The Dominican Encounter Weekend (DEW) was held in Irving at our Novitiate Priory of St. Albert the Great, hosted by Jude Siciliano, Prior, Scott O'Brien, Novice Master, Orlando Cardozo, Don Dvorak, Andy Kolzow, and Mat Robinson. John Pitzer, Promoter of Vocations, organized and led the weekend along with the able and generous help of student brothers Tan Do and Francis Orozco. Brian Kirk was also a member of the team lending a hand in making this DEW a fruitful one.
The Dominican Encounter Weekend (DEW) was held in Irving at our Novitiate Priory of St. Albert the Great, hosted by Jude Siciliano, Prior, Scott O'Brien, Novice Master, Orlando Cardozo, Don Dvorak, Andy Kolzow, and Mat Robinson. John Pitzer, Promoter of Vocations, organized and led the weekend along with the able and generous help of student brothers Tan Do and Francis Orozco. Brian Kirk was also a member of the team lending a hand in making this DEW a fruitful one.
Excitement was in the air as these young men were immersed in Dominican life. Andy Kolzow says of the weekend, "The friends and supporters of our community of St. Albert's were impressed by the presence of so many men showing interest in Dominican life and are excited at the return of Novices this August. I myself was impressed by the thoroughness and richness of the presentations offered, liturgies, meals, and common room social gatherings. These men came seeking and departed joyfully encouraged by what they heard, saw, and lived for themselves." It was clear that these men who came to experience vibrant Dominican religious life at St. Albert's found it.
Art Kirwin, recently assigned to St. Albert the Great Priory, will be arriving in late April to begin as a new member of this growing formation community.
Following are the young men who took part in the DEW:
Joe Albin ~ Loyola University, New Orleans, LA
Dominick Aquila ~ University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
Juan Cornejo ~ Texas A&M University
Josh Elzner ~ University of Dallas, TX
Russell Grafrath ~ Edmond, OK
Danh Le ~ University of Dallas, TX
Patrick Malone ~ University of Dallas, TX
Roger May ~ Middle Tennessee State University
Francisco Plaza ~ University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
Sam Rodriguez ~ Memphis, TN
Tony Valderrama ~ Pasadena, CA
Nick Verdina ~ Texas A&M University
Along with an equally successful DEW earlier at St. Anthony of Padua Priory in New Orleans, God is blessing us with new life and what is definitely looking to be a very full house here at St. Albert's as our 1212-1213 Novitiate year begins this Summer.
Our current Novice, Carl Paustian, enjoyed his tour of our Province and the brothers were delighted to have him visit. Carl has expressed joy in receiving hospitality throughout the Province and was impressed with our collaborative studium priory. His experience with our brothers of Holy Name Province in our collaborative Novitiate continues to be a very positive one. Again, the hospitality and generosity of our Western brothers has been a great blessing for us these past two years.
Let us pray for these men who are discerning their vocation as friars preachers with our Province of St. Martin's. Orlando Cardozo says: "I experienced a profound sense of new life with the presence of these men bringing their gifts of joy, laughter at meals, camaraderie, and to see in them a searching spirit. There is present here great hope."
The Dominican Encounter Weekend (DEW) was held in Irving at our Novitiate Priory of St. Albert the Great, hosted by Jude Siciliano, Prior, Scott O'Brien, Novice Master, Orlando Cardozo, Don Dvorak, Andy Kolzow, and Mat Robinson. John Pitzer, Promoter of Vocations, organized and led the weekend along with the able and generous help of student brothers Tan Do and Francis Orozco. Brian Kirk was also a member of the team lending a hand in making this DEW a fruitful one.
Excitement was in the air as these young men were immersed in Dominican life. Andy Kolzow says of the weekend, "The friends and supporters of our community of St. Albert's were impressed by the presence of so many men showing interest in Dominican life and are excited at the return of Novices this August. I myself was impressed by the thoroughness and richness of the presentations offered, liturgies, meals, and common room social gatherings. These men came seeking and departed joyfully encouraged by what they heard, saw, and lived for themselves." It was clear that these men who came to experience vibrant Dominican religious life at St. Albert's found it.
Art Kirwin, recently assigned to St. Albert the Great Priory, will be arriving in late April to begin as a new member of this growing formation community.
Following are the young men who took part in the DEW:
Joe Albin ~ Loyola University, New Orleans, LA
Dominick Aquila ~ University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
Juan Cornejo ~ Texas A&M University
Josh Elzner ~ University of Dallas, TX
Russell Grafrath ~ Edmond, OK
Danh Le ~ University of Dallas, TX
Patrick Malone ~ University of Dallas, TX
Roger May ~ Middle Tennessee State University
Francisco Plaza ~ University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
Sam Rodriguez ~ Memphis, TN
Tony Valderrama ~ Pasadena, CA
Nick Verdina ~ Texas A&M University
Along with an equally successful DEW earlier at St. Anthony of Padua Priory in New Orleans, God is blessing us with new life and what is definitely looking to be a very full house here at St. Albert's as our 1212-1213 Novitiate year begins this Summer.
Our current Novice, Carl Paustian, enjoyed his tour of our Province and the brothers were delighted to have him visit. Carl has expressed joy in receiving hospitality throughout the Province and was impressed with our collaborative studium priory. His experience with our brothers of Holy Name Province in our collaborative Novitiate continues to be a very positive one. Again, the hospitality and generosity of our Western brothers has been a great blessing for us these past two years.
Let us pray for these men who are discerning their vocation as friars preachers with our Province of St. Martin's. Orlando Cardozo says: "I experienced a profound sense of new life with the presence of these men bringing their gifts of joy, laughter at meals, camaraderie, and to see in them a searching spirit. There is present here great hope."
By: Father Chris Eggleton, O.P.
Excitement was in the air as these young men were immersed in Dominican life. Andy Kolzow says of the weekend, "The friends and supporters of our community of St. Albert's were impressed by the presence of so many men showing interest in Dominican life and are excited at the return of Novices this August. I myself was impressed by the thoroughness and richness of the presentations offered, liturgies, meals, and common room social gatherings. These men came seeking and departed joyfully encouraged by what they heard, saw, and lived for themselves." It was clear that these men who came to experience vibrant Dominican religious life at St. Albert's found it.
Art Kirwin, recently assigned to St. Albert the Great Priory, will be arriving in late April to begin as a new member of this growing formation community.
Following are the young men who took part in the DEW:
Joe Albin ~ Loyola University, New Orleans, LA
Dominick Aquila ~ University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
Juan Cornejo ~ Texas A&M University
Josh Elzner ~ University of Dallas, TX
Russell Grafrath ~ Edmond, OK
Danh Le ~ University of Dallas, TX
Patrick Malone ~ University of Dallas, TX
Roger May ~ Middle Tennessee State University
Francisco Plaza ~ University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
Sam Rodriguez ~ Memphis, TN
Tony Valderrama ~ Pasadena, CA
Nick Verdina ~ Texas A&M University
Along with an equally successful DEW earlier at St. Anthony of Padua Priory in New Orleans, God is blessing us with new life and what is definitely looking to be a very full house here at St. Albert's as our 1212-1213 Novitiate year begins this Summer.
Our current Novice, Carl Paustian, enjoyed his tour of our Province and the brothers were delighted to have him visit. Carl has expressed joy in receiving hospitality throughout the Province and was impressed with our collaborative studium priory. His experience with our brothers of Holy Name Province in our collaborative Novitiate continues to be a very positive one. Again, the hospitality and generosity of our Western brothers has been a great blessing for us these past two years.
Let us pray for these men who are discerning their vocation as friars preachers with our Province of St. Martin's. Orlando Cardozo says: "I experienced a profound sense of new life with the presence of these men bringing their gifts of joy, laughter at meals, camaraderie, and to see in them a searching spirit. There is present here great hope."
