Being Dominican

As a Christian, I am called to be attentive to the Word and to embody that Word in my life as a proclamation of it to all those with whom I live and work.

As a Dominican I live that call with increasing awareness each day of my life through both communal and personal prayer, as I stand in awe at the diversity of the communities of which I am a part. I hope my activities reflect my commitment to this living of this Word as I continue to grow in my understanding of the wonders of God and all creation.

– Sr. Patricia Connick, OP
professed 2005

All the Baptized are called to follow and live the Good News as taught by Jesus. Dominicans are called to live that Good News in a uniquely Dominican way – as the Holy Preaching. Everything we do, think or say must be oriented to that preaching.... As we preach, we ask for God’s voice to be ours as we proclaim the Good News in the world, for our lives to be Jesus’ life as we live compassionately and justly and for our presence to be that of the Spirit to all we encounter.

– Sr. Barbara Kane, OP
professed 2005

In the time and place where we are, to be a Dominican means to be a sign of contradiction. In the midst of a culture of lies we must make known the truth. To be Dominicans today means to be available to respond where we are most needed. It means to be conscious of the presence of God in a rapidly changing world, to be always alert to the challenges of the moment. For me, life in community is essential since it's the source of faith and love.

– Sr. Manuela Crisologo Gonzalez, OP
(Peruvian)
professed 1989

To be a Dominican means to be a seeker of truth;
to be someone who doesn't accept the easy answers that brings peace at any price.
To be a Dominican means to be someone who brings a word of hope to a world that often feels only pain and despair.

– Sr. Patricia Thomas, OP
professed 1973

I love the Dominican charism, OP – Order of Preachers, preaching the Good News to everyone, not only by formal preaching but by a lifestyle; also the fact that we are all over the world and we have many Dominican Saints to which I a proud to belong. It makes me feel that I am a small part of a very big thing for God and the Church.

– Sr. Eleanor Lang, OP
professed 1937

To be a Dominican is to be:

• a woman of prayer
• a searcher for truth
• someone who thirst for justice
• compelled to speak the Word heard in the depths of one's heart
• a listener to the Spirit of the Universe
• forever seeking to live the Gospel Spirit
• a co-creator of the Kingdom
• someone who hears the beat of a different drummer
• that prophetic voice that seeks to make the comfortable, uncomfortable
• a possessor of a restless heart
• filled with compassion
• a believer that God can do more than we can ask or imagine
• a woman of hope
• a tremendous lover

– Sr. Mary Faith Geelan, OP
professed 1957

To answer this question fully, I would have to write a book. Still, the essentials are simple enough. As a Dominican, I am a member of the Order of Preachers; therefore it is important to me to try to live up to this title by responding always to any invitation to preach the Word. I look at preaching in the broadest sense, so I try to preach first of all, by my way of living and interacting with others. I preach formally, with words, when it is appropriate. More frequently, I preach informally, with stories, art works, and public actions. But preaching alone does not convey the breadth of the Dominican vocation. Dominic himself sold his precious books to help the starving poor, so it is important that I be sensitive to the needs and suffering of others and expend real effort and time doing what I can to relieve those problems. But preaching and charitable actions are not possible for me without prayer. Prayer connects me to the life-giving grace of God and enables me to preach and act — to fulfill literally our charge, our challenge, as Dominicans: “To give to others the fruits of our contemplation.”

– Sr. Thoma Swanson, OP
professed 1952

I believe a Dominican is a person with two important goals in life. One is being open to building a relationship with Jesus. I pray to Jesus to teach me how to listen to the Father so I am able to do His will in my life. This is a daily task, a daily desire. The second goal is to preach the message of the Gospels, the message of Jesus Christ. I believe I've done that through my work with children in teaching and being principal, in my pastoral ministry work and finely in managing the gift shop in my community's health care center.

Having been a Dominican for 41 years I have received many blessings among them working with many wonderful children and parents. There have been highs and lows in my life but I've found that if my relationship with Jesus and some of His friends is good – the concerns – problems that arise – result in god's will being done. Watch for the miracles in your life. My Dominican life has been a happy one and if asked if I'd do it again my answer would be a resounding Yes! Yes! Yes!

– Sr. Mary Catherine Kaeppner, OP
professed 1966

To be Dominican means to bear joy and compassion to others. St. Dominic, known as "the Joyful Friar," continues to share the JOY of the SPIRIT through his followers.

Dominic laughed with those who laughed, and wept with those who wept. Has God given you compassion to share? Come and give your gift as part of Dominic's Order of Preachers!

– Sr. Patricia Twohill, OP
professed 1977