Becoming a Lay Dominican

Loving God.

Loyal to the Catholic Church.

Seeking Holiness.

Pursuing Truth.

Dominican Laity.. for those seeking a richer, deeper spiritual life while living in the world.

Dedicated to a life of liturgical prayer, study of sacred truth and zeal for the salvation of souls.

Living a positive response to the gospel message while combating the evils of the age by preaching the Truth of Christ.

Dominican Life and Spirit

“Lay Dominican life is all about having a passion for the Word of God. It is about committing oneself to a community of like minded brothers and sisters that immerse themselves in the Word of God. “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (St. John 8:31-32). Lay Dominicans seek to be in an environment where they “breathe” the Word of God in the Holy Scriptures, in the teaching of the Church, in personal and liturgical prayer, in study, and in every day life experiences. They discern ways, with the help of a community of believers, to deliver that Word according to their abilities and the urging of the Holy Spirit”

Rule and Directory of the Lay Dominicans of the Province of St. Martin de Porres

In 1216 Saint Dominic de Guzman founded the Order of Preachers for the primary purpose of defending the truths of the Catholic Faith through prayer, study and holy preaching. Today, just as in previous ages, the Order of Preachers is called to bring God’s Truth to others to help revitalize, support and strengthen their faith through sound theology and the teachings of the Church.

Saint Dominic chose to dedicate his life to Jesus Christ and Hi Church by dedicating himself to prayer and the preaching of truth. He was remembered as speaking only to God or of God. Realizing the destructive effects of sin and the theological errors of his time, Saint Dominic made the study of sacred truth, Veritas, one of the pillars of his Order.

The motto of the Order is: “To contemplate and to give to others the fruits of our contemplation.” The Dominican is first formed through a life of prayer, study and penance before he preaches to God’s people.

The many forms of Dominican preaching and witnessing must flow from graces received in interior silence, prayer and study. Saint Dominic realized that one first needed to be filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit before being able to bring His truth to others.

Lay Dominicans live in the world as married or single persons choosing a specific path to holiness by freely following a Rule based on the spirit of Saint Dominic. They bring the truth of the Gospel to their families, parishes, workplace and social gatherings, thus permeating all of society. In turn, the members share in the spiritual benefits of the Dominican Order.

Chapter meetings provide community opportunities to pray, study and share the truths of the Gospel and the traditions of the Catholic Church.

We meet on the second Sunday of the month between the months of September to May. Meeting times are 1:30pm for Inquiry (first year) members 2:00pm for other to the end of the Liturgy of Hours around 5:30pm. Be sure to visit our Formation section to learn about how we are formed.

The stages of formation include:

Getting to know one another: Above all else, this first step allows the candidate to get to know the Order better. This step is normally conducted through regular meetings with one of the local chapters in the candidate’s area. The vocation director at the candidate’s local chapter will help the candidate discern whether or not he or she is made for Dominican life. If there is a positive response at the end of this step, the candidate will be invited to proceed to the next step.

Inquiry Period: One must be Catholic for at least two years before beginning the inquiry period. Through a series of classes over the course of one year, the local chapter presents an overview of what it means to be a Dominican. As this period of formation ends, the candidate may decide to request admission to the Order.

Novitiate: The duration of the novitiate is twelve months. The novitiate begins with the Dominican Order recognizing the candidate as a member of the Order. This is a more formal formation period in the life of a fraternity member. This period includes diverse activities: the study of the life of St. Dominic and other great Dominican figures; the study of the Constitutions, the history of the Order, and the Rule of the Fraternities of St. Dominic; and the general practice of the commitments of a lay Dominican (e.g., daily Mass, Morning and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Rosary).

Simple Profession: As the novitiate ends, candidates and the Order make a decision as to whether the candidate should make a commitment as a lay Dominican. Temporary profession is a commitment to live according to the Rule of the Fraternities of St. Dominic for a period of three years. Formation in Dominican life and spirituality continues during this time. At the end of this period, the candidate and the Order decide if the candidate is prepared to make final or permanent profession.

Final Profession: When the decision is reached to move ahead and make final profession, the individual makes a commitment to live according to the Rule of the Fraternities of St. Dominic for the rest of his or her life.

On-going Formation: Dominicans are particularly committed to on-going formation both in the chapter and individually. Even though one has made a permanent commitment to be a Dominican, on-going study continues in the area of Dominican spirituality, the Scriptures, the teachings of the Church, etc. Dominicans are always concerned about growing in understanding of both their faith and their Dominican vocation.

If you are interested in joining us send an email to formationdirector@3optn.com. We would be overjoyed to have you with us on our journey to Our Lord Jesus Christ by the path of Saint Dominic.