Dominican Connect - December 2013 issue published

The latest edition of Dominican Connect (December 2013) has just been published and is available from Dominican churches and centres throughout Ireland from this weekend - the first Sunday of Advent.

Looking forward to Christmas, the main feature is the famous 'Moving Crib' located in Saint Martin Apostolate in Dublin.

Looking back on the Year of Faith which has just concluded, we have some accounts from Belfast based lay Dominican Lisa Hanna and also we feature the president of the Dundalk Friary Youth Club - Niall Cunningham.

Notice of retreats and talks for Advent 2013 are also given.

The featured friar this month is fr Paschal Tiernan OP, who spent much of his life 'on the missions; in the West Indies.

Follow this link to download an electronic copy of the latest edition of Dominican Connnect:

http://dominicanfriars.ie/Dominican_Connect/volume02/Dominican_Connect_v02n04dec2013.pdf

Credo Video Series - nos, 10, 11 and 12

The ongoing series on the Creed - the initiative of the team at Dominicans Interactive, based at our studentate in Saint Saviour's, Dublin continues. In episode ten (above), Bro Luuk Dominiek Jansen OP discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in the words from the Creed : "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets."



Episode eleven in the series on the Nicene Creed focuses on the Church. Here, fr John Harris OP discusses the phrase "The Church is One, Holy and Apostolic".



Episode twelve features Rosemary Swords on the article in the Creed: "I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins". She is speaking with fr Ciaran Dougherty OP at Saint Mary's Priory, Tallaght, Dublin - where the 'Credo' series was recorded.

Vocations prayer initiative moves to Tallaght, Dublin.

The prayer initiative for Dominican vocations using the specially commissioned icon of Saint Dominic has now reached our priory church of Saint Mary, Tallaght, County Dublin (pictured above) since this past weekend. The vocations director preached at all the weekend Masses in the suburban church and introduced the icon and prayer campaign.

The prayer campaign/initiative has now been two years 'on the road' visiting all our Dominican churches and centres throughout Ireland - and will complete the journey by the middle of 2014.

Reaction to this invitation to prayer to those people who attend the Dominican locations throughout Ireland has been very positive and we can happily report that the original objective of broadening the base of the numbers of people praying for vocations to the Dominican Order is being realised beyond our expectations.

The prayer accompanying the icon is below:

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.

Vocations video - Dominican friars in India

The brothers of the Dominican province of India have produced this video about the Dominican vocation. Congratulations to them on a job well done.

The Dominican province of India was established by the friars of the Irish province - and we are justifiably proud of the growth of the Order in that country.

Pro Orantibus Day - the contemplative vocation.

Today's feast of the Presentation of Mary (November 21st) is also a day designated by the church to honour those men and women who live a cloistered and contemplative life and vocation - Pro Orantibus Day. As a church we are asked to offer spiritual and material support to those in religious life who have dedicated their lives to prayer and sacrifice.

In celebrating the feast today, Pope Francis visited cloistered nuns in Rome. In his address, the Holy Father explained that Mary understood that the will of God outlines a higher law and he reflected on Our Lady's unconditional love and trust and described her as a role model for all Christians. In a real sense, those who live the cloistered contemplative life conform their lives in imitation of our Blessed Mother.

The Dominican family in Ireland is blessed to have our own contemplative Dominican nuns at the monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena in Drogheda, County Louth. Today we pray for them in a special way and ask that their dedication to Mary, the Mother of God will give them abundant graces and blessings - and new vocations too. Visit their website www.dominicannuns.ie 

Philippines Relief Appeal

The Catholic church in Ireland is making a special appeal for financial assistance to help with the devastation after the recent typhoon in the Philippines. In the video above, fr John Harris OP (regent of studies) speaks with Spiro Morana, one of our co-workers from the Philippines in our Dublin priory, about the aftermath of typhoon 'Haiyan' and the immediate needs of those affected by it. The Irish Dominicans encourage all who can afford to help in any way that they can this weekend.



The Catholic church throughout the world is also making similar appeals to help our brothers and sisters in the Philippines

The New Evangelisation - Symposium at Dominican House of Studies, Dublin

 

The 'Saint Saviour's Symposium' is a monthly event organised by the Dominican friars at our house of studies in central Dublin. The discussion for the most recent symposium is the topical 'New Evangelisation'. The brief inputs come from fr Terence Crotty OP (above), Ms Rosemary Swords and fr Brian McKevitt OP.