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!

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!

From the Come and See to ???

Having just completed our Fall Come and See weekend, some wonder, "What's the next step?" That question is different for every man discerning a call to the Dominicans. The next step can be a visit to other houses and priories within the province. It can be going to other discernment retreats or events for other orders, provinces or dioceses. Very often it is just taking some time to spend with the Lord and pray for guidance and clarity.

The steps are different for everyone. What is not dissimilar is the reality of God's love and guidance on our vocational journeys. With nothing more than anecdotal evidence, I truly believe that the vast majority of those taking the bold step to attend a come and see weekend have an authentic call or priesthood and/or the religious life. In our profoundly secularized world, it is a counter-cultural move to even attend a religious retreat, much less attend a vocation discernment event.

But getting from a come and see weekend to entering religious life takes an act of trust rarely seen in our world today. That is why so many find true happiness in living our their lives in such a radical way in following Jesus Christ: they trust God and not themselves.

Trust God in the movements of your heart. If you have an authentic call, it will be evident to you and you will be unable to run away from it if you truly trust in the Eternal and Loving Creator.

In the end, the next steps matter little, as long as there are steps. Steps mean there is movement, a movement forward I hope. A move forward will only bring you closer to the heart of God. In His heart there is only happiness and peace.

Now get moving!

We Invite You to Our Fall Novena, October 17-25

We Invite You to Our Fall Novena, October 17-25 at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in River Forest, IL. Rosary, devotions, and Mass at noon and 7:00 pm every day, along with veneration of the relics of St. Jude. Come and pray with us to this powerful saint!

Dominican Life in Rome, Part II

I just received these gems. Here is the Central Province's own Fr. Ed Ruane, O.P., with the Master of the Order, Fr. Bruno Cadoré, O.P., and some random guy trying to be a Dominican by wearing white. Ha! Fr. Ed is the Vicar of the Master of the Order at this time. Note that Fr. Bruno is most likely the same height as St. Dominic.

Dominican Life in Rome

Fr. Dominic Holtz, O.P. leads a tour of Santa Sabina in Rome.

Many of the men we meet in the Vocations Office are initially interested in the ministries that our men are engaged in both within the Province and outside of our geographical boundaries. We have had men missioned to Nigeria and Bolivia for decades. However, we do not know what the future holds for our Province as far as the Mission fields go, because the success of both Bolivia and Nigeria have left them self-sufficient and no longer in need of new men from our Province to minister in either country. While we do have men still in Nigeria and Bolivia, they will not be joined by our young men in formation. We wait for new opportunities to minister throughout the world, which will likely come by way of a request from the Master of the Order in Rome.

Rome is a place where we have a relatively large number of men in active ministry. We have two in the General Curia at Santa Sabina and three ministering and teaching at the Angelicum in Rome. One of the interesting facts regarding our Provincial presence in Rome is that the entire Latin language curriculum is taught exclusively by our friars Frs. Dominic Holtz, O.P. and Albert Glade, O.P. Further, Fr. Michael Monshau, O.P. teaches the only homiletics curriculum in all of Rome. It's clear that the gifts of the friars of the Central Province reach far and wide and faithfully serve the Church no matter where they are called.

A good sign of a vocation to the Dominicans is a desire to serve the Order and the Church in unique and adventurous ways. Men entering our way of life will soon find the Order challenging them to realize gifts they may not know they had, and then to use those gifts to further the mission of Jesus Christ in preaching His message of salvation to the farthest corners of the world.

But you won't know what you can do with the help of God until you try!

Come and See Poster

Space is limited! Contact us now!

2012 Vocations Poster

Look for this poster in our ministry sites or email me to get one sent to you.

Domine, da mihi hanc aquam!: Advice for discerning a vocation to religious life...

Fr. Powell offers excellent advice for those discerning a religious vocation. One thing that is very key in this article is the role of the Vocation Director. It is one of low pressure that seeks the good end of the candidate. It may not be in the particular order or diocese of the Vocation Director. What is necessary if that the person finds the place to live out religious life. That it happens is more important than recruiting a new member for my province!

In any case, enjoy the article and email me with any questions about your call to serve Jesus Christ.
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Domine, da mihi hanc aquam!: Advice for discerning a vocation to religious life...: A couple of HA readers have written to ask about vocation discernment.  From 2009, here's my answer:

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 October 26th - 28th. 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!

New Novice Class

Our new Novice class received the Habit this past week and is off and running for the 2012/2013 year. Please keep them in your prayers as they enter into the life of a Dominican friar.

From left to right: Fr. Jerry Stookey, O.P. - Prior, Fr. Robert Keller, O.P. - Novice Master, Br. Luke Carroll, Br. Brian Zuelke, Br. David Schuster, Br. Lorenzo Laorden, Br. Ambrose Lowman, Br. Brent Bowen, Fr. Louie Morrone, O.P. - Socius of the Province, Br. Michael Ibarra.

Pre-novitiate Program Continues

Life for our new men is going well as we continue introducing them to the life of a Dominican friar. In this picture you see Br. Nick Monco, O.P. teaching the candidates the Dominican Salve Regina. They are quick learners and are almost ready to receive the Holy Habit of St. Dominic. Please pray for them!

Dominican vs. The World: The Shrine of St. Jude

Dominican vs. The World: The Shrine of St. Jude: Tonight begins the July Novena to St. Jude at our parish in Denver. This coincides with the launching of the Shrine's new website . Click on...