Who are Dominicans?
Dominicans follow the charism of St. Dominic de Guzman who founded the Order of Preachers early in the 13th century in response to a critical need he had encountered in the Church. The saving truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ had been distorted and corrupted, leaving ordinary people in desperate need of sound preaching and good example among those who came to them as representatives of the Church. He founded an order to address these needs.
Some essential elements of Dominican life include:
• preaching the Gospel with integrity, through word and action
• seeking truth wherever it may be found
• encountering God daily in prayer and contemplation, and
• living in community with others who share this charism.
Preaching the Gospel message is at the heart of a Dominican vocation. This aspect of the charism invites us to lives of holiness, integrity, and compassion as we proclaim the Gospel message, and urges us to practice justice and peace through word and action. Our preaching is grounded in the search for truth through study. Dominican dedication to study helps equip the preacher with the wisdom to ask the difficult questions in our society and in our Church, and to engage in the process that will discern what is truly of God in the multiple responses to our questions. Our encounter with God in prayer and contemplation nourishes our relationship with God and others. This daily grounding in prayer is necessary for the authenticity of our ministry, and enables integration to occur within the preacher. Also, essential to living Dominican life are the relationships which Dominicans share in community. Whether under the same roof or not, working and praying in relationship with others who share a similar charism provides the energy and enthusiasm to live life to the fullest.
The Dominican Sisters of Peace invite you to consider us in your discernment of vowed religious life. As a newly forming congregation, we are in the midst of discovering together what it means to be a Vowed Member or an Associate or a Partner in Mission of the Order of Preachers whose name is Peace. Do you sense within yourself energy for pursuing a mission of preaching Christ’s peace in a broken world?
For more information or to talk with a Vocations Minister, please contact Sr. Amy McFrederick or Sr. Cathy Arnold at vocations@oppeace.org or 330.835.5690.
Read more about Our Sisters, Sister Stories, the Congregation, the Dominican Order, and Dominican Saints.