Summer Experience for Student Brothers
Summer Experience for Student Brothers
After a one year novitiate, simply professed brothers move to the studium to continue their studies. These brothers are called “student brothers”. During a student brother’s five to six years of initial formation, he is offered a summer experience to help form the brother pastorally, spiritually and academically. The summers are focused either on language, social justice, hospital chaplaincy or preaching. The following article highlights my experience during my social justice summer of interning with the United Nations (UN).
A Multicultural Immersion
When I arrived in
A Dominican Presence at the UN
The Dominican order has had a relationship with the UN for over ten years with its establishment of the office of ‘Dominicans for Justice and Peace,’ now called the Dominican Network, and as a non-governmental organization (NGO) representative of the US-based Dominican Leadership Conference (DLC), an organization comprised of the women and men who serve as leadership in the various US Congregations and Provinces. Through both positions, Dominicans are present at the UN in
Dominican Network
In
NGO Representative
In
My First Conference – A New Awareness
My first conference at the United Nations challenged my vocation to the Dominican way of life. Through listening to the various presentations on the challenges facing people around the world, I realized my disconnection to the realities of the world and my unawareness to the plight of millions of people, which I do not read nor see in the daily news. For days I felt troubled and wished I had the power to change the world, to end hunger, to rid the world of nuclear power, to end human trafficking and promote the well-being of the most vulnerable, etc. I knew that I could no longer sit idly by and wait until my priestly ordination to act on my concerns. The time for solidarity is now. The time is now to be a fully conscious and active participant in the worldwide human family.
Members of the Human Family
If we want the world to change, we must change our limited vision. We must see with new eyes and a new heart. This type of vision allows us to look at those close to us, like our sister or mother, and remember those women in other countries who are vulnerable to human trafficking and slavery. Also, like most of you, I have nephews and nieces whom I love dearly. Unlike my nieces and nephews, there are an estimate of 1.2 million children globally that are trafficked each year, according to the UNICEF Executive Director. Can you imagine one of your nieces or nephews being trafficked and exploited? One of these precious little ones could be a pupil that attends one our Dominican run schools. We need to pay serious attention to the reality of what is happening to our children and develop a keen sense of awareness. We can no longer close our eyes to the distant inequalities around the world and only give attention to things we want to see. A true Dominican sees all things.
Make a Difference - Get Involved
After my internship at the UN, I would encourage and highly recommend my Dominican brothers and sisters to consider working with the Dominican Leadership Conference (DLC) and the Partnership for Global Justice (PGJ) program at the United Nations. My experience at the UN convinced me that as preachers, we have to consider getting involved in the formulation of policies and challenging governments to establish laws that recognize and promote the rights of all peoples and the environment. Through our the Dominican presence at the UN, friars and sisters work together to preach and promote all aspects of equal rights of women and children, and to raise awareness of the people within our local provinces/congregations of the critical issues of our time.
In Thanksgiving
I would like to express my sincere thanks to Sr. Margaret Mayce, O.P. and Sr. Lucianne Siers, O.P., who made this program possible through their hard work. I also want to express my gratitude to the Southern Dominican
