To pursue or be pursued

One of the primary statements we make clear in our work as vocations promoters of the Central Province is the fact that we do not hound candidates or pursue them. This will remain the mode of operation when the office is fully turned over to me in July of 2013.

One may wonder if he should join an order or a province based on the fact that they take a great interest in the candidate and in a way "court" the man and tell him the things he wants or needs to hear in order to get him to join us. Of course, common sense says that this is nonsense.

Here is the reality:

We are just fine without you! The Dominicans of the Central Province and the other three provinces of the United States and throughout the world will be just fine and continue to receive young men into formation and the mission will go on...with or without you.

So what do we want in an aspirant or candidate to the Order? We want a man who sees a way of life that is exciting and that will push him to become the saint he was meant to be. Every Order and congregation within Holy Mother Church has this as their primary mission, whether it is explicit in their constitutions and rule or not: Religious life is the way the member will come to sanctity. Without this sanctity, it becomes nearly impossible to preach, teach, or serve the poor.

You must have at least the beginning desire for pursuing this sanctity through our way of life in order to ask to be admitted to our Province. You must pursue us and see in us the means by which you will search for God and preach His truth to the people of the world.

The Dominicans have been doing this for nearly 800 years. We are in no danger of closing up shop just yet. We continue our mission to preach the truth of Jesus Christ from East to West. If this is something that interests you, you might want to pursue us!