Lay Dominicans at Queens University Belfast receive new members

 

 Left to right: Francis McCaughan (president), Sorcha Nic Bhloscaidh, fr Gerard Dunne OP, Karen Gilloway and Lisa Hanna (secretary).

A newly formed lay Dominican chapter in Belfast received two new members at a special event in the Catholic chaplaincy at Queens University Belfast last night (May 8th, 2013). The chapter which is just eighteen months in existence and under the patronage of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is the youngest chapter of the lay Dominicans in Ireland.

Karen Gilloway and Sorcha Nic Bhloscaidh are both teachers and were received into the chapter during the celebration of the Eucharist at the Catholic chaplaincy in Elmwood Avenue. They have spent the past number of months in preparation and have undergone a formation programme prior to being received. They join the present members Francis McCaughan and Lisa Hanna in the new chapter which has as it's mission the reflection on Dominican and church documents and the regular prayer life of other such lay Dominican chapters around the world. The chapter has already run a number of successful events to mark the Year of Faith.

The Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati chapter is indebted to the Catholic chaplaincy at Queens University Belfast and the chaplain Fr Gary Toman for facilitating their presence and also for his tremendous support. The author of this blog is the spiritual promoter of the chapter.

The vocation of the lay Dominican is an important one in the life of the church and the Order. Lay Dominicans make a significant contribution by the witness of their lives as Dominicans and are a source of support to the local church. For more information on the lay Dominicans in Ireland visit their website: http://new.laydominicans.ie/home and for news of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati chapter in Belfast you can follow them on Facebook under Lay Dominicans QUB chapter