New Location

All future posts will be located at our Vocations site here: http://domcentral.org/amcalpinop/

Orthodoxy and Holiness

Are you orthodox? In the past several years this three-word question may be the most asked question within the realm of vocation ministry. One of the more annoying responses I have heard from many in religious life and the priesthood is, “No, I am Roman Catholic.” Of course this smart aleck response is a diversion from the actual question at hand and can be taken as deceptive to the primary intent of the question: are you and/or your community faithful to the Pope and the teachings of Holy Mother Church?

The short answer to the vocation inquirer to this question is and should be a rousing “Yes” from any approved and official society, order or congregation of the Roman Catholic Church. Groups cannot officially exist under the purview of the Holy See without adhering to the Creed and the Dogmas and Doctrines of the Church.

Now that we have that question out of the way, we can move on to discussing discernment questions any one person might have regarding his or her individual calling to the life of radically following Jesus. If it were only that easy!

The fact is there are groups and individuals who do hold heterodox beliefs within the Church. It may not say so in their individual constitutions and rules, but ideas and beliefs contrary to Church teaching do show up and all too often in a rather public and unpleasant way. Certainly the case of a professed sister volunteering as an escort at an abortion clinic quickly comes to mind, but one should be cautioned against judging her whole congregation as pro-abortion. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In the realm of vocational discernment and ministry it is just a simple fact that stories like the one above lend to the reality of the crisis within many congregations throughout the world. It’s no mystery. If you have rejected basic truths of human life, religious identity and faithful witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, very few, if any, will want to join you. The sad fact is that it does not have to be this way. I believe there are plenty of vocations out there for all orders and congregations to not only survive, but to thrive. As the world population increases, there is no rational explanation for the lack of vocations other than someone along the way dropped the ball of properly handing on the faith we have in Jesus Christ.

Not to worry, others have picked up where many have left off. As many congregations and associations are going out of existence, there seems to be twice as many new ones appearing, both religious and lay. The religious groups all look somewhat alike too: mandatory habit, robust community life and clearly defined mission and ministry. Most importantly, they have a deep and abiding love of Jesus Christ, which is evident in these communities’ life of prayer and worship. Combined, this is what is known as a life of holiness.

That, dear reader, is the question I will have for you if you ask me about our orthodoxy: are you seeking to live a life of authentic holiness with zeal? That is the real question that takes it all a step further and deeper. I will tell you that we hold and teach the truths of the faith. But we are Dominicans; therefore the term orthodox is a baseline descriptor. If we did not believe in the Creed and hold to all the Catechism teaches, we would not be Roman Catholic, and we certainly would not be known as Friars Preachers!

We do believe and we want you to as well. But being orthodox is not enough to join us; it is only the beginning. The question I have for you: Do you love? Are you in love? Do you seek to be with your beloved, Jesus Christ? Do you spend time with the One who has called you to seek Him first and who knows you better than you know yourself? If love is not the motivating factor in your discernment of religious life, I would ask you to re-evaluate your mode of discernment.

Remember, in Sacred Scripture no one was more orthodox than the Pharisees. So I caution the use of that term in authentic vocational discernment. We are called to be lovers, not rigorous adherents to the letter of the law at the expense of the virtue of authentic charity. This is specifically what Jesus Christ taught against!

In a nutshell, we are faithful Roman Catholic men who are deeply in love with God and we seek to bring that love to the entire world. Join us if you dare!

I steal good ideas...

...like the tag line I saw on a store in Downtown Chicago yesterday. I think I might use a version of it in our ads and webpages.

Dominican Friars, because this is not your practice life!

If you can guess the store this is from, you get +5 cool points.

In the meantime, let me know if you like this one. It makes me think!

On Foreign Vocations...

I know I am not the only vocation director that receives many contacts from overseas. In fact, in a recent meeting of a few of us in this ministry, we easily told each other how many emails we receive asking to join our community. Sometimes I will reply, other times I just delete them. It depends on where they are from and from the content of the email (i.e. Sincerity of questions, not a cut-and-paste email that goes to every US community and Order). 

Here is the reality for those who contact us from other countries: we cannot help you discern with us unless you have citizenship in the US or are already physically in the Unites States. We cannot fly you to the US to go to a Come and See. If you can get here on your own and have a college degree, then we can consider you for admission. Short of that, we are wasting your time. The only exception to this rule is if you are already an ordained priest or a solemnly professed member of a religious order.

I understand that it is often more difficult to enter religious life in other countries, especially in Africa, where the faith is alive and vocations are plentiful, but communication is often more difficult. They usually have a longer screening process and postulancy to filter out authentic vocations from those seeking a different social class. We don't want to say it in polite company, but there are many who seek to enter priesthood and religious life to climb the social ladder. This is antithetical to the authentic vocation that seeks to wash the feet of the poorest of the poor and proclaim the good news to the richest of the rich. We do both of these acts, and everything in between, from a different place: from the heart of the Savior.

It is not easy saying no to foreign vocations, but in a post 9/11 world, it is just the reality with which we have to deal. If you have an authentic vocation, keep seeking and asking. God will not be thwarted in bringing you to life and ministry in the place you belong.

Dominicans on the Rise: New York Times Reports on Growth of Dominican Friars World Wide

Dominicans on the Rise: New York Times Reports on Growth of Dominican Friars World Wide

Are you waiting for a sign?

A fictional dialogue that is all-to-often how it actually happens: 

Vocation Director: "So James, can you see yourself entering into religious life with us?"

James: "Very likely, but I am waiting for a sign from God."

Vocation Director: "What would that sign look like to you James?"

James: "I don't know, I guess, I think, you know, a sign..."

Vocations Director: "Well that doesn't help. How about if I propose some signs for you?"

James: "Ok, sounds good, go ahead."

Vocation Director: "Has anybody ever told you that you would make a great priest or religious?"

James: "All the time! I can't count the number of people that have told me that exact thing."

Vocation Director: "Have you even dreamed about saying Mass, hearing confessions, visiting the sick, praying with the troubled, or teaching and preaching."

James: "Pretty much all the time these days. Those things are always on my mind."

Vocation Director: "When are you most happy, James."

James: "When I am at Mass or praying or sharing my faith and the teachings of the Church with family or friends. Also, I love reading theology and other good books about the faith and the saints. Those things make me most happy."

Vocation Director: "Can you see yourself getting married and having children someday."

James: "Sometimes; I think that is a good path and I love my family, but it doesn't excite me the way living and sharing my faith in Jesus Christ does."

Vocation Director: "What is the most important thing in your life right now James?"

James: "My faith, without a doubt!"

Vocation Director: So you are still waiting for a sign from God?"

James: "Yes, I just need one little sign, and then I can make a decision about my vocation."

Vocation Director: "Okay, lets try this one more time, James!"

Our soon-to-be Priest in action!

This is a great journey into the best of Dominican preaching and scholarship.

Are you called to join Br. Nick in the connection-making life of a Friar Preacher?

Come and See Weekend

Our next Come and See discernment weekend will be held in St. Louis at our new St. Dominic Priory on the weekend of February 15th - 17th, 2013. If you would like to attend or know someone who would benefit from just such a weekend, please email Fr. Andy McAlpin, O.P. to receive a registration form or to ask about the weekend. Space is limited, so don't delay in reserving your spot on this faith-filled and important weekend!