Irish Dominicans announce details of launch of Prayer Initiative for Vocations

The Irish Dominican friars are pleased to announce the launch of a prayer initiative for vocations. As the initiative of prayer is for all Dominican vocations, we are delighted that the formal launch will take place in the monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena, Drogheda, Co Louth on Sunday January 15th during the 9.00 am community Mass for the Dominican nuns.

The prayer initiative will have as a focus an icon of Saint Dominic (pictured) which has been specially commissioned for this time of prayer. It is hoped that the image of the founder of the Dominican Order will draw people to reflect on his life and legacy and in turn, through his intercession, draw more men and women to follow the Lord in the Dominican way.

After the official launch in Siena monastery in Drogheda, the icon will remain with the sisters for two weeks as they take on the responsibility to pray for the success of the initiative. After those two weeks, the icon will be brought to the various Dominican priory churches located throughout Ireland. It is envisaged that the icon will remain in each location for approximately a month at a time to allow those who attend Mass and worship in our churches an opportunity to take time to pray for Dominican vocations.

Siena monastery, Drogheda, Co Louth

The Irish Dominican friars are very fortunate to already have many groups associated with it who pray regularly for vocations. It is our earnest hope that this initiative will broaden that base of people who pray for vocations to the Order but also encourage others to take on this task in collaboration with us.

This initiative begins at a time when there is a renewed interest in the various vocations to the Dominicans in Ireland, but it is also in the context of a culture that is often hostile to vibrant Catholicism and hostile to the notion of commitment to God through a vocation. The Irish Dominican friars hope that this effort will help towards building a culture where we regularly pray for vocations and help foster an environment where vocations are actively encouraged.