Dominican Vocation of Trinbago

Feast of St. Matthew, 2009 As we gather tonight to begin our new academic year on the feast of St.Matthew, during this the year of th priest; while for us in Dublin we are also celebrating the year of Evangelization and finally for us Dominicans during this year when we are celebrating St.Dominic preacher of grace. How can I tie all of these things together? Sts.Matthew and Dominic, Priest and evangeliztion, Dominicans and study! As always it is good to begin with Sacred Scripture. The Gospel of today's feast speaks of the calling of Matthew. Our calling, yours and mine vocation is the very environment in which we have most in common, all of us have been called by Christ, was not given only once, it is the very atmosphere in which we are called to live out our lives. We did not simply receive a vocation, 60,50, 40, 10, or 2 years ago. The very essence of our vocation is that the Lord continues to call us. He is now calling us to listen to his voice, to get up and follow him. To quo...

On the 14th of September, The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, history was created. The location of the this historical event took place in the church of the Dominican Community, St Mary's, Pope's Quay, Cork, Ireland. What was this historical event? This historical event was that after many years of a trick of novices into the Irish Dominican novitiate thirteen men were received. Among these thirteen men was one Trinibagoian Mr. Stephen Jones of St James, Port of Spain. Stephen Jones before receiving the habit Connor and Stephen prostrate Stephen Clothing Clothing Continued 13 Men who received the Habit Irish Trinibago Posy (Bro. Matthew, Maria, Bro. Stephen). Fr. Dwight Black OP, Bro. Stephen Jones and Bro. Matthew Martinez OP Fr. Dwight Black OP, Bro. Stephen, Fr. Thomas Lawson. Footage of this event can be viewed here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI4U78C_rVo

Spirituality of the Preacher Who is a Preacher? A Preacher is an ambassador of Jesus. "So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. (2 Cor. 5:20). What is Preaching? Preaching is an oral proclamation of the word of God made by the Church through her (the Church) ministers to the community of the faithful in such a way as to induce a response to the demands that the word makes. Preaching is not only about salvation; it is itself the mystery (the unraveling) of salvation at work. What does Preaching seek to do? Preaching seek to persuade hearers to embrace the truth to be committed to the Gospel. (the Good News). It brings us to a more fruitful participation in the sacred mysteries that are being celebrated. How is Preaching done? Preaching is done with the authority of the Church, who is the body of Christ. Preaching is not hypocritical. It is real and about reality who is Christ. Preaching must be validated by our life style in order to produce fruits. P...

There are three main groups of people in the Catholic Church. First there is the largest group, the lay faithful. Their role in the Church is to engage in temporal affairs and bring the message of the Gospel into the secular world. They do this in the family, in work, in the political sphere, and so forth. The second group is the ordained priests. They are consecrated by the Sacrament of Holy Orders to carry out apostolic ministry for the salvation of people, mostly in parishes and diocesan organizations. These are the priests that you are accustomed to come in contact with. They live in a diocese with the bishop as their immediate superior. They are known as ‘secular priests’. Ordained priests may also be ‘regular priests’ because they follow a ‘regula’ or rule. They do not belong to a diocese but to the universal Church and are at the disposal of the Pope to go where and when he asks. They belong to the following group. The third group in the Church is consecrated persons, either fem...

A vocation to be a Dominican can begin with this whisper of a persistent voice within. At time most would like this voice to go away. This voice like a favorite tune in the mind stay with us like a leach. Some of us are afraid of the voice and it may take a long time for us to tell this to someone else. The person we would most like hesitate to tell this to is our mother or father. This may be because we may think that telling then may hurt them. So candidate tell their parents when the "coast is clear." They may also wish that it blow away and it never does. A wide spectrum of responses can come from those who tell about this persistent Voice. Many may claim that they had some inclination of this fact. Some on the other hand may be astonished and not supportive. The majority of parents are displeased. This can be the reason for the late information by candidates. In view of these occurrences candidates begin to debate in there their minds and with others about this situation...

By Fr. Michael Kissanne, O.Carm, As Vocation director, I have come to realize that one persistent question that seems to arise in the heart and soul of each candidate I work with is: "Is this for me?" This is a good question for a suggest vocation prospects think and pray about the following questions. It would also be helpful to discuss them with a spiritual director. 1. Have I experienced God's love in my life? 2. Do I feel good about myself? 3. Do I easily adapt to changing situations in my life? 4. Do I actively practice the Catholic faith? 5. Do I participate in my parish? 6. Does the gospel message excite me? 7. Am I looking for a way to share my gifts and talents with others? 8. Do I desire a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ? 9. Am I willing to offer my life for the mission of Jesus Christ and the Church? 10. Do I working with people and do I get along with men and women from all walks of life? 11. Do I want to make a positive difference in the lives of other...

Dominic's whole life was to proclaim the Good News of God The word -that is the faith we proclaim -is very near you. It is on your lips and in your hearts. Romans 10:8 The reminds us that true freedom comes from the word of God. Freedom does not come from doing what we would like to do. Rather true freedom comes from ding what God wants us to do.