What is Preaching?

Preaching is declaring God's truth.  It is a means to save souls.

St. Dominic requested that his friars be dedicated specifically for preaching, hence their name, "friars preachers."  They are not monks, who do not preach. They are not diocesan priests, who are pastors.  Friars are centered on proclaiming the Word of God.

Jesus Christ asked His Apostles to spread His Word.  The Apostles passed it on to their successors, the bishops.  Today the bishops entrust the preaching of the Word, not only to priests but also to those trained to preach, and have a solid faith formation dedicated to God's truth.  

This is the vocation of the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic. Today, the laity must share the call to preach.

New Region One Council

The Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic in Saint Joseph's Province elected a new council, in Region One.  Here are the offices, from left to right: Cosette Hyman is Provincial President, Joan Cuomo is Region Secretary, Louise Fahey is Region Vice President, Kathy Kendrick is Region President, Roman Gorski is the outgoing President and Faith Flaherty is the Regional Treasurer and Alternate Delegate.

Why Belong to the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic?

Hope of Bethany Pro-Chapter

Why be a Lay Dominican when I can become a Lay Cistercian, Secular Franciscan, Carmelite, or a Benedictine Oblate?[1]  Even Alcoholics Anonymous offers a Spiritual AA.

The answer is certainly personal, but the definitive response would be because of the spirituality and charism to which each individual has been called in their vocation.  Think of the Lay Dominicans that have been called to martyrdom:

                St. TÔMA Nguyen Van De- one of the Vietnamese martyrs, died in 1839
                St. Marina of Omura-burned alive in 1634 in Nagasaki, Japan
                St. Gaspar Koteda-beheaded in 1601

Think of the many more Lay Dominican catechists, prison volunteers, chaplains and lay ministers of the Eucharist, who proclaim in word and deed the message of the Gospel, with no acknowledgment nor gratitude.

Who would do this thankless work bringing salvation to the masses, especially with no or little success?  Would a member of Alcoholics Anonymous be willing to be martyred?  Maybe the lay members of some of the religious orders would, but their approach would differ from that of the Lay Dominican.

When a man or woman is called to be a member of the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic, they would have been attracted by a community of fraternity.  And this community is extended to a bigger regional area, even to their nation.  It’s even bigger than the national community.  It is international.  It is belonging to a religious order that dates back more than 800 years, founded by Saint Dominic.

This religious order, officially named the Order of Preachers, looks upon all its members as one family.[2] The Dominicans have a long history of accomplishments.  They serve God in many extraordinary ways.  They are constantly learning.  It has been said that Lay Dominicans have a newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other.  They interpret the newspaper with a biblical scholarship lens.  Lay Dominicans are out in the world and are very conscious of what is secular influenced, and are critical in their reading.

It takes at least five years of study before a Lay Dominican can make their final solemn promises.  By that time, they know that they will never know everything.  Hence, Lay Dominicans constantly have “on-going” formation.  Reading is their favorite past time.  They love to learn.

However, before study, Lay Dominicans pray.  Prayer is so important that Saint Dominic established a convent of contemplative nuns before the friars.  The nuns prayed for the success of Saint Dominic’s mission.  Lay Dominicans follow a daily prayer schedule and take time for contemplation.  Contemplation, Saint Thomas Aquinas said, is preparation for sharing our fruits.

Sharing the fruits of contemplation, drive Lay Dominicans towards an apostolate.  All Dominicans are called to spread the Good News.  Jesus Himself commands His disciples to go out and preach the good news.[3] Whatever work each Dominican engages in, whether individually, or as a chapter, is considered an apostolate of preaching.  Due to the Lay Dominican’s prayer and study, they are driven to action.

The Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic have a special vocation.  Their spirituality gives them the ability to reach people and places that priests and other religious cannot reach.  The Lay Dominicans especially are called to go out and preach like Saint Dominic did to the Albigensian innkeeper.

Certainly one can serve God as a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, or a Lay Carmelite, Franciscan, etc., but the Lay Dominican has a specific call to a vocation of love of the Truth.  This love stirs the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic to pray for understanding the Truth.  This Truth drives the Fraternities to preach the Truth in all situations. Serving God as a Lay Dominican is a life centered in saving souls and thereby saving their own.

Thanks for the contributions of Mr. Michael Murphy, O.P., Mrs. Virginia Wacker, O.P., Mrs. Ann Devine, O.P., Mrs. Irene Gifford, O.P.

---

[1] Augustinians—www.augustinian.org
Benedictines—www.osb.org
Carmelites—www.carmelnet.org 
Dominicans—http://www.fraternitiesop.com/        
Franciscans—www.nafra-sfo.org
Marists—www.maristlaity.org
Mercedarians—www.orderofmercy.org
Minims—www.minimi.it
Norbertines—www.premontre.org
Servites—www.servite.org
Trinitarians—www.trinitarianhistory.org
Posted in Lay Witness Archive, November/December 2004 by Michael Wick.

[2] All members of the Order of Preachers, whether a priest, cooperative brother, student brother, apostolic sister, nun, or laity, may add the suffix, O.P., to their name.

[3] Mark 16: 15

A Modest Proposal

A Modest Proposal: Lay Dominican Fraternities

In this newsletter is a wonderful idea. Read down to a "Modest Proposal." Since my world consists mostly of our Lay Dominican "cloistered brothers," and former "cloistered brothers" who are now regular, outside, Lay Dominicans, they encounter problems similar to England's Lay Dominicans.

Let me explain. The usual path to a vocation as a Lay Dominican is one similar to the one I took. I had an average life consisting of spouse, family, work, and my whole life comfortably fit in that arrangement. And when I felt the call to become a Lay Dominican, it was fairly easy to fit another component into that equation. I had reached a time in my life where my spouse and children were settled comfortably into their own worlds. I had been married 30 years or so. My children were adults and had moved out of the nest. Work also was not something I needed to worry about. Everything was so settled that it was quiet--quiet enough to hear God's whisper.

However, our "cloistered brothers" do not fit into that category. They live their "cloistered life." They enter the Order while they're living life in the "cloister." If or when they leave, they, as Lay Dominicans are hit with LIFE! We had a life before we became Lay Dominicans.

First they have to find living quarters. Then they need a job. In order to join a chapter they need a car. What if they meet someone they might want to marry; other demands are placed on them. Imagine adding children to the mix.

IOW, their vocational path is the opposite of the usual one. The average one is life happens and we then are called. It is the opposite for our "cloistered brothers." They are called and then LIFE hits them. It is extremely difficult for them to juggle all the balls.

Our religious assistant suggests phone contact. Face time and Skype are excellent but not all phones have that capability. But the point is to keep regular communication constant because community is important. We try to reach out, not only by phone, but by internet newsletter, and snail mail.

This Modest Proposal is welcome. I for one will promote the idea on this side of the pond.

And that's exactly the point in "A Modest Proposal." Modern methods of communication are needed not only to preach, but for another important pillar--community.

Lenten Conferences

  Here are some Lenten Talks.  If you can attend any of these, you'll be blessed.

Saturday, March 2^nd:

·         Middletown, NY (Archdiocese of NY)

St. Joseph Church  2-5pm

Contact:  treat307@aol.com

Sunday, March 3^rd:

·         Manhattan, NY (Archdiocese of NY)

Church of the Holy Innocents

               Contact:   mirouzem@hotmail.com

·         Casco, ME (Diocese of Portland, ME)

Resurrection Convent

               Contact:  sisterrosalie@fairpoint.net

·         Syracuse, NY (Diocese of Syracuse)

St. Patrick Church  2-3:30pm

Contact:  mseagrif@twcny.rr.com

Tuesday, March 5^th:

·         Christ the Redeemer Church (Diocese of Rochester) 7-9pm

               Contact:  rkilpatrick@stny.rr.com

Lingo

Criteria for advancement in the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic are: completion of the official Ongoing Formation Program, our Chapter's Additional Formation Material,  and a prudent and thorough review by the Chapter Council that the member understands and adheres to the criteria for Lay Dominican life as set forth herein in Section III § 1 (Initial Formation).  § 3, IV, Particular Directory Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic Province of St. Joseph.


OLMC has been conducting interviews for the past couple of weeks.  The Chapter Council has to decide who moves forward.  My "cloistered brothers" make me laugh.  They kept asking each other if they were "upped."  Finally, I asked what "upped" meant.  "Upped" is Mafia speak for being promoted up the ranks.

My "cloistered brothers" also kept referring to us Lay Dominicans as the "brotherhood."  The "brotherhood?'' What about me?

It was explained that we all belong to the Fraternity of Lay Dominicans.

They had me there.  :-/

Dominican Speak

"Dominican Speak" is what my chapter calls "disputatio."  We are a Chapter of the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominican (nothing to do with the Dominican Republic).  When we argue we don't out shout or put down anyone.  We try not to show the error of another's thinking.  We do agree with the truth of what one is saying, even if it is very little truth.  We're very conscious of community spirit, and that entails love.  Very often you'll hear us say, "Perhaps there is some truth in what you say."  This is our tradition.  We feel the times we have
to discuss and debate are valuable and we must express ourselves without fear of the truth.  Disagreement is usual in any group of Dominicans.  But we always assent to Magisterium.

What was on the table?  Such subjects as usury, slavery, altar girls, women priests, Tridentine Mass, Limbo, St. Christopher and Philomena, eating meat of Friday, condoms and B16, solving the problems of world hunger, poverty, war, etc.   I repeat; we may argue, but we always assent to Magisterium.

I'm still all jazzed up.

Call to Prayer

Below is a request for the Lay Dominicans in the Eastern Province to pray the powerful Dominican Litany of Saints, as a novena from Oct. 19-24. The request is a response to the violence that surrounds St. Dominic's in Youngstown, OH.  Last year a couple was shot leaving the church.  Recently, a family was shot, as they exited the church.  The neighborhood surrounding St. Dominic's is crime ridden.  A safety-summit has been called for all concerned to brain storm ideas as how the end the violence.  Please keep the success of the summit meeting in your prayers.  Everyone needs to pray.  If you are a Dominican, then you know the effectiveness of the Dominican Litany of Saints.  Ora pro nobis. 

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

I'd like to thank all of you for your continued prayers for the recent victims of violent crime and the Dominican parish community of St. Dominic's in Youngstown, OH.    I have spoken with Fr. Maturi (Prior Pastor) and he is very grateful for all of your prayers.   Jackie Repchik (the wife/survivor of the most recent ambush) had to have her one leg amputated, had developed an infection, ended up in Intensive Care, but is doing better.  Please remember in your prayers the repose of the soul of Jackie's husband, Thomas Repchik, who was murdered in the ambush. 

Fr. Maturi has been very pro-active in his efforts to stop the crime and violence surrounding the parish and Youngstown, as a whole.  His efforts have been rewarded with government, law-enforcement, and community representatives agreeing to meet for a "SAFETY SUMMIT".  This Summit will occur on Wednesday, October 27th.  Here's what I'd like everyone (especially the Lay members) to do:

Starting TUESDAY, OCT. 19th:  Join in praying a novena of the "Litany of Dominican Saints and Blesseds"  (attached following this letter) for the following intentions:

1.    For the success of the "Safety Summit" that concrete resolutions will be implemented in a timely (prompt) manner

        without impediments of potential political posturing;

2.    For the tearing down of all blighted houses within the community, especially those that lend themselves to criminal    

        activities and havens for the lawless;

3.    For all elected officials, law enforcement officials and officers, the community of Youngstown, those victimized

        by the violence, the parishioners of St. Dominic's, and last, but certainly not least, our friars who serve this special Faith-       community.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation and collaboration in this effort.   I have always been humbled with the efficacy of your prayers.   May God continue to bless and protect you through the intercessions of Our Lady, St. Joseph, and all the Dominican Saints and Blesseds!

Please share this "Call to Prayer" with those who do not receive the e-Lumen.

Marianne

(Ms.) Marianne T. Jablonski, OP
Provincial President
Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic
Province of St. Joseph (Eastern USA)

Blogging Rules

In "A Holy Rule for Internet Communicators," Father Mark Carr reiterates what the USCCB has said about blogging.  IOW, play nice.

Father Carr thinks like a Dominican.  He uses his blog to preach.  More specifically, Father Carr thinks like a Lay Dominican Blogger -- like me!  He not only sees, but recommends that the laity use blogging to preach the gospel.  I call it my cyber-ministry.

But I'm not tooting my own horn.  I can't.  I must not!!  I have always kept in mind that everything I do must be for God.  I have to stay humble or I'm lost.  Father  clearly admonishes:

However, blogging and other forms of media on the internet have a severe spiritual danger to them as well. When one is commenting from his own perspective on everything in light of Catholic values, one can easily become self-focused and develop a higher opinion of him or herself. This is a danger in any form of social ministry.

Interesting, Father continues  by recommending a way of life for bloggers.  This Rule is to focus the blogger on God, not herself,  by following the Rule of Canção Nova [Cahn-Soum Noe-vah] (New Song).

More interesting, is the fact that I follow the Rule of the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic.  The two rules are comparable.  We are called to bring the divine message of salvation to all.  How we do that depends on one's state in life.  My vocation is bringing the Word to the world, especially in dark places.  (That's not you.  Dark places don't have the net.)  

But I do hope that I speak to you.  I hope.  I pray.  And I try to be humble about it.  I make too many mistakes to take pride in what I do.  Besides, my "cloistered brothers" keep me in my place.  Some people give me flak for associating with them.  But their humility humbles me.  They keep me grounded.