Dominican Vocation of Trinbago

The Dominican Order launched its youth arm on September 8, “completing the family here in Trinidad and Tobago”, according to Fr Dwight Black OP.  The Dominican Family consists of Friars (Brothers and Priests), Nuns, Sisters, and the Lay-Dominicans (laity), which includes Dominican youth. The Logo of Dominican Youth Arm Internationally, the broad goal of the Dominican youth movement is to inculcate within young people the spirituality and vision of St Dominic, founder of the Order, so that they can share in the Order’s mission of preaching the Truth and promoting justice and peace. The formal launch of the Dominican Youth Movement of Trinidad and Tobago (DYMTT) was the work of a small group of men and women, religious and lay, adult and youth, who share, among other things, the vision of young people passing on God’s Word to other young people. Coordinated by Sr Aluna Abbott, and under the guidance of Fr Dwight and Sr Arlene Greenidge, this team has been meeting ...

Pope Francis: Heartfelt Prayer  When Christianity becomes an ideology rather than a faith based on a relationship with God, its followers become proud and rigid,  Pope Francis said. When Christianity becomes an ideology, “Jesus isn’t there, nor is his tenderness, love and meekness. And ideologies are always rigid, always,” the pope said during an October morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he lives. According to a Vatican Radio report on the homily, Pope Francis said that ideological Christians are “rigid, moralists, ethicists, but without goodness.” “When a Christian becomes a disciple of an ideology, he has lost his faith; he is no longer a disciple of Jesus, but of this way of thinking,” the pope said. Pope Francis was commenting on the day’s Gospel reading from Luke (11:47-54) in which Jesus admonishes the scribes and Pharisees for trying to control the faith rather than live it and share it with others. The Gospel reading included the line: “Woe to...

We continue our series of articles celebrating the anniversaries of the first graduates of the Seminary – Msgr Urban Peschier, Fr Fred Patience and Bishop John Mendes, as well as the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Seminary. The Diocesan Fathers invite readers to journey with parishioners from each of the vicariates as they reflect on the ministry of six parish priests. Borrowing the theme from the celebration –  COME CELEBRATE, JOIN US IN SERVICE , it is hoped that the series will help stimulate volunteers for Vocations Committees in parishes to creatively foster a vocations culture: a culture of “yes” to service in general and priesthood in particular. THE EASTERN VICARIATE The community of Salybia is within the parish of Toco/Matelot and, according to lay minister Sharine Gerald, it comprises 14 people. There is her family of six, a grandmother and granddaughter, a family of three, a mother and daughter, and a single lady. But small as it is, this community is ...

Frs Hugh Joyeau (left) and Wilfred John enjoy a chat at the retreat, while Frs Ken Assing and Ferdinand Warner OP sit in the background looking out to sea. Photo Fr Michael Cockburn. Priests of the archdiocese took some time off from their regular duties and journeyed to Mayaro for a spiritual retreat, between September 30 and October 3. Prayer, sharing the Word and reflecting on the spiritual life were all key features of the exercise – but just spending time with one another was another major element of the retreat. Some 28 priests participated in the retreat which had as its overall theme “Sharing the Spirit”. Reflections by one member each of the Carmelite, Dominican and the Fransalian communities, the diocesan fathers and the Fraternity of Priests (a movement active in the archdiocese since 1987) gave the retreat its basic structure and offered the priests a deeper appreciation of one another's spirituality. It was the first retreat for priests of the archdiocese si...

   With a compromise to end the shutdown on the horizon, Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., Master of Students and professor of theology at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, began the October 15, 2013 session of the 113th Congress with an opening prayer before the U.S. House of Representatives.  All-powerful and merciful God, we ask you to pour forth your Spirit of blessings upon the world, which you have freely made, this nation, which trusts in you, and upon all here on Capitol Hill, who turn to you. We have been wrong, and we have sinned. Give us all a share of your wisdom and your mercy. Enlighten us so that we can turn from our error and live by the power of your truth. Strengthened by you, may we stand united in necessary matters, acknowledge liberty in doubtful matters, and be charitable in all matters. We ask this of you, the source of all unity, liberty, and charity, to whom be glory and honor now and forever. Amen.

Juan Manuel Martinez Corral, Francisco Perez de Pieri, and Salvador Nguema Nguema Nchama made their first profession as Dominicans on 15 September. The first one did for the province of Andalusia, the second to that of Aragon, and the third to that of Spain. The celebration was presided by Miguel de Burgos, prior provincial of Andalusia, and was held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Convent of Seville. It is in this community where the three brothers have made their novitiate and now have made his simple profession for a period of one year. Nixon Diaz, the other novice the period 2012/2013 made his profession in the Dominican Republic, his country of origin. In this celebration, De Burgos useful to remember the importance of mercy to those who were about to profess. The whole family tucked dominica Juan Manuel, Francisco and Savior in this important step of their religious life. Were present who has been his novice master, Carmelo Preciado, and along with it th...

"Dominican Connect" for October 2013 has been published October's "Dominican Connect" , the monthly newsletter from the Irish Dominican friars' vocations office, focuses on the vocations good news at the beginning of the academic year. Featuring photos from the vestitions and professions in September, the principal message is on the front page, also in the form of a picture, showing the large group of men in formation with the Irish Dominicans - 19 to be exact.  There is also news of a Franciscan profession (twin brother of one of our Dominican brothers), advance notice of the St Martin de Porres novenas in our churches and the 770th anniversary of the arrival of the Dominicans in Tralee.  The featured friar is Fr Tom Lawson OP, a native of Dundalk and at present living in our mission in Trinidad. Follow this link to download a copy of October 2013's Dominican Connect: http://dominicanfriars.ie/Dominican_Connect/volume02/D...

The Master of the Order, fr Bruno Cadoré has appointed fr Francesco La Vecchia as the Prior Provincial of the Province of St Thomas Aquinas in Italy. Fr Francesco has accepted the election according to the regular norms. Fr Francesco was born at Messina (south of Italy) in 1972. He entered the Order at Firenze in 1991 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1997. He studied Philosophy at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Choral Direction and Composition of Sacred Music at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, Oriental Ecclesiastical Sciences at the Pontifical Institute of Oriental Studies, all in Rome. He has taught at the Pontifical Seminary of Pius XI in Reggio Calabria and at the Interprovincial Faculty of Philosophy at Napoli. He established a School of Theology for the Laity at the mandate of the Diocese of Mileto-Nicotera-Troppa in 2001. In the province, he has served as; Promoter of Preaching, Superior of the community and Rector of the Shrine ...

" When the Holy Spirit finds Mary in a soul, He flies to it. He enters therein and communicates Himself to that soul in abundance ." ~St. Louis Grignion de Montfort

The Language of Vocation In the world of vocation many words are used with unfamiliar means leaving one at times to guess the meaning of these words. This article aims to demystify the language of Vocation Promotion. Enjoy! Vocation : Vocation means a call. It is God’s invitation, His call to each person to love and serve Him and His Church in a particular state or way of life. Each person's vocation flows from the grace of Baptism. Discernment : When talking about discovering your vocation, discernment means the process of that discovery through prayer , reflection and discussion as to how God calls each person to love Him, whether as a priest, a consecrated religious man or woman, a married person or a consecrated single person. Brother : Brothers live in religious communities. They take vows and promise to use their talents to serve God wherever the community decides they are needed. Brothers are not ordained . Charism : Each religious com...

We continue today the series of articles celebrating the anniversaries of the first graduates of the Seminary – Msgr Urban Peschier, Fr Fred Patience and Bishop John Mendes, as well as the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Seminary. The Diocesan Fathers invite readers to journey with parishioners from each of the vicariates as they reflect on the ministry of six parish priests. Borrowing the theme from the celebration – COME CELEBRATE, JOIN US IN SERVICE, it is hoped that the series will help stimulate volunteers for Vocations Committees in parishes to creatively foster a vocations culture: a culture of “yes” to service in general and priesthood in particular. FLASHBACK: Fr Steve Duncan waves to parishioners at the recent Tobago Vicariate Family Day. THE TOBAGO VICARIATE “In Tobago, we’ve always waited for a priest to come from somewhere – from Ireland, from England, even from Trinidad – but this time our priest is one of our very own! We thank God for that. We need...

Spending some Days in this Dominican Community. St Catherine’s Priory, Newry

Praying for the Repose of the Soul of my former parish priest Fr Knolly Knox CSSp who passed away last night Sep 29th 2013 “A most humble human being, Fr Knolly Knox’s life has been founded on strong moral principles and has been devoted to the service of others and the service of G od. He is one of three children of his parents, the late Hector and Juliana Knox – the others being his late brother Anselm Knox who served in World War II and his sister Electra Harris. Fr Knolly received his early education at Rosary Boys’ and Nelson Street Boys’ RC before going on to St Mary’s College, following his successful completion of the School Exhibition. Fr Knox was ordained at the Holy Ghost Fathers’ Missionary College in Ireland on July 15, 1951…after ordination Fr Knolly returned to Trinidad to assume a teaching position at St Mary’s College. Like other great teachers, Fr Knolly led his students to the discovery of their own wisdom by his example. His own life is directed by strong...