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.
Preaching must be sensitive to the pain of people.
Preaching is counter culture because of its genesis in the Gospel values.

Blessed Jordan Of Saxony
Successor to St. Dominic
Patron of Dominican Vocation

Blessed Jordan of Saxony was the second Master General of the Order of Preachers. St. Dominic had died in 1221, only five years after the establishment of his Order. Blessed Jordon"s election to succeed him came as something of a surprise. Only eighteen months before, Jordon had exchanged his distinguished professor's garb at the University of Paris for the Dominican habit. He had become the Dominican Master General after only a year and a half as a Dominican.

His election was providential. The Dominicans were still an infant order. Jordon was visionary, a builder, and most of all a youthful leader of the young. In years he was not actually a young man. But he had the youth of wisdom which calls to the young. His charming simplicity, his passion for learning, for organizing, for effecting great things, attracted well over a thousand young men and women to the Dominican habit.

In preaching to the young, he concentrated on the blessedness of community life, the joys of fraternal charity, the importance of oneness in work and prayer. Yet, he also emphasized the spirit of originality, the singleness of grace, the growth of personality, and the uniqueness of each apostle. These ideas, inherited from St. Dominic, were crystallized by Blessed Jordon. Through the centuries, they have always characterized Dominican training of future preachers.

Dominicans everywhere pray that through his intercession, youth may recognize the torch of Truth in the Order of St. Dominic, and embrace it as their own.

Prayer for Discernment
Lord let me know clearly the work which you are calling me to do in life. Grant me every grace I need to answer your call with courage, love and lasting dedication to your will. Amen

The Four Pillars of
Dominican
Life

MISSION:
We have as our vocation to radiate the presence of Christ in the midst of all, so that the divine message of salvation is known and accepted by everyone.

COMMUNITY:
To preach the kingdom of God we must live it, so that preaching and living in Christian community are inseparably joined.

STUDY:
The study of the Word of God is an aid to prayer but in itself also becomes an act of worship which sanctifies us.

PRAYER:
Dominican prayer is contemplative, which means that it is not limited to mental meditative deliberations but leads to total acquiescence in the presence of God as St. Dominic showed us in his nine ways of prayer.

Monday 24th November, 2008 (10:00 am) the councils of the Irish and the English Vicariates in the Caribbean met at the St. Dominic’s Pastoral Centre, St. Finbar, Diego Martin. Attending the meeting were as follows: Fr. Ferdinand Warner O.P Regional Prior, Fr. Patrick Brennan O.P Socius to the Regional Prior and Prior of Holy Cross Priory, Thomas Lawson O.P out-going Regional Prior, Fr Brendan Ryan O.P member, Alan Mohammed O.P Bursar and Secretary, Fr. Dwight Black O.P member, Fr. Charles Dominique O.P Regional Prior, Fr. Peter Clark O.P, Fr. Louis Bethrand O.P, Fr. Theodor Taylor O.P.

The meeting began with a prayer by Fr. Warner, who then outlined the context of the meeting, which were:
1. The last General Chapter proposed more collaboration between the English Speaking- Vicariates with emphasis on the English and Irish Vicariates.
2. The last Irish Vicariate Chapter proposed a meeting between the two regional priors and councils of the two respective Vicariates.
3. Some collaboration in the past was noted.

. In the past there had been an exchange of students.
. Frs. Alan and Dwight did their Novitiate in Grenada with Fr. Joe Ralph assistant Novice Master.
. At present it is a good idea to continue this or start to something new.

The way forward:
1.The use of the internet to foster greater collaboration between the two vicariates and to promote vocation to our Dominican Life.
2. Development of a common Dominican directory between the two Vicariates.
3. The possibility of joint retreats.
4.The possibility of common study days.
5. Strengthen our communities.
6.To give stronger witness to those interested in Dominican Life.
7.An exchange of personnel; ideas; ministries.
8.Greater involvement of the Dominican Laity in our missionary ventures.



The meeting ended with a tour of the new St. Dominic’s Pastoral Centre and