fr Bruno CADORE

A chance to see the first 'official' interview with the new Master of the Order, fr Bruno Cadore OP.

Scenes from General Chapter - Election of Master of the Order

The scenes in the video include the announcement of the new Master of the Order, along with fr Bruno prostrating himself before the brethren and making the profession of faith. Keep up to date with the General Chapter of the Dominican Order by visiting their website www.curia.op.org/roma2010/

Profile of fr Bruno Cadore OP - Master General

Elected yesterday, our new Master General, fr Bruno Cadoré was born in 1954 in Le Creusot, a town in the Bourgogne region of France, between Lyon and Dijon. After becoming a medical doctor, he entered the novitiate of the Dominican province of France in 1979 and made profession in September 1980. He was ordained priest in Lille exactly six years later and was immediately made master of students. Fr Bruno held several positions of responsibility in the province of France and he was coming to the conclusion of his second term as prior provincial of the same province when he was elected Master of the Order. His area of academic interest is bioethics and he received his doctorate in moral theology in 1992. He was director of the Medical Ethics Centre of the Catholic Institute of Lille before becoming provincial of the province of France.

New Master General Elected - 86th Successor of Saint Dominic - fr Bruno Cadore OP

The 2010 General Chapter has elected fr Bruno Cadore OP, of the province of France, as Master General of the Dominican Order. He immediately succeeds fr Carlos Aspiroz Costa OP who has held the office for the past nine years. fr Bruno has been the Provincial of France and specilaises in the area of bioethics. More news on the new Master of the Order will follow as the day unfolds.

The brothers of the Province of Ireland wish the new Master every blessing as he takes up the challenge of leading the Order.

Updates from General Chapter of Dominican Order in Rome

The General Chapter of the Order has begun in Rome. The dedicated website of the chapter is full of interesting information, images and video and is well worth visiting http://www.curia.op.org/roma2010/
The following video and pictures give a flavour of the chapter. Please keep the work of the brethren at chapter in your prayers.

fr Carlos - outgoing Master of the Order makes the 'venia' before the brethren

A view of the 'capitulars' - the brethren assembled at the Chapter