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.