Dominican Family Vocations Day - April 5th - register now!

The 6th annual Dominican family vocations day takes place on Saturday, April 5th in Saint Saviour's Dominican Priory, Dorset Street, Dublin 1. It is important to register by March 28th if you wish to attend. To do so, please contact Sr Niamh OP (Dominican nuns, Drogheda) on (041)9838524 or by sending her an email with your details to opfamily.vocationsday@gmail.com

As advertised, this day is a great opportunity to find out more about the vocation of the lay Dominicans, the apostolic Dominican sisters (Cabra congregation), the Dominican contemplative nuns at Siena monastery in Drogheda and the Dominican friars. You will get the chance to meet with the various members of the Dominican family and to ask them those burning questions about their Dominican vocation - and yours!

This year, we are delighted to welcome back Dr Andrew O' Connell (communications officer for the Presentation Brothers, journalist and commentator) as our keynote speaker for what will be a lively and informative presentation. A member of each branch of the Dominican family will give reflections and input on their own vocation. Participants will also be afforded the opportunity to pray with us, enjoy the hospitality of the friars at Saint Saviour's and to conclude the day with the celebration of the Eucharist.

So, book now to avoid disappointment!!

6th Annual Dominican Family Vocations Day

The sixth annual Dominican Family Vocations Day takes place in Saint Saviour's priory in Dominick Street, Dublin 1on April 5th next - beginning at 9.30 am and concluding at 5.00 pm.

The first vocations day event in 2009 coincided with the Year of Vocation organised by the Irish church and was a collaborative effort between the four branches of the Dominican family in Ireland - the contemplative nuns, the lay Dominicans, the friars and the apostolic sisters. The original event was an attempt to showcase the Dominican vocation in all its facets to women and men who were interested.

The event has grown year on year and is now in its sixth year. This year's vocation day will once again highlight the particular vocation of all the branches of the Dominican family and will include input on discerning a vocation in today's culture. Testimonies and vocation stories from a sister, nun, friar and lay Dominican will be given in order to give an understanding of each vocation.

As always, the day will be based around prayer, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the celebration of the Eucharist - the pillars on which Dominican life stand.

Bookings should be made as soon as possible in order to secure a place and the person to contact is Sr Niamh OP (Dominican nuns, Drogheda) on opfamily.vocationsday@gmail.com or by contacting 041-9838524 with your details before March 28th, 2014

The event is open to women and men who have a genuine desire to know more about the Dominican life, charism and sprituality. You would be most welcome to join us.

Eight student brothers renew profession

Front row (left to right): Fr Terence Crotty (student master), Br Conor McDonough, Br Eoin Casey, Fr Gregory Carroll (provincial) Br Daragh McNally, Br David McGovern.

Back row (left to right): Br Patrick Desmond, Br Damian Polly, Br Ronan Connolly, Br Kevin O' Reilly

 

Eight of our student brothers renewed simple profession today (September 13th, 2013) in Saint Saviour's Dominican priory in Dublin. The rite of renewal of profession took place during the Office of Readings and Midday prayer. All eight brothers renewed profession in the hands of the prior provincial Fr Gregory Carroll OP. Please continue to pray for all our student brothers who continue on the path of initial formation and for vocations to the friars of the Irish Dominican province.

Upcoming Diaconate Ordinations

The friars of the Irish Dominican province will celebrate the ordination to the diaconate of three of our brothers on Saturday next, February 16th in Saint Saviour's Dominican church, Dominick Street, Dublin.

The archbishop of Dublin, Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin DD, will ordain the brothers during the celebration of the Eucharist at 11.30 a.m.

You are welcome to join the liturgical celebrations. Please also keep our brothers who will be ordained in your prayers as they continue on their journey towards priesthood.

Dominican Family Vocations Day - March 2nd 2013

The fifth annual Dominican family vocations day takes place on Saturday, March 2nd in Saint Saviour's Dominican priory, Dublin 1 from 9.30am to 5.30pm

Now in its fifth year, this 'vocations' day is designed to help men and women who have a serious interest in the four branches of the Dominican family in Ireland - the friars, apostolic sisters, the contemplative nuns and the lay Dominicans - and to learn more about our way of life.

Participants in the day will have an opportunity to hear about the vocation of each branch of the Dominican family, to talk and converse about our vocation and ask all the questions that you might have. Central to the day is prayer and celebration of the Eucharist.

The vocations day has grown from strength to strength over the years and participants have found it invaluable in helping in their discernment process.

This year, we are delighted to welcome back Dr Andrew O' Connell, the communications director for the Presentation Brothers in Ireland as our guest speaker.

Since places are limited we encouarge anyone who would like to secure a place to contact us as soon as possible (as per the poster above) or to me, the vocations director for the friars at frgd@eircom.net

We look forward to welcoming you - and remember the event is free!

Nashville Dominicans visit Saint Saviour's, Dublin.

A large number of people gathered in Saint Saviour's Dominican priory in Dublin this evening to meet with some members of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia (better known as the Nashville Dominican sisters). In an uplifting and joyful presentation, the sisters talked about their congregation (which is over 150 years old), their life and ministry. They also talked about the New Evangelisation and their understanding of their role in the promotion of this as a congregation.

One of the sisters who was at the meeting is a postulant in the congregation and hails from Wexford. Clare Kavanagh (on the left in the photo above) joined the sisters last year having studied pharmacy in Dublin. For this blogger, it gave great satisfaction to hear Clare's vocation story. It was a brief entry on the Nashville Dominican sisters on this blog that prompted Clare to contact the sisters in the first instance. Later in the summer, she hopes to become a novice in the Order.

There was a lively question and answer session with the sisters followed by informal chat over tea and refreshments to conclude.

I have met a number of Nashville Dominicans over the past number of years. The one thing that always strikes me about them is their joy. It is clear that that joy which they radiate is deeply rooted in a love for Christ. It is quite infectious and it is easy to see why they attract so many vocations. May God continue to bless them and their powerful witness to Dominican life.

For more on the Dominican sisters of Saint Cecilia, please visit: www.nashvilledominican.org

Eight Dominican student brothers instituted as acolytes

Eight of our student brothers were instituted as acolytes during the conventual Mass at Saint Saviour's Dominican church today, May 12th, 2012. The provincial of the Irish Dominican friars, fr Patrick Lucey OP presided.

The eight brothers (Daragh McNally, Ronan Connolly, Damian Polly, David McGovern, James Cassidy, Patrick Desmond, Conor McDonough and Eoin Casey) will now assist the major ministers in the sacred liturgy.

Traditionally, becoming an acolyte is one of the stages on the path to both diaconal and priestly ordination.
Acolytes assist particularly at the altar and are the first group of extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion which the Church has.

As the prior provincial instituted the brothers as acolytes he placed either the chalice or paten in their hands with these words:

Take this vessel of bread (or wine)

for the celebration of the Eucharist.

Make your life worthy of your service

at the table of the Lord and of His Church.

Amen.

Please pray for our brothers in formation and for an increase in vocations to the Dominican friars in Ireland.

Two New Priests

The Dominicans in Ireland celebrated in Dublin today, Sunday 18th September, with the ordination of two of our brothers as priests.

The archbishop of Dublin, Most Revd Diarmuid Martin, ordained the two Dominican friars in the celebration which was attended by many Dominican friars, family and friends of the two brothers and parishioners of Dominick Street parish.

This solemn celebration brought the number of priestly ordinations for the Irish Dominicans this month to three, following that of Brian Doyle, o.p., in Murrintown, County Wexford on 3rd September by the bishop of Ferns, Most Rev Denis Brennan.

Fr Denis Murphy is originally from Graine, near Urlingford, County Kilkenny and is a graduate of Carlow College.

Fr Maurice Colgan is from Edenmore parish, north Dublin, and worked for many years in social services before joining the Order.

Below are some images of the ordination ceremony.

Brothers Denis and Maurice lying prostrate before the altar as the Litany of the Saints is chanted.

 The archbishop lays hands on Brother Denis.

The archbishop lays hands on Brother Maurice.

 

The prayer of consecration: the brothers kneel before the archbishop while all the priests stretch out their hands towards those being ordained.

 Father Denis' hands are anointed with the oil of chrism.

 Father Maurice is presented with the bread and wine for the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

Fathers Denis and Maurice concelebrate Mass with the archbishop - their first time celebrating Mass. 

To read the archbishop's homily, see the Dublin Diocesan website: http://dublindiocese.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2575&Itemid=1261

Media are welcome to use these images once they are credited to Irish Dominican Vocations blog. 

Solemn Profession of Colm Mannion OP and Luuk Jansen OP

Our newly solemnly professed brothers for 2011 (left to right) Bro Matthew Martinez OP, Bro Luuk Jansen OP and Bro Colm Mannion OP

The Irish Dominican friars celebrated the solemn (or final) profession of two of its brothers today in Dublin. Brothers Colm Mannion OP and Luuk Jansen OP made profession during the celebration of the conventual eucharist in Saint Saviour's Dominican church in Dominick Street, Dublin. Both of our brothers making profession were joined by their families, friends and members of the Dominican family at the celebration. Brothers Colm and Luuk join Bro Matthew Martinez (also of the Irish Domincan province) who also made solemn profession two weeks ago. Irish Dominican Vocations wishes our newly solemnly professed brothers every blessing as they continue on their path in the Dominican way of life. Please pray for our brothers and for vocations to the Irish Dominican friars.

Below is a sample of some images from the profession ceremony today. Bloggers and other media are welcome to use these images, but please credit the Irish Dominican vocations blog: www.irishdominicanvocations.blogspot.com 

Please see also an account of the professions on our vocations website. 

 

Bro Luuk Jansen OP

Bro Colm Mannion OP



The gospel is proclaimed by the deacon Bro Maurice Colgan OP

Brothers Luuk and Colm prostrate themselves prior to making profession

Bro Colm Mannion makes profession '......until death.'

Bro Luuk Jansen makes solemn profession in the hands of the prior provincial



Brothers Luuk and Colm kneel before the provincial for the prayer after profession

A view from the sanctuary in Saint Saviour's Dominican church during the profession ceremony

Please click on the images to view larger versions





Master of the Order visits student house at Saint Saviour's, Dublin

 Our student brothers with the Master of the Order (click on photo to enlarge)

Front row left to right: Darragh McNally OP, Brian Doyle OP, Ronan Connolly OP, Bruno Cadore OP, Denis Murphy OP, Stephen Jones OP, David McGovern OP

Middle row left to right: James Cassidy OP, Eoin Casey OP, Maurice Colgan OP, Colm Mannion OP, Matthew Martinez OP, Conor McDonough OP

Back row left to right: Patrick Desmond OP, Damian Polly OP, Luuk Jansen OP

 The Master of the Order, fr Bruno Cadore OP, is making an informal visit to some of the communities in the Irish Dominican province. His brief itinerary sees him visiting both formation communities of the province in Dublin and Cork, as well as a short visit to the Dominican contemplative nuns in Drogheda. Today, he had an opportunity to meet with the student brothers of the province and the community as well. The picture shows our student brothers pose for a photograph with the fr Bruno today.

Dominicans and Study - the Saint Saviour's Symposium

The community at our student formation house at Saint Saviour's, Dublin, are hosting a monthly symposium on a diverse range of topics. Recently, Dr Angelo Bottone, of University College Dublin, gave a talk on the recently beatified Cardinal John Henry Newman and the idea of the university. Cardinal Newman had strong links with Dublin. For more on the monthly symposium, please visit http://www.dominicansinteractive.com/

Dominican Study: On the 'Dictatorship of Relativism'

As part of the ongoing study of the friars, the community of the house of formation of our student brothers at Saint Saviour's, Dublin, occassionally invite guest speakers to give input on important topics facing both church and society. Recently, Mr David Quinn, director of the Iona Institute, and highly regarded and well known journalist and social and religious commentator in Ireland, recently gave a talk on the 'Dictatorship of Relativism' - a term used by Pope Benedict with greater frequency. This is an excellent presentation which raises many questions.

Feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas

I would like to wish all readers of this blog a very happy feastday as we celebrate Saint Thomas Aquinas, doctor of the church, eminent philosopher and theologian and Dominican friar. As study is such an integral part of the Dominican vocation, and we Dominicans draw so heavily on the thought of Saint Thomas for preaching and teaching, today is the most appropriate day to reflect on the life of the Angelic Doctor. There are some events that the Irish Dominicans have organised to celebrate the feast this year. Yesterday and today, the assistant to the Master of the Order for Northwest Europe and Canada, fr Allan White OP, spent time with the formation community at Saint Saviour's, Dublin. Yesterday evening he gave a presentation to the community of Saint Saviour's on the role of study in the Dominican Order and spoke on the topic "The Humble Intelligence of the Heart". Today, he presided and preached at the special solemn eucharist in honour of Saint Thomas. We are very grateful for his presence. Below is the video of his talk mentioned above.



Also to mark the feast of Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Dominican archbishop, Augustine diNoia OP, who is the secretary for the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments preached a homily during Mass at the crypt church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on Saint Thomas. It is very well worth viewing. Thanks to the friars of the Saint Joseph Province, USA, for providing the link to the homily below.


CUA DiNoia aquinas from Province of Saint Joseph on Vimeo.

Dominicans go Snow-Mad!

Unseasonably early snow in Dublin is having a strange effect on the Dominican friars at our student house, Saint Saviour's in Dublin as you will see in this video. Thankfully, none of the friars were injured in the making of this production!! It brought to mind though, that joy and frivolity really have to be part of the spiritual life - and if you don't believe me, here's what Saint Thomas Aquinas had to say to those who lacked a bit of joy: 'Those who are lacking in fun, and who never say anything funny or humorous, but instead give grief to those who make jokes, not accepting even the modest fun of others, are morally unsound, and in view of the philisopher (Aristotle), are rough and boorish. Enjoy!!

Dominican students on Pope Benedict's address to young people in London

Some of our student brothers, based at our house of studies at Saint Saviour's, Dublin, reflect on Pope Benedict's address to those gathered (predominantly young people) recently in Hyde Park in London for a vigil in preparation for the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman. The video is in two parts - and to see more of the video work and reflections of our students, please visit www.dominicansiteractive.com

Institution to Ministry of Acolyte

Three of our student brothers, Colm Mannion OP, Luuk Jansen OP and Matthew Martinez OP today received the ministry of acolyte at the conventual Mass at Saint Saviour's, Dublin. The principal celebrant was Fr Pat Lucey OP, Prior Provincial of the Irish Dominican friars.The ministry of acolyte is a preparatory step for the reception of Holy Orders and is concerned mainly with the assisting at the celebration of the eucharist and other related tasks related to the Blessed Eucharist. Below are images of the three brothers receiving the paten and chalice in preparation for today's Sunday conventual Mass. More information and images are available at www.dominicansinteractive.com

Bro Colm Mannion OP

Bro Luuk Jansen OP

Bro Matthew Martinez OP

 

Dominican student brothers discuss Pope Benedict's letter to seminarians

Some of the student brothers of the Irish Dominican province based at Saint Saviour's, Dublin discuss the recent letter of Pope Benedict to seminarians with the Regent of Studies fr John Harris OP. To follow this discussion and some upcoming events log on to http://www.dominicansinteractive.com/

Diaconate Ordination of David Barrins OP

Brother David Barrins OP was ordained deacon in Saint Saviour's Dominican church (Dublin)yesterday (Sunday 11th April 2010) during the 11.30 am conventual Mass by the archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin. The images below show Bro David prostrate during the Litany of the Saints and the moment of ordiantion as Archbishop Martin lays his hands on the ordinand. Thanks to Luuk D Jansen OP for supplying these images - more can be found on his blog http://www.witnesschrist.com/

Preaching Saint Martin de Porres

There is great devotion to Saint Martin de Porres in Ireland and many of our communities hold novenas and other days of prayer in honour of the Peruvian Dominican brother around this time of the year (his feastday is November 3rd). His life is an inspiration to many and part of the reason for the devotion to Saint Martin is because of the many human qualities that he used for the benefit of others and in the service of God. He is no ordinary saint and his life story challenges many to think about their attitude to violence, racism, justice, care of the sick and obedience - among other things.

On a personal note, I have great devotion to Martin de Porres. One of the reasons I came in contact with the Dominican Order was through the Saint Martin Magazine which is a monthly publication promoting devotion to the great saint. Twenty two years ago I replied to a vocations advertisement in that magazine - not knowing then that I would be a Dominican friar following in the footsteps of Saint Martin.

I have been priveliged to ask to preach the Saint Martin novena in our church at Saint Saviour's, Dominick Street, Dublin this year and also to preach at the triduum to Saint Martin in our priory church of Saint Eustace, Newbridge College in Co Kildare (November 2nd to 4th).

To see the list of devotional novenas and days of prayer in honour of Saint Martin in our Dominican churches throughout Ireland this year, please visit the Saint Martin Apostolate website here.

Vocations Weekend 22-24 May 2009

Apologies to the regular readers of this blog. I realise that it has been quite some time since the last entry. It has been exceptionally busy of late.

Vocations weekends are an invaluable part of the process of discernment for many of our enquirers and to that end we try to organise many such weekends over the course of the year. The next scheduled weekend takes place in our formation community at Saint Saviour's Priory, Dominick Street, Dublin 1. It begins on Friday evening 22 May and concludes on Sunday 24 May in the afternoon.

The weekend is fully subscribed. If you wish to be considered for such a weekend in the coming weeks and months, please email me at frgd@eircom.net