Being Dominican

History

The Order of Preachers

St. Dominic receiving the first women into the Order, 1216

We are the Dominicans, a worldwide family of women and men begun in the 13th century by an itinerant preacher, St. Dominic de Guzman.

Members of the Order of Preachers are:
• Passionate about the Gospel of Jesus Christ
• Seekers of truth wherever it can be found
• Contemplatives in the world of action

Our Family consists of women and men, lay and ordained, active and enclosed. We number more than 100,000 in 102 countries on six continents.