O.P. News

ARCHBISHOP KELLY, O.P., RESIGNS

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Thomas Cajetan Kelly on having reached the age limit of seventy-five years. A member of the Eastern Province, St. Joseph’s, in the USA, fr. Cajetan was ordained a priest in 1958 and some years later became Secretary-General of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops before being appointed Auxiliary in 1977 and Archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky in 1981. He was the only Dominican Bishop in the United States in recent years.

With his resignation there is no Dominican Bishop heading a United States diocese.

CURRENT STATISTICS

There are 6,044 members in the Order, of whom 4,434 are priests, 397 are cooperator brothers, 949 are students, 206 are novices, 35 are bishops and 23 are permanent deacons.

WELCOME TO THE FASCINATING WORLD OF CATHERINE OF SIENA

This new website (April 2007) is an introduction to the mystical thought of Catherine of Siena (c. 1347–1380), Dominican saint, mystic, Doctor of the Church, and one of the most remarkable women of the 14th century. The address is www.drawnbylove.com. The site is managed by Fr. Thomas McDermott, OP, who teaches spiritual theology at Kenrick–Glennon Seminary, 5200 Glennon Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63119, U.S.A.

Although much has been written about her life, relatively little attention has been given to her spiritual teaching found in the compendium of her mystical thought known as the Dialogue, her 381 letters, and 26 prayers. In this website we have brought together some of the very best, but often hard–to–find, information on Catherine's thought in the hope of filling this lacuna in spirituality. Every effort has been made to post materials on this website in such a way that citations for academic papers can be made without having to find the originals in a library. We hope to add new materials to this site from time–to–time––so please come back often.

Catherine's thought has long been regarded as somewhat difficult and impenetrable owing to the lack of English translations of her works (a problem which, for the most part, no longer exists) and the fact that many of her teachings were dictated to others over a period of time while she was in a mystical state and contain interruptions, repetitions, and overlapping arguments. However, we feel certain that with the help of the resources on this website you will be able to "unlock the door" of her mysticism and so begin to experience its tremendous richness––– and perhaps even be helped along on your own spiritual journey.

If you know little or nothing about Catherine of Siena, then we suggest that you begin by reading Arrigo Levasti’s excellent biography entitled My Servant, Catherine which is posted on this website. Regarding Catherine’s writings, we suggest that you begin with an edition of her letters–––perhaps Mary O’Driscoll’s collection entitled Catherine of Siena: Passion for the truth, compassion for humanity or Vida Scudder’s Saint Catherine of Siena as Seen in Her Letters which, although available on this website, is a dated translation. The Dialogue, since it requires a bit more effort, should perhaps not be read first. Before reading it for the first time be sure to read Benedict Ashley’s article “Guide to Saint Catherine’s Dialogue” on this website. To further understand Catherine’s mystical thought, read the superb articles by Kenelm Foster and others also posted on this website. When you’ve been “hooked” on Catherine, then you’re probably ready to read Raymond of Capua’s medieval biography The Life of Catherine of Siena. In 2008, Paulist Press will publish Thomas McDermott’s work on spiritual development in the life and teaching of Catherine of Siena, a helpful guide through her rich but somewhat tangled teachings.

The Holy Father has authorised the promulgation of decrees concerning the following cause:

Servant of God Jean–Joseph Alcide Lataste, French priest of the Order of Friars Preachers and founder of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic of Betania (1832–1869).This paves the ay to proceed with the cause of beatification of this French Dominican. There is a branch of the Congregation founded by him in Curaçao.

What is unique about this Congregation is that reformed prostitutes may join and become members. The Catharist heresy, more frequently referred to as the Albigensians, did not believe in marriage. St. Dominic founded the Nuns in Prouille to allow those who gave up Catharism to join and from among these were several who had lived in a type of prostitution or concubinage.

MASTER OF THE ORDER IMPLORES PONTIFF TO SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF IRAQI CHRISTIANS

In a letter prepared May 24th, fr. Carlos expressed his "grave concern" for the "security, and the future, of our Dominican Family members and the entire Christian community in Iraq." He asked the pope to intercede directly with President Bush on behalf of those threatened with violence and who are being killed, kidnapped and terrorized.

He said in the letter "I am writing to ask for your personal intervention and that of the Holy See on the Government of Iraq, the United Nations, the coalition armies and militant factions there to assure the protection of Iraq’s ancient Christian community. This community is under daily threat and have neither the protection of the government nor of the coalition forces."

Recent reports demonstrate a dramatic increase in the persecution of the Christian minority in Iraq including Dominican communities of sisters, friars and laity.

The gravity of the situation prompted Shi'ite Grand Ayatollah Ali al–Sistani last week to ask Vice President Adil Abd al–Mahdi to take steps to protect the Christian community. Sunni imams in Baghdad have made similar statements to their congregations in Friday Prayer sermons. But there is little the government of Iraq can do to protect them.

In other cases, families have been given 72 hours to pack their belongings and leave. Some have fled to Kurdistan, but the majority have left for Syria and Jordan, Christian leaders say.

15th May 07. Members of the Order of Preachers have been among the Christian minority in Iraq for more than 250 years. Currently, there are Iraqi Dominican Friars, Sisters, and Laity struggling to survive conditions in their homeland. As the International Dominican Co–Promoters for Justice and Peace at the Curia (headquarters) of the Order in Rome, Italy, we endorse the plea for protection of the Christian minority voiced recently by church leaders in Iraq.

Patriarch Mar Dinka IV of the Catholic Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel Delly of Babylon called on Iraq's beleaguered government to protect their community from attacks by Al Qaeda–inspired Muslim extremists.

In a joint statement, the patriarchs said that Baghdad's remaining Christians were facing persecution. In addition to calling on Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki's government to protect them, the patriarchs also urged the United Nations to intervene.

Before the US invasion in March 2003 there were estimated to be around 800,000 Christians in Iraq, around 3 percent of the otherwise largely Muslim population, living mainly in urban centers such as Baghdad. Although there were some attacks on churches in the immediate aftermath of the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq's Christians were not especially targeted while rival Sunni and Shiite Muslim factions went to war.

As a relatively wealthy community, however, many Christians fell prey to kidnap and ransom gangs and many – probably more than half – of them have fled the country or moved to the relative safety of Iraqi Kurdistan.

In a recent sermon, Patriarch Emmanuel Delly spoke out on the issue according to the Al Mutamar newspaper stating : "We see that today we are being sent from our houses and forcibly displaced from our homeland and alienated from our brothers with whom we lived together" He also issued a call to all Christians "I hereby send a plea in the name of all Christians to officials and to all those whose power is in their hands to bring about peace, security and stability among the sons of the homeland.”

We support the Patriarch’s call and we urge all members of the world–wide Dominican Family to take the following actions as soon as possible:

Continue to pray for the people of Iraq, especially the persecuted Christian minority and, among them, our Dominican Sisters and Brothers.

Contact your local bishop, Presidents of National Conferences of Bishops, and the Papal Nuncio in your country, urging them to voice their concern about the deteriorating situation of the Christian minority in Iraq.

Contact your Government to urge the occupying powers to ensure the protection of the Christian minority in Iraq.

We thank you for all your efforts to participate in this critical Dominican Action Alert. In all your actions remind your contacts that you speak as someone who has family in Iraq.

Toni Harris OP Prakash Lohale OP, International Dominican Co–Promoters for Justice and Peace

MOSUL, IRAQ – May 7 2007 Last week we reported that three Dominican sisters were injured along with several others–– including children –– who were killed and wounded in a car bomb attack next to the convent and kindergarten in Telskouf.

Early last week, several violent fights took place near where the Dominican friars reside here. An armed group attacked the police station about three km away from the friars’ house. A series of explosions erupted on the street where the friars live including a police car that was torched, rockets and small arms fire. No one was reported injured among the Dominicans, but they believe some of their neighbors were killed.

The battle reportedly lasted over two hours. Sources indicate that the attack was made on the police in Mosul in an effort to give control of the city to the Mujahideens. But the police prevailed and continue to control the city. Some of the chapel windows were damaged and a large mural, a mosaic of Dominicans, was badly damaged by bullets and explosions.

Four friars live in the house. They were badly shaken but were unharmed. Please continue your prayers and advocacy for peace.

May 7, 2007 ––– Between March 31 and April 29, 2007, all seven Dominican Cluster congregations voted at their Chapters in favor of petitioning the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for the approval of a new Dominican congregation from a union of existing Dominican congregations. The congregations include: Akron, Columbus, Great Bend, Kentucky, New Orleans Eucharistic Missionaries, New Orleans St. Mary and Oxford.

The next step in the process will be the discernment of members, who must decide individually whether or not to join the new congregation. Once this step has been completed, the required materials will be gathered from each congregation and sent to CICLSAL for consideration.

SOKOTO , NIGERIA – The Dominican Sisters of Great Bend have a daughter congregation, the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena of Gusau, Nigeria, who became an independent congregation of diocesan status. The event was celebrated on April 19, 2007, at Holy Family Cathedral, in the Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria. This momentous occasion has been over 25 years in the making. Following a letter from Rome, the Most Rev. Dr. Kevin J. Aje, Bishop of Sokoto, issued the decree establishing them as a diocesan congregation with their motherhouse in Gusau.

Sr. Lorena Bolte, OP, Prioress, and Sr. Rene Weeks, OP, Assistant Prioress, represented Great Bend as the founding congregation. Sr. Rita Schwarzenberger, OP, a Great Bend Dominican who ministers in Nigeria, was also in attendance.

The Mass of celebration in the Cathedral was two hours in the 115° heat of the Nigerian hot season. More than 55 professed members of the congregation as well as the eight novices and two postulants attended the celebration. The heat did not wilt any of the enthusiasm of this truly Nigerian and Dominican celebration. In attendance was Fr Ignatius, Provincial of the Ghana–Nigeria Dominican men’s province, many priests of the Sokoto Diocese, Dominican Laity, and parishioners. Drums and native instruments accompanied the singing in Hausa and English, reflecting the culture of the people as well as the worldwide Dominican Family.

In the 800th anniversary year of the Dominican Family this new congregation is a new gift to the Family. At this moment in the story of the growth of the worldwide Dominican Family, the Nigerian sisters renewed their vows into the hands of Sister Faustina Jimoh, second Prioress of their congregation. Later, Sisters Lorena and Rene presented them with gifts, a letter from the nuns at Regensburg Germany (their great–grandmother congregation) and one from Amityville NY (their grandmother congregation). The Amityville congregation also gave them a small statue of Mary from Regensburg. Gifts from the Great Bend congregation included a large icon of Mary Magdalene, Patroness of the Dominican Family, and a small copy of the icon as a prayer card for each of the Nigerian sisters, as well as a packet of greetings from all the sisters back in Great Bend.

At the Mass, Sister Faustina thanked Sister Franka Igweilo who served as the first Prioress, Bishop Aje, the Sisters in Great Bend, especially Sisters Lorena and Rene, Fr. Ignatius, and all the priests and sisters who were there.
Elaine Osborne OP

A year ago the Holy See’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life issued the decree of erection of the Association of the Monasteries of Nuns of the Order of Preachers in the United States and confirmed the Statutes. There are nine monasteries involved. First Name on the list from the Holy See was Rosary Monastery, Trinidad & Tobago.

The purpose of the Association is “to foster the monastic, contemplative life of the member monasteries in the spirit of Dominic, and at the same time to support and strengthen the spirit of cooperation and communion among them.”

From January 26 to February 1, 2007, over seventy Dominican Sisters representing federations and congregations from all over Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in Lima, Peru, to old the triennial meeting of CODALC (Confederation of Dominicans in Latin America and the Caribbean). Every three years delegates assemble to report on the projects they engage in and reflect on their llace in the preachin g mission of the Order.

Sr. Terese Antoine, Provincial of the Congregation of St. Catherine of Siena of Ethrepagny, Trinidad & Tobago, attended.

CIDALC is the International Confederation of Dominicans working in Latin America and the Caribbean. It held its meeting in Lima, Peru from January 26 to February 1, 2007. fr. Ferdinand Warner, Regional Prior of the Regional Vicariate of Trinidad & Tobago, attended.

fr. Ferdinand was elected Zone Coordinator for te Antilles region. It is hoped that stronger ties of collaboration will develop between the Vicariate in Trinidad & Tobago and the St. Louis Bertrand Vicariate which is in Grenada, Barbados and Jmaica.

Fr. Charles Dominique, O.P., a native of Barbados, was elected Vicar for the Vicariate of St. Louis Bertrand. He will reside in Grenada.

BUENAS AIRES, ARGENTINA – April 9, 2007-- Gathered at El Cenaculo Retreat Center, from March 17-24, were the leadership of 55 provinces and vicariates out of 71 worldwide. Many paid dearly to get there, either in money or in time and struggle. This was, however, more than just a gathering of the Lay Dominican leadership. It was a reflection of the great Family to which we are blessed to belong. Because of the generosity of several Sisters’ congregations, as well as provinces of friars, and provinces and chapters of Lay Dominicans, the Congress was not only possible but, in the end, solvent.

Participating in the Congress from the Curia would be frs Carlos Azpiroz Costa, Master of the Order; Jerry Stookey, Promoter General of Dominican Laity; and David M. Kammler, successor to fr Jerry. From the Province of Argentina, fr Javier Maria Pose, Prior Provincial, would participate as well.

It was an awesome experience, a gathering of about 75 Dominicans with a deeply committed interest in discovering together what we are, what our place in the Order is, and how we might move forward into the future together. Meeting and talking with Lay Dominicans from so many different cultures and backgrounds just demonstrated to me how unifying our Rule is. We are all at different places in development of our Dominican life in the provinces and vicariates, but we all adhere to the same Rule. We basically talked the same Dominican language, although there were three national/regional languages prevalent there: French, Spanish, and English. We were at home with the same observances and definitions, and we sought unanimity in areas that were not so clear, especially our terminology which we sought to bring into clearer focus with what we are.

We looked together at what this vocation means and how we might be more faithful to it. We sought help from one another to accomplish a richer Dominican life. We prayed together in beautiful liturgies and enjoyed social time, the sharing of cultures, and the concerns that we brought with us. We enjoyed the warm hospitality of the people of Argentina and the assistance of friars and sisters who came to help out. Together we battled a circulating virus cold, many of us taking our turn in sick bay, and the mosquitoes that were bent on a campaign of swarm and conquer.

Conduct of the congress was very much like that of General Chapters, using the three official languages of the Order, English, Spanish, and French, as well as the protocols for discussion and voting in the plenary sessions. Delegates were able to participate and vote through simultaneous translation technology and electronic count. As in General Chapters, the delegates were assigned to commissions where they worked for two days to address, as far as they were able, given the time constraints, the issues submitted by chapters throughout the world over the past year. This was a good beginning.

Contributions brought to Argentina a number of delegates who would not otherwise be able to attend and helped to defray the costs of overhead. Adding to the Family environment of the congress were the sisters and brothers who spent the week with us, assisting in any way needed, especially in the tedious work of immediate translation. We are very very grateful!

Organization and coordination was smooth and effective. It was an exciting, enriching, uplifting, and much blessed week spent in the company of our sisters and brothers from around the world.

St. Peter the Apostle Catherdral in Gizo is damaged after a powerful earthquake and tsunami struck the Solomon Island's second biggest town.

SOLOMON ISLANDS April 8, 2007 -- At 6.40 am on Monday, April 2, an earthquake measuring 8.1 hit the western Solomon Islands. The resulting tsunami hit the far west of the Solomons. Dominican friars and sisters serve in many areas of the Solomons, particularly in Gizo and Loga – a tiny island a few minutes east of Gizo. They have lost most of their possessions.

CNN reports 34 people dead. The Red Cross said about 2,000 of Gizo's 7,000 people are homeless. No injuries were reported among the Dominicans; although damage is severe and sources report that the Dominicans there are now homeless, although the friars’ house may have survived.

The sisters on Loga were at breakfast when they felt the earthquake and the sea retreated. Recognizing a coming tidal wave, they escaped up the hill. The Loga house and novitiate were flooded - 'Everything is floating' reported one sister. Loga is where the formation programs of both the friars and the sisters is situated. There are five postulants, a novice and five friars in formation.

In the diocese of Gizo, there are four main islands all of which have parishes. On the island of Nila, there is a parish church and the sisters had a girls’ school and a small maternity hospital there. The church is still standing but the school and clinic have been destroyed.

The mission of the sisters in the Solomons belongs to the Australian Dominican Sisters. This group is called the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands.

The mission of the friars is a vicariate of the Province of the Assumption, serving in Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The Province of the Assumption in Australia was part of the Irish Province until 1950. Among the priests who were assigned to both missions were the late fr. Columba Jennings (Couva parish) and fr. Joe Heffernan, fomer Prior, Holy Cross Priory, Arima.

In an age when the cry is the shortage of priests, the friars of the Southern Province of the United States, St. Martin de Porres, took the decision to open a new mission in Ecuador. Already the first three friars have been commissioned and are work there.

There was a previous mission in Honduras but with the three other vicariates working in that country they were able to be amalgamated into the Vice-Province of Central America

SANTA SABINA --Fr. David Kammler, OP of germany is the new General Promoter for the Laity of the Order, appointed by master fr. Carlos Azpiroz-Costa, OP. Fr. David began his service at the end of the Internatiopnal Congress of ther Laity recently held in Buenas Aires, Argentina.

The interview was conducted in May of 2006

In your opinion, what particular characteristics do you bring with you for your new post?

When, to my great surprise, Carlos asked me, first of all the arguments occurred to me which speak against my suitability: my age, my insufficient knowledge of foreign languages … etc. But then I also discovered characteristics which will certainly help to make the work go more smoothly: the pleasure I have in being able to dedicate myself in a creative way to a meaningful task, even in detail; a great love of and esteem for the laity as full members of our Order; the readiness to encourage them in their task of preaching as laity as their specific mission; the exchange of ideas and communication amongst them going beyond the barriers that are there; the capability to encourage diversity on the basis of mutual respect and trust. I sincerely hope to be able to continue, in my way, that which Jerry was able to contribute in the last few years in a convincingly international way.

Tell us something about yourself and the path you have followed in the Order.

I was born on 21st October 1942 in Cologne in Germany. I still have a younger brother and two nephews. As a result of my positions in various places in my home province of Teutonia I have established connections with many people. I hope very much that these can be maintained in the next few years despite the distance apart; for friendship is very important for me.

I became a Dominican in 1962, in particular because of the challenge of a community with the objective of preaching in new and unusual ways. After my studies at our House of Studies in Walberberg and ordination to the priesthood in 1968, I worked for several years as a teacher of religious education for primary schools (Diocese of Speyer). There followed a time as tutor in the boarding school of our Province in Vechta, and later I worked in a small Dominican community in a North German parish in Bremen. For eight years I was Assistant Master of Students at our House of Studies in Walberberg. Before beginning my four-year term as Socius of the Provincial I was Prior of St. Andreas in Cologne, where Saint Albert the Great is buried.

For the last six years I was Prior of Walberberg, and during this time I have been active in pastoral work, as spiritual advisor for individuals and also retreat courses. For over ten years I have been chaplain to a Dominican lay group and have been Promoter of the Laity in our Province of Teutonia for seven years. During the world congress of the Dominican Family in Manila (2000) as well as the meetings of the European Laity at Fognano (2001) and Walberberg (2004) I was able to complement and enrich my theoretical knowledge of the internationality and diversity of the Order of Preachers through personal encounters.

Firstly, I have to concentrate on a number of sermons and services, conferences, lectures and retreats, which I have already committed to for this year. Then it will be absolutely necessary to start to extend my knowledge of foreign languages in this year already. My conversational English is quite good, but not without mistakes. For my stay in Rome and Italy it will be a challenge to learn Italian; I want to work on this intensively this year as well. So that I am not dependent on translators, I shall learn Spanish in the next few years. My knowledge was until now sufficient to get by as a tourist on holiday. I very much hope to be able to deepen my elementary knowledge of the wonderful language of culture, French. (My ability to preach in Cologne dialect will certainly not be required in the next six years!) How much I would like to be able to encounter the Lay Dominicans of the world in their mother tongues! In this respect, I envy the deceased Pope John Paul II with his comprehensive language skills. I nevertheless hope that, on my travels and in my correspondence, I shall have the assistance of translators, and, above all, non-verbal communication and the Spirit of Pentecost, which creates understanding across language barriers.

Last but not least I want to learn as much as possible from Jerry before the official start of my job in March 2007 and help him with the preparations for the International Congress of Lay Dominicans in Buenos Aires. We shall be in contact by e-mail until then, and will be in touch personally in Rome from January 2007. I place my trust in his advice and his help. I pray that we, as brothers, sisters and laity, will assist each other in the service of preaching, and look forward to meeting many Dominican sisters and brothers on God’s blessed Earth!

On the 7th July, 2006, the Maltese Dominican, Fr George Frendo O.P., was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Tirana-Durres and Titular Bishop of Butrinti in Albania where he has been working with other fellow Dominicans since 1997.

Fr George on the 4th April 1946. He entered the Order in 1962 and was ordained priest on the 7th April 1969.

After obtaining his Lectorate in Sacred Theology from the College of St Thomas Aquinas, Rabat, he pursued his studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome (Angelicum) where, in 1973, he obtained his Doctorate after defending his thesis on Indissolubility and Divorce in the Theology of the Thirteenth Century Scholastics.

In the Maltese Dominican Province he occupied several offices: Master of Novices and Students, Conventual Prior, Parish Priest, and, finally, that of Prior Provincial between 1989 and 1997. From 1992 to 1996 he was President of the Maltese Conference of Major Superiors (KSMR).

Fray Bartolomé De Las Casas was born in Sevilla in 1484 and died in Madrid on the 18th of July in 1566.

On the 2nd of October 2002, in the church of the Convent of St Paul in Sevilla, under the presidency of His Grace Archbishop Don Carlos Amigo Vallejo, O.F.M., the process for canonization was initiated and will move forward in its first stage which is the diocesan level. Because of this, Fr. Herminio de Paz Castaño, O. P., Vice-postulator, will propose to CIDALC’s Assembly to assume some level of commitment to see it through in each location.

a. Programme some type of congress, week or lecture in which the life and doctrine of Fr. Bartolomé is studied.

b. Offer through retreats or spiritual exercises the mysticism and the spirituality of the Servant of God.

c. Take advantage of the great happenings in which peace is threatened, in which the principles of justice and other human rights are inculcated and illuminate them with the doctrine of Fray Bartolomé

e. Set aside one day monthly or annually in our communities, parishes and churches to remember Fray Bartolomé and to ask God expressly for his beatification.

f. Invite the sick and those who are ill and those who are living in critical circumstances of physical or spiritual health, those who are enduring situations of conflict in the social or political order, the professional or work area through lack of employment or immigration, those who ask God’s help placing as intercessor Fray Bartolomé.

g. Gather any details that is known of him and communicate it to the vice-postulator.

h. Collect commitments to the process with a petition directed to the Holy Father, taking advantage of qualified ecclesial meetings or of meetings of those faithful to this cause