Our Vocation DVD

Ordinary Men ... Sacred Calling

The title for our vocation video, Ordinary Men ... Sacred Calling came from an article I read in America Magazine. In the article, a layman was quoted as saying, "I used to think the priesthood was a sacred calling for sacred men. I've now come to realize the priesthood is a sacred calling for ordinary men." Those concise, but powerful sentences have resonated with me ever since. In many ways they have defined my approach to ministry and continue to remind me of what attracted me to the Southern Dominican Province.

Searching for the Right Community

As I began to discern my vocation I knew that I wanted a community where the men were "normal" guys. I didn't want a community full of "Stepford Priests" - each one dressing, acting and thinking the same. I wanted a community of individuals witha variety of talents, personalities and points of view. Little did I know that I would find what I was looking for on a hot summer evening at a barbecue at St. Dominic Priory in Miami Florida. Driving over I expected to find a bunch of stuffy, uptight clerics talking theology and drinking wine. Fortunately, what I discovered was a community of normal guys, sitting around a Hibachi Grill, dressed in shorts, jeans, sandals and the assorted things men enjoying wearing at tailgates and barbecue events. Yes, they some discussed theology or their ministries, while others were talking about sports, movies and politics. I soon realized these were ordinary men, just like me, called by Christ and doing their best to follow Him. Three hours later as I drove out of the Priory parking lot I knew that I had found my home.

I hope you enjoy this short ( 9 minute) window into our life and hope it moves you to explore our life more fully and get to know some of our friars. Who knows, maybe you too will find your vocation with this diverse group of men that I proudly call, "my brothers".

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Watch the 2009 Vestition Ceremony

On the morning of August 22, 2009 the Chapel at Saint Albert the Great Priory and Novitiate in Irving, Texas was filled with friars, members of the Dominican Family, friends and family members. They gathered to pray the Office of Lauds (Morning Prayer) and attend the reception and vestition of our four candidates into the Novitiate.

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Spring 2010 Vocation Weekend

When you first come to realize God may be calling you to serve Him as a priest or brother, it sometimes feels as though you're the only person in the world with a vocation. The Dominican Experience Weekend (DEW) provides an opportunity for you to join with other men discerning a vocation and explore religious and Dominican life on a deeper level. Our Spring 2009 Vocation Weekend is scheduled for February 26 - 28, 2010.

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