Dominican General Chapter 2013 concludes

The General Chapter of the Dominican friars which took place in Trogir, Croatia has concluded. The video below gives a flavour of some of the outcomes and decisions of the chapter. Some of the contributions are in English and you will note that the chapter dealt with the important themes of formation, vocations, government, economy, constitutions, community and the upcoming 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Order.

New Irish bishop makes vocations a priority

Bishop Denis Nulty - Kildare and Leighlin diocese



The newly ordained bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty  (the home diocese of this blogger) has indicated in his remarks at his address to the congregation on the day of his installation that he will make vocations a priority as he takes up his new role. This is newsworthy and very encouraging for all who are involved in vocations ministry in Ireland. It is a rare event to hear an Irish bishop speak about vocations (other than Vocations Sunday each year) at a public event. Indeed for those who do, generally the tone is one of pessimism or to undermine those who have courageously taken the decision to give themselves to God in pursuing their vocational call. I hope earnestly that Bishop Nulty will give leadership on the issue of vocations in the time ahead. In the meantime, I wish him well in leading my home diocese.

In that opening address, the new bishop stated: "The priesthood is a call, not a career; a way of life, not a job; an identity, not just a role. The word gladness has its roots in gratitude and gratefulness – we serve the Lord because we have so much to be thankful for – we serve the Lord with joy. The best examples of priesthood for me are joyful priests who love their faith and who love the Church. Every priest is a Vocations Director – we priests and people need a renewed vigour about our priesthood and a fresh courage to invite others to respond to that call."

 

Feast of Saint Dominic

Participants at the General Chapter in Trogir, Croatia July/August 2013

 

Irish Dominican Vocations would like to wish all readers of this blog a very happy feast day. Dominicans throughout the world will be celebrating the feast of our founder Saint Dominic. He continues to be our inspiration and our guide and it is heartening and encouraging to see the continuing interest in his legacy to the church - that men and women would be enthusiastic in the preaching mission and by extension bring others closer to God.

For those who contemplate the Dominican vocation, I am reminded today of the words of the former Master of the Order, Timothy Radcliffe OP, who wrote about the desire of the young friars to bring enthusiasm to the Order:

"Just as the birth of a child engages the life of all the family, so each generation of young people coming to us modifies our fraternal community. You come with your questions, for which we do not always have an answer; with your ideals which reveal sometimes our insufficiencies; with your dreams that we do not necessarily share. You arrive with your friends and your families, your culture and your tribe. You come and disturb us, and that is why we need you. You generally come with requirements that are in fact essential to our Dominican life, but we have sometimes forgotten or depreciated: a deeper community prayer life, a more beautiful, more intimate fraternity ion which we care more about one another; courage to leave our old commitments and to set off on new roads. Often, the Order is renewed because young people come and insist on trying to build the Dominican life such as they read it described in the books! Go on insisting!

We pray today through the intercession of Saint Dominic that he will inspire many more men and women to follow in his way.

What makes for good preaching? - Fr Paul Murray OP

"What Makes for Good Preaching?" with Fr. Paul Murray, O.P from Blackfriar Films on Vimeo.

In this brief video extract, Irish Dominican friar fr Paul Murray OP speaks about preaching, and what makes for good preaching. 'All of us need the sustenance of truth' he says reflecting the Dominican desire to live out the primary motto of the Order - Veritas.

The canonical title of "Order of Preachers", given to the work of St. Dominic by the church almost 800 years ago, is in itself significant, but it indicates only the dominant feature. The Constitutions of the Order are more explicit: "Our order was instituted principally for preaching and for the salvation of souls." The end or aim of the order then is the salvation of souls, especially by means of preaching. For the attainment of this purpose, the Order must labour with the utmost zeal — The principal and main efforts should be put forth, earnestly and ardently, in doing good to the souls of our fellow-men."

If your desire is to be a preacher of God's truth and helping others to come closer to God, then the Dominican vocation might be of interest to you!

Vocation of the Dominican brother

American Dominican cooperator brother Joseph Trout OP of the Saint Albert the Great province in the United States is attending the General Chapter of the Order in Trogir, Croatia. In this brief video clip he speaks about his vocation as a brother in the Order.

Over the years, the Irish Dominican province has been blessed with vocations to the cooperator brotherhood. Sadly, there are fewer men offering themselves as brothers in the province now. The witness of our brothers has inspired many men to join our province - and we are more than willing and happy to engage with anyone who feels called to be a cooperator brother in the order in Ireland.

Feel free to get in touch with the vocations director about the life, work and minsistry of the brothers at frgd@eircom.net

Joy as Redemptoristine nun makes solemn profession in Dublin

Sr Monica Boggan OsSR with Fr Gerard Dunne OP after the solemn profession ceremony

The Redemptoristine nuns in Drumcondra in Dublin are going from strength to strength. On Saturday last, the community celebrated the solemn (perpetual) profession of one of their sisters - Sr Monica Boggan OsSR. Originally ftom County Meath, Sr Monica has completed three years of simple profession as a Redemptoristine nun. The nuns are well known for their work of providing altar breads for the churches and parishes of the Dublin region and beyond. While this is a 'work' of the community, the primary purpose of the nuns is to devote themselves to the Lord through prayer and monastic observance.

Readers of this blog will know of the high esteem in which I hold these sisters - and I continue to ask other congregations of religious contemplatives to keep an eye on the vocations strategy emplyed by this vibrant community. It is worth copying.

Sr Monica's solemn profession is the third perpetual profession for the Redemptoristines in the past few years. May Sr Monica and her community continue to flourish.

Blog reader makes first profession with Nashvile Dominican Sisters

Sr Caitriona on the day of her habit reception

An Irish woman from County Wexford has made profession with the Nashville Dominican sisters. Originally known as Clare Kavanagh and now Sr Caitriona (her religious name) she has completed her novitiate with the Tennessee based sisters.

Irish Dominican Vocations wishes to warmly congratulae Sr Caitriona on the occasion of this happy event, and there is a second reason to do so. It was through reading this story http://irishdominicanvocations.blogspot.it/2011/01/nashville-dominican-sisters-and-irish.html on this blog that caused Clare to give consideration to joining the sisters.

That blog entry in 2011 posed the question about the need for a female religious congregation in Ireland that would attract women (and there are many) who do not necessarily wish to live the contemplative life or apostolic religious life as it is lived in Ireland today. That need still remains. Hopefully, a corageous congregation will offer themselves to the Irish church and that the relevant authorities will be open to that possibility.