More than 800 years ago, Dominic de Guzman established the Order of Preachers
(Dominicans) as a group of mendicants committed to the mission of preaching the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Initially, his band of followers were focused on
preaching against the false teachings of the Cathars. While Catharism no longer
exists, Dominicans today are still committed to preaching the Good News in word
and deed, recognizing other “isms” that threaten: consumerism, racism, sexism,
classism, and more. From the very beginnings of the Order, Dominicans have held
to some foundational values that make them unique from other religious orders.
These basic values include:
