Dominicans and WYD

World Youth Day 2008 - Sun 20 July

2008-07-27T09:08:00.002+10:00

Each day this week, the World Youth Dominicans will mirror the week that was WYD 2008 as they share some of their impressions of the great event. Today, we have a look at World Youth Day 2008 - Sun 20 July.

The great day of World Youth upon us, we woke to pack somewhat hastily and make our way through the security clearance for priests and seminarians. Once through, we discovered we were going to be less than 100 metres (about 300 feet) from the Pope! The Sydney seminarians sang Morning Prayer, which was a great help to our spiritual preparation for the Mass of WYD.

Together with the priests, we participated in the Mass of WYD. With considerable skill our very own Brother Mannes Tellis sang the Gospel (Luke 4:16-21). And some of our brothers were called upon to distribute Holy Communion - at WYD, this meant a long walk on soft sand! The Mass with the Holy Father was a very fitting conclusion to what had been a full week of things for God and his people.

After Mass, a small group from our university chaplaincy made their way through the crowd to Randwick itself for a time of recreation. We even met up with a Swedish Dominican, Fr Johan Linden, whom we had met some months before on his exploratory visit.

We are very grateful for all we had received from World Youth Day, but none more so than Br Mannes:

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There will be more posted here at "Dominicans and WYD", especially more posts of photos and memories from our events. Keep visiting us!

Day 5 - Sat 19 July

2008-07-26T09:58:00.008+10:00

Each day this week, the World Youth Dominicans will mirror the week that was WYD 2008 as they share some of their impressions of the great event. Today, we have a look at Day 5 - Sat 19 July.

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Saturday morning during the WYD festival is usually a quiet time for WYD pilgrims - a slow start to their very long day, which includes the pilgrim walk and WYD Vigil with the Holy Father. But not for us students.
We went to St Mary's Cathedral for 9:30am Mass for the dedication of the beautiful new altar by Pope Benedict, before which he briefly greeted us seminarians and young religious as he entered the Cathedral. After clearing security at about 7:00am, we waited along with the two hundred who were to have this rare encounter. What a privilege!

Returning briefly to St James' Priory Glebe to hear Br Karl strike up a tune (pictured centre) and to pick up our bags and sleeping gear, we made our way to Central Station and then to Royal Randwick Racecourse, the site of the WYD Vigil and Mass. The walk was one of the shortest in WYD history - less than 10 kilometres (close to 6 miles). It was also one of the most pleasant, with the weather neither cool nor hot and pleasantly dry.

Once we found our allocated section (M6 for those who were looking for us!), we had lunch, unpacked our bedding and met a few friends from interstate and overseas. The Vigil was simple and effective, with many hundreds of young pilgrims availing themselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and a time of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in four "Adoration Tents".

The night was going to be a cold one, so many of us dossed down early and woke up during the night to shiver our way back to sleep: all part of the great pilgrimage experience.

Day 4 - Fri 18 July

2008-07-25T09:13:00.007+10:00

Each day this week, the World Youth Dominicans will mirror the week that was WYD 2008 as they share some of their impressions of the great event. Today, we have a look at Day 4 - Fri 18 July.

Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Canberra and Goulburn gave a magnificent presentation on living as a Christian. The important thing for us life-long pilgrims is that it is not us who are battered, bruised and broken in the course of trying hard to get to heaven, but Christ himself who has given us access to the Father in the one Spirit: by his wounds we are healed.

Our pilgrim group met some delightful West Australian pilgrims over lunch. Wagon Wheels and Lamingtons were a good dose of sugar to keep us charged for the Way of the Cross, which began soon after we'd finished lunch.

The Way of the Cross was a highlight for many of us, with beautiful dramatisations of the last moments of the Lord's life and magnificently produced music provided by the St Mary's Cathedral Choir. Our very own Patrick Smith (director, producer, lord high everything else of our video clip) washed Pilate's hands.

The Vocations Expo re-opened for the final session shortly after the Way of Cross was over. The organisers estimate that the Expo received 2,500 people every hour, for a total of 55,000 visitors over the four days and irregular hours. We were so pleased to be involved and we met many fine young men and women whom we are praying for and guiding in their discernment.

Once the Vocations Expo closed at 10:00pm, we spent one more hour in the Exhibition Centre packing up and bumping out (very much their term!). It was a relief after a very busy time in Darling Harbour, and one of our brothers took to making his own fun to entertain us:

Day 3 - Thu 17 July

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Each day this week, the World Youth Dominicans will mirror the week that was WYD 2008 as they share some of their impressions of the great event. Today, we have a look at Day 3 - Thu 17 July.

The morning Catechesis was given by Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto (Canada) who spoke on the first of the four "marks" of the Church: her one-ness. The Church is one, holy, catholic and apostolic and her oneness is the gift of the Holy Spirit for which Christ prayed "that they would be one." This oneness is expressed in the communion of saints, which is a communion of charity united by the common love of the one Lord. It is also seen in the gift of authority which Christ gave to the apostles and their successors, first to Peter and his brothers too.

After Mass, we went to Barangaroo, the same site as the Opening Mass, for the Official Welcome of the Holy Father to Sydney. Pope Benedict arrived in Australia on Monday the 14th, and took time to make a short retreat in the west of Sydney before being received by the WYD pilgrims.

It was estimated that slightly less than 500,000 people used the public transport system that afternoon. Every one of them arrived home safely, which the local papers described as a miracle. That figure includes all of the regular commuters and tourists, as well as the by-now 250,00 of us who congregated at Barangaroo and lined the streets of Sydney as the Holy Father made his way to St Mary's Cathedral House, the residence of the Archbishop and Cathedral clergy.

The Vocations Expo opened again after the Pope's welcome. The number of pilgrims visiting us at the Expo swelled towards the end of the week. It's as though word got out how good it was and we suspect most pilgrims made a visit at least once during their time in Sydney. We are now praying for their discernment, that is since the skin condition Br Vincent had, Virtuous Cross Disease, has since cleared up:

Day 2 - Wed 16 July

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Each day this week, the World Youth Dominicans will mirror the week that was WYD 2008 as they share some of their impressions of the great event. Today, we have a look at Day 2 - Wed 16 July.

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The first of the three WYD Catecheses was on Wednesday. Bishops from all around the world speak to thousands of young people at a time on a topic related to the WYD theme: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8). The Sydney University group we accompanied attended the English language catecheses. On Wednesday, we heard Cardinal McCarrick, the retired Archbishop of Washington DC. The Cardinal also celebrated Mass for the pilgrims who then moved off to other WYD events.

Wednesday also saw the beginning of the WYD festival proper, with hundreds of events scattered all across Sydney including exhibitions and concerts, lectures and opportunities for prayer. While Franciscans prayed together on Bondi Beach and listened to Cardinal Napier of Durban (South Africa) and the Jesuits met at their two inner city schools for forums on topics such as the Status of Women, International Poverty Relief and Refugees, the Dominican friars hosted the Dominican WYD Gathering at the Great Hall of the University of Sydney.
The Dominican WYD Gathering was the centre-piece event during the WYD festival for the Dominican Order. Pilgrims we sponsored from Papua New Guinea danced and sang for us as a prelude to Fr Paul Murray, professor at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. Fr Paul spoke beautifully about the power of witnessing to Christ, and said he was deeply moved by the participation and enthusiasm of the young pilgrims we welcomed. Cardinal Schönborn then expounded eloquently and patiently his critique of evolutionism. The Cardinal was gracious enough to encourage the overflow of young pilgrims to sit around him near the lectern. Evening Prayer of the Holy Spirit followed the Cardinal's presentation which saw the Great Hall of the University turned into a magnificent house of prayer for a time (or is that a house of magnificent prayer?). The organist, Pastór de Lasala, and trumpeter Chris Graham provided exceptional accompaniment to the chanting friars and Capella Sublima who outdid themselves.

We estimate the total number of pilgrims we saw through the doors of the Great Hall as 1,200. What an honour and pleasure it was for us to spend the afternoon and evening with them!

Thank you, all!

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We were blessed by local film student, Patrick Smith, who video recorded the entire afternoon. Requests for an audio or DVD video copy of the Dominican WYD Gathering can be sent to wyd(at)op.org.au. We will notify you of an amount for a suggested donation. We also intend that audio and video segments of the two presentations as well as texts will follow on "Dominicans and WYD" in good time. Please be patient with us as we are still settling down after a busy time!

Day 1 - Tue 15 July

2008-07-22T09:18:00.003+10:00

Each day this week, the World Youth Dominicans will mirror the week that was WYD 2008 as they share some of their impressions of the great event. Today, we have a look at Day 1 - Tue 15 July.

Having participated in the opening session of the Vocations Exhibition which was already showing much promise (in fact, the Vocations Expo was never "quiet"!), the friars made their way with 150,000 new friends from Darling Harbour to Barangaroo, the site of the WYD Opening Mass.

The WYD festival always begins with Mass celebrated by the host bishop. George Cardinal Pell of Sydney celebrated Mass together with dozens of bishops and hundreds of priests for the pilgrims who reached Sydney by Tuesday afternoon. Not since the 2000 Olympics had Sydney seen such a crowd and never before in one place, let alone for Christ's sake.

Our brothers joined the concelebrating priests and assisting seminarians and young religious towards the front of the site. More than 300 priests concelebrated the Mass and we ended up with a little meeting of friars in our back row from all over the world: from the United States, Columbia, the Solomon Islands, France and elsewhere too. It was wonderful to meet so many of our itinerant brothers!

The Cardinal's superb homily set the tone well for WYD 2008. Here is a brief excerpt:

"Earlier in this Mass I welcomed you all to this World Youth Day week and I repeat that welcome now. But I do not begin with the ninety-nine healthy sheep ... I begin by welcoming and encouraging anyone, anywhere who regards himself or herself as lost, in deep distress, with hope diminished or even exhausted ... Christ’s call is to all who are suffering, not just to Catholics or other Christians, but especially to those without religion. Christ is calling you home; to love, healing and community."

Afterwards, the student brothers walked with the crowd through The Rocks of Sydney (a place rich in the early convict and colonial history of Sydney) for a bite to eat and encounters with young pilgrims from other religious communities.

It's fair to say WYD 2008 got off to a thrilling start!

Last day before WYD begins

2008-07-14T00:56:00.008+10:00

We are one day out from the Opening Mass for World Youth Day 2008, and there's still so much going on behind the scenes to make the events run as smoothly as possible.

Our young friars are having a working bee today, setting up our booth at the Vocations Expo and pulling together the last few items for the Dominican WYD Gathering on Wednesday. In WYD offices, there are people working under demanding conditions right around the clock on two hours' sleep. For some, tomorrow will be their third day under those conditions. We are praying for each and every one of them, and we ask our readers to do the same.

Pray for us all that this time of pilgrimage, even for the host city, is a blessing to us and those we encounter, fruitful and faithful to God whom we all serve.

Here's a re-cap of what we're doing during WYD:

WYD Opening Mass with Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney

Tuesday, 4:30pm

Barangaroo (East Darling Harbour)

The very first of many WYD events. Our priest-friars are concelebrating, and our student-friars are assisting with Holy Communion. Look out for us to the right side of the sanctuary!

Vocations Exhibition

Various times, see website

Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour

We are taking up stalls G9 & G10. Do come and visit us! We have good reading material, postcards to send home and friendly friars with funny faces.

Dominican WYD Gathering with Cardinal Schönborn and Fr Paul Murray

Wednesday, 4:00-6:30pm

Great Hall of the University of Sydney (Camperdown)

All young pilgrims are warmly invited to attend, and interested others will be welcomed too. More information is available here.

Official Welcome of Pope Benedict XVI to WYD 2008

Thursday, 2:45pm

Barangaroo (East Darling Harbour)

Pope Benedict has safely arrived in Sydney this morning (Welcome!) and is taking a short time of rest and retreat before Thursday.

Way of the Cross

Friday, 3:00pm

Sydney CBD

Our Sydney friars who are chaplains to the University of Sydney group have been placed at Barangaroo for the final Stations there.

Dedication of the Cathedral's New Altar

Saturday, 9:30am

St Mary's Cathedral and Minor Basilica

An encounter of the Holy Father with young religious and seminarians will take place in the context of the rite of dedication of the Cathedral's beautiful new altar.

Pilgrimage to WYD Mass Site and Overnight Vigil

Saturday from 11:00am

Our Sydney WYD group is meeting at North Sydney station (about 500 metres from Blessed Mary MacKillop's tomb). From there, we make our pilgrimage across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge to Randwick.

Mass of World Youth Day

Sunday, 10:00am

Royal Randwick Racecourse

The final event of WYD 2008. Again, our priest-friars are concelebrating and our student-friars are assisting with Holy Communion. We are honoured that Br Mannes Tellis, O.P. is singing the Gospel of the Mass.

Tuesday Bonus

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Watch it here, or at the WYD Vocations Expo (15-18 July):

Our missions

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Today is the feast of Blessed Peter To Rot, proto-martyr of Papua New Guinea and a patron of WYD. This Peter, as opposed to Pier Giorgio, was a catechist who refused polygamy which had been imposed by Japanese imperial authorities during the Second World War. Peter To Rot died a martyr at their hands by lethal injection and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995 - the same year he beatified Australia's Blessed Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

The Province of Our Lady's Assumption has a missionary vicariate which sees to the Order's apostolates in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. The first Dominican missionaries were friars and sisters who went to the Solomon Islands shortly after the Second World War, in 1956. They established parishes and medical clinics, mission stations and schools. From the beginning, our Pacific missions were a Dominican family affair. Why even the birth of Br Michael, who is assigned to Melbourne, was assisted by Sr Noel! Today the friars and sisters live and work side-by-side on Loga (the novitiate) and Honiara (the studentate). In Papua New Guinea, Blessed Peter's home country, in 1979 our friars founded the Dominican College at Seminary in Bomana, Port Moreseby.

The Province is proud to sponsor twenty pilgrims to come to WYD in Sydney - the first time WYD pilgrims have come from those countries. Our friars will travel with them to Lismore (NSW) and Brisbane for Days in the Dioceses, and then they will join us on Tuesday for the WYD Festival.

Welcome brothers and friends all!

Smoking in Sydney: Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

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The Dominican friars will play a special role in the visit to Australia of the bodily remains of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. The relics of the Blessed will spend the first week, 2-9 July, at St Benedict's Church, Broadway (Sydney). Fr John Neill, O.P. (not pictured!) is Parish Priest of Broadway.

The 7:00pm Mass at St Benedict's on Blessed Pier Giorgio's feastday, Friday 4 July, will be celebrated with extra jubilation with his bodily remains present for the Mass. The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, will be principal celebrant of the Mass for his feast, and our brother, Bishop Anthony Fisher, O.P. will preach.

In addition to the festivities for the Blessed at St Benedict's, there will be a presentation on Blessed Pier Giorgio's life hosted by Lumen Verum Apologetics, to which all are most welcome:

A Holy Terror:

The Life and Virtues of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Br Paul Rowse, O.P.

St Michael's Parish Hall

26 Margaret Street

Belfield (Sydney)

8:00pm, 11 July 2008

The friar popes

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Four of St Dominic’s sons were elected to the Chair of Peter. These were Blessed Innocent V, Blessed Benedict XI, Saint Pius V and Benedict XIII.

Born around 1225 in France, Innocent V (pictured left) was the first member of the Order to become pope though reigning only for half a year in 1276. Following the Second Council of Lyons, he expressed a desire for union with the Orthodox Churches (You may recall that it was on the way to the First Council that St Thomas Aquinas died). Innocent sent legates to the Eastern Roman Emperor following the Second Council but died afterwards. In keeping with the Order’s intellectual tradition, he was the author of several works in philosophy, theology and canon law including a commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard which was the standard theological text used at the time. He was beatified on March 13, 1898.

Benedict XI (pictured right), born Nicola Boccasini, was Pope from 1303 to 1304. His, too, was a brief pontificate lasting only eight months. He was the author of a volume of sermons and commentaries on the Gospel of Matthew, on the Psalms, the Book of Job, and John's Apocalypse. It was his successor, Pope Clement V who transferred the papacy from Rome to Avignon inaugurating what is sometimes known as the Babylonian Captivity (1309-77) which St Catherine of Sienna was instrumental in bringing to an end.

A quick aside: The present Pope is actually the fifteenth Benedict. Since Benedict X is now considered to have been an antipope, our Dominican Benedict, though not altering the numbering of his name, is really the tenth thereby advancing the number of all subsequent Benedicts.

The best known of the Dominican popes and the only one so far to be canonised is Pope St Pius V. Born Antonio Ghislieri in what was then the Duchy of Milan, he entered the Order at the age of fourteen. Having been ordained priest in 1528 and consecrated bishop, he was elected in 1566 to the papal chair as Pius V. It was thought that the popes wear white because Pius V wore the white habit of the Order after his election.

Following the Council of Trent, Pius promulgated the 1570 edition of the Roman Missal which remained essentially unchanged for 400 years until the modern revision of the Roman Missal following the Second Vatican Council. He adopted a number of measures to respond to the spread of the Protestant Reformation in Western Europe. Included among these was the support he gave for the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots in Elizabethan England.

Pius also had to contend with the Turks who threatened to advance into Europe. The most famous battle, in this regard, was that of Lepanto. Pius united the forces of Venice, Spain, and the Holy See to match the Ottomans. Yet the Turks had the superior fleet. As the battle raged, Pius, accompanied by many of the faithful, were praying the Rosary in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. From dawn to dusk the prayers continued in Rome. When it was all over, the Ottoman's had been defeated. Pius thereafter declared that a commemoration of the Rosary would be a part of the Vatican's Mass every October 7. His successor, Pope Gregory XIII, went further and established the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary. Pius died on May 1, 1572 and was canonised by Clement XI on May 24, 1712.

The most recent Dominican friar pope is Benedict XIII who was elected in 1724 and died in 1730. Upon entering the Order, he received the name Vincenzo Maria (probably after St Vincent Ferrer and the Blessed Virgin). He was named cardinal on February 22, 1672 and later was Bishop of Manfredonia, Cesena and then archbishop of Benevento. Though, perhaps, not a born governor, he was above all fond of asceticism and religious celebrations. A memorial of him (pictured) is found in Sant'Anna di Palazzo, Naples.

One month out

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We are exactly one month away from the Dominican WYD Gathering, 4:00-6:30pm on Wednesday 16 July 2008. Here are some of the highlights to look forward to:

Cardinal Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna and a Dominican friar, will be speaking on his topic, “All Creation Groans: The Debate over Creation and Evolution”. His Eminence will also preside over Evening Prayer and give Benediction to conclude the Dominican WYD Gathering.

Father Paul Murray, from our Irish Province, will show us in his presentation how to come close to Christ when we witness to him, “Seek His Face: Knowing the One You Witness.” Fr Paul will also field questions from pilgrims.

The magnificent local Sydney choir, Capella Sublima, will make your hearts sing as their mouths do during Evening Prayer of the Holy Spirit and Benediction. In the course of the afternoon, they will sing a number of motets from the Renaissance period, including D’Evai’s rare motet, O Sacrum Convivium, to accompany the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on 16 July. This is thought to be its first production in Australia. They are also singing Dufay’s 15th-Century variation on the hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus. And there’s a surprise piece by their highly-regarded director, Richard Perrignon (pictured), composed in honour of His Holiness Pope Benedict for WYD – its first ever production.

Then finally, the Dominicans will chant unaccompanied the ancient antiphons to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Holy Father Dominic. The Salve Regina with its Dominican tone and O Lumen Ecclesiae (O Light of the Church) have been chanted by our brothers and sisters in honour of the two saints since the earliest days of the Order in the thirteenth century.

So, come and join us at the Dominican WYD Gathering!

Dominican WYD Gathering
Wednesday 16 July
4:00-6:30pm
Great Hall of the University of Sydney

Complimentary light refreshments served until 4:30pm

Where in the World (Youth Day) are you?!

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We’d be just thrilled if many young pilgrims and interested readers came to join us at the Dominican WYD Gathering and at our Vocations Expo stall. Both venues are very easily accessed by public transport, feet or wheelchair. So, here’s how to find us:

Transport to the Dominican WYD Gathering (4:00-6:30pm, 16 July)

From George Street opposite Wynyard station in the city, catch either buses 438 or 440 and alight at “University Avenue”. Enter University Avenue on your left-hand side, further west of Victoria Park.

From George Street opposite Wnyard station in the city, catch either buses 431 or 433 and alight at “Glebe Point Road”. Walk up Broadway and enter University Avenue on your left-hand side, further west of Victoria Park.

Transport to the Vocations Expo

From George Street opposite Wynyard station in the city, catch bus 443 and alight at “Harris Street” near the Maritime Museum.

Both events are accessible by wheelchair.

Do come along and visit us!

Our Province's Parishes

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One of our principal apostolates in Australia is the parish. When the first friars came to Australia from Ireland, the bishops offered them parishes in return for a presence in the local Church.

Our first parish foundation was North Adelaide. Friars from the Irish Province were given St Laurence's Church there (pictured left), a charming little stone church which had been named in honour of the bishop, Laurence Bonaventure Shiel, who had famously excommunicated Blessed Mary MacKillop. The first Dominican prior in North Adelaide, Robert William Spence, was Adelaide's sixth archbishop.

Parishes in Melbourne (East Camberwell) and Sydney (Helensborough and Wahroonga) followed the North Adelaide foundation. In Melbourne, the friars were offered the choice of the apple orchards of East Camberwell (14 kilometres from Melbourne CBD) or Mornington (some 53 bumpy kilometres from Melbourne). The first Mass was celebrated in St Dominic's Parish East Camberwell in the front parlour of the Priory, with borrowed pub benches for pews. The Church was completed in 1958.

In Sydney, the friars have settled in Glebe where they have care of St James' Parish Glebe and St Bede's Parish Pyrmont. Broadway and Watsons Bay Parishes also have Dominican parish priests.

This week, the parish of Carina in Brisbane celebrates its patronal feast, Our Lady of Graces. The Parish was started by the friars in 1951 in a cowfield. The Priory in Carina serves as our pre-novitiate house.

Irish Dominican architect, Bonaventure Leahy, designed the striking church of the Holy Rosary in Doubleview (or Woodlands), Perth. Leahy was also behind the architecture for Blackfriars Priory Watson, Canberra, (pictured right) where the friars have care also of the parish.

Journey of the WYD Cross and Icon

2008-05-26T08:03:00.003+10:00

The WYD Cross and Icon have been making their way around Australia, preparing our country for July. On the 2nd of May, the Cross and Icon visited our deanery of Boroondara in Melbourne. Br Vincent Magat, O.P. preached on the occasion, inspired by the "Festival of Light" in Isaiah 60. This is an edited version.

Whether in the books of the prophets or the Book of Revelations of St John, an end of darkness and of the tears of sadness is promised to us, but only because a new light will shine upon us. And this light is God. It is God who brings the nations together into one, unites the peoples as brothers and sisters. Since all of this seems so foreign to our world in which we know sadness and betrayal of the highest and best ideals, a transformation is needed, a day of the Lord, wherein our restless hearts will finally find their home.

But grace and transformation are not only for the last things, that in this life as we live it already, we can in some small way aid the progress of the kingdom of God. And not only can we, but we should, because God has already began his work.

The Israelites held festivals like the Passover, not because after days of labour they wanted to cut loose and run mad, but rather because it is possible for day to day life to dumb down even the most profound love. But the days of rejoicing and feasting did not demean work as unfulfilling. Rather, work itself gained dignity and was celebrated as the indispensable part of human wellbeing.

Today is a day of festival, an opportunity to stand back and consider anew the greatest deed accomplished in history, the most profound gift the Father has given to mankind. While we were still sinners, as Saint Paul reminds us, while we were unworthy of God’s help, He sent His Son among us. His Son who did not embark on an international speaking tour, did not collect large honoraria and did not retire to a comfortable life in the south of France. No, he died for us on the Cross. He died for us so that the transformation promised us from the beginning could touch our very heart even in this life. He died, that salvation may be ours one day, but also that here on earth already, we may through the grace of God experience the first taste of heaven.

As the Father spoke to the saints and directed them to that greatness that continues to shine through the centuries, so the Father speaks to us in everyday things. Everywhere we go, everything we do, He is calling us to the sacred mission of living the true life. And so, the Cross, formerly a sign of death now changed into a sign of hope in the Resurrection, has gone to the ends of the earth to show that this endeavour is common to us all. It has visited streets where we live and our places of business; factories, schools and universities to encourage us to be mindful of God in our daily work, whatever it may be; to bring consolation where grief prevails, and joy for those who recognize their Master.

Accompanying the Cross is the Icon of our Lady, the model of the perfect disciple who shared in the sufferings of Christ, who followed him to the Cross, and has, so to speak, been at the foot of the Cross ever since. She is the proof that simple humanity, flesh and blood as we are, can be pleasing to God in grace.

So, for you who are youngest here, look around you, look at the Cross, and see that something great is happening here for which we, and millions others before us, thought it worthwhile not only to give up a little time today, but everyday, and our whole lives also. For those of you who are at high school and university: Do not approach God with fear. Fall in love with God and you will find yourself able to love others, this world and your life even more. And finally for those who have lived the life of faith for some time: as the Scriptures say, “Halt at the cross-roads, look well, and ask yourselves which path it was that stood you in good stead long ago. That path follow and you shall find rest for your souls.”

Christ has come among us, God has looked upon us with kindness, and he is with us today and to the end of time.

The Great Hall at the University of Sydney

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On the afternoon of Wednesday, 16 July 2008, the Dominicans are hosting a gathering for young pilgrims and groups, and others are also welcome to attend. With warm welcomes, eminent speakers and mellifluous music in the praise of God, the Dominican WYD Gathering looks to be a great event.

The Dominican WYD Gathering will be held at the Great Hall of the University of Sydney. The Great Hall belongs to that little flourishing in Gothic architecture of eighteenth and nineteenth-century Europe and elsewhere known as Gothic Revival or Neo-Gothic, spawned by the Romantic movement. Its English phase saw the rise of luminaries as A.W.N. Pugin and John Ruskin.

Opened for use and completed in 1859, Sir Edmund Blacket’s design of the Great Hall is based on Westminster Hall, London. Its features include a hammerbeam roof with its ten carved angels, magnificent stained glass which includes some of the greatest saints and thinkers of previous times, and the von Beckerath Organ and its 3,947 pipes.

Today, the Great Hall is the venue for all of the graduations of the University, numerous musical and conferencing events, and we are honoured to host there the Dominican WYD Gathering on 16 July.

For the Word of the Lord is faithful

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The Ascension promise of Christ to his disciples was fulfilled at Pentecost. Christ the Lord, after spending forty days among them, rejoined his Father in heaven but not before offering them consolation.

They had so come to depend on the closeness of God in Christ that his departure to the Father seemed like abandonment. This is why he said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8).

When the Holy Spirit first descended on Mary at the Incarnation, God changed his relationship with his creation forever. When God became man, his disciples depended on him for strength in the mission (John 14) and direction (Matthew 6; Luke 11). When he rose from the tomb, even after having seen him alive again, they hid themselves in the upper room out of fear.

But God once again entered the upper room, true to his Word.

The Holy Spirit’s presence on the disciples at Pentecost is the continuation of the gradual deepening of God’s presence to us all. Before the creation, God was elusive, his Spirit hovering above the waters (Genesis 1:2). At the Incarnation, the Holy Spirit came upon one person, Mary, to conceive the Word in her womb.

But at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has a new presence to people: in the heart.

He descended on the disciples to make them witnesses to the ends of the earth. The Spirit consecrates and sanctifies for a new task: taking the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. And this is our task too. We received the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

In 64 days’ time, World Youth Day will have brought many people together for a short time. Then, like the disciples, we will go into the world, proclaiming the goodness of God who keeps his promises to a thousand generations.

To him be glory forever. Amen.

The Holy Preaching of the Ordained Dominican

2008-05-02T12:46:00.004+10:00

This week's contribution was written by Br Mannes Tellis, our most recently ordained friar who received the diaconate at the hands of Bishop Anthony Fisher, O.P. on 22 December 2007. In this post, Br Mannes reflects on the ordained ministry of the Word and Sacraments in the context of Dominican life.

"Made cooperators of the episcopal order by priestly ordination, we have as our special function the prophetic office by which the Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed everywhere both by word and example, with due consideration for the conditions of persons, times, and places so that faith is awakened or penetrates more deeply all life in the building up of the body of Christ, which is perfected by the sacraments of faith."

- Constitutions of the Order of Friars Preachers

Like all priests, both diocesan and religious, Dominicans priests are cooperators with the bishops in assisting them to spread the gospel throughout the world. Scholarly and doctrinally sound preaching, faithful to the Church’s teachings is our gift, our contribution to the Church in every place we live and work. So we ordained Dominican friars contribute through our distinctive manner of preaching. The friar who is a priest or deacon stands with the apostles through their successors, the bishops. This is the joy of the ordained friar preacher, that he stands as a modern day apostle, to preach Christ crucified.

Flowing from the ministry of the Word is the ministry of the sacraments. The sacramental ministry of confession is particularly important to the Dominican Order since our preaching is for the salvation of souls. How better to save souls than to be always ready to hear the confessions of the Church's wounded children? And the honour of celebrating Holy Mass as a Dominican is also a bound up quite clearly with the Order. St Dominic himself was unique in his time – he usually sang the Mass every day in an age when daily mass was not common. Walking in the footsteps of our blessed father, daily celebration of the Mass is recommended to all priests of the Order as an action of Christ and of the Church.

The Dominican priest is one who is ready to be at the service of God on earth, following today the example of our holy father Dominic.

Committed to the Order's Mission: Lay Dominicans

2008-04-28T10:08:00.002+10:00

At the Dominican WYD Gathering, members of the Sydney Lay Dominican Chapter which meets at St Benedict's on Broadway will be assisting the friars with setting up and organisation. There'll be a lot to do, but we have good capable hands in our Lay Dominican brothers and sisters.

Lay Dominicans, once called Tertiaries or members of the Third Order of St Dominic, are full members of the Order of Preachers. In their own state in life, they are committed to the entire Order's work of preaching and salvation of souls through prayer (especially the Divine Office and Rosary) and works of charity.

The Sydney Lay Dominican Chapter has been together for a short time and has a good number of dedicated members. They meet at St Benedict's on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month at 4:30pm for prayer, a spiritual talk, concluding with the 6pm Parish Mass and Evening Prayer.

Some members of the Sydney Lay Dominican Chapter

with their chaplains Fr Dominic Murphy and Br Mannes Tellis.

There are other Lay Dominican Chapters established in many cities and towns in Australia and New Zealand. For more information about the Lay Dominicans, please contact their National President: Mr Tony Peart - anthonypeart (at) hotmail.com

A Time for Discerning the Will of God

2008-04-21T16:43:00.000+10:00

The Province of the Assumption has two novices undertaking their 12 month Novitiate, a time of prayer and study to discern whether their divine vocation is leading them to the Order. This is being done in a joint Novitiate Program with Novices from the Province of the Holy Rosary in Hong Kong.

Having commenced the Novitiate program last year on 1 July, they are coming close to the time when they will decide, and the community will decide, if they are to make Simple Profession in the Order of Preachers.

Br Karl Emerick, 37 years old, has a Degree in Psychology and post graduate qualifications in Social Adminstration. He is interested in Patristics, especially in there application in Apologetics of the Church.

Br Thomas Azzi, 25 years old, is a member of the Maronite Rite, and has obtained a combined degree in Commerce and Law, prior to entering the Novitiate. A keen fan of St Thomas Aquinas, he is attracted to the Orders devotion to the pursuit of Truth.

Your Prayers are asked for Br Karl and Br Thomas, as they come toward the end of their Novitiate, that they will listen to the will of God and follow their divine vocation, wherever it leads them.

Simple Profession (Temporary Vows) is planned for Br Karl and Br Thomas to be made in the hands of Fr Kevin Saunders, Prior Provincial of the Province of the Assumption, on Sunday 29 June in Our Lady of Graces Parish, Carina, Queensland.

Discerning the Spirit in Life: The Catherine of Siena Institute

2008-04-14T09:02:00.002+10:00

During WYD 2008 the Catherine of Siena Institute will be participating in the Youth Festival with a short presentation equipping young people for the discernment task to which they are called by the Holy Spirit.

Most baptized Catholics are aware that God has a plan for their lives, but need assistance in identifying how to read the signs the Holy Spirit is working in their lives. The Institute’s programs offer real and concrete assistance in this work of discernment and in understanding each person’s unique role in the mission of the Church. In the usual work of the Institute this is done through the Called and Gifted Workshops but at WYD 2008 the Institute will provide an introduction to this work of discernment aimed specifically at young people.

“Our focus will be discernment as a right and duty for all the baptized. Ours is another truly radical and authentic approach to vocational discernment,” says Clara Geoghegan, co-director of the Catherine of Siena Institute, Australia. The Institute is sponsored by the Dominican friars' Province of the Assumption in Australia and New Zealand with the involvement of co-director Fr Anthony Walsh, O.P.

The essence of this vocation is mission - to witness to Christ and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Each member of the Church has a unique and irreplaceable vocation which will take into account their individuality and unique place in the world. They have also been individually and uniquely ‘gifted’ by the Holy Spirit to fulfill that vocation.

“The presentation will look at examples of how discerning and using our charisms can change lives and bring God’s love and healing to those around us. We will show how these gifts have been used in the Church by the saints – particularly WYD 2008 patrons such as Mother Teresa and Pier Giorgio Frassati – but also in the lives of ordinary Christians,” she said.

The Youth Festival presentation will look at the real clues in our lives: the Church, our uniqueness and giftedness, the context in which we live our lives. These are all important clues discerning our vocation and our mission.

“A final message we want to give the WYD pilgrims, is that God acts when we act. Too often discernment is perceived as something which requires withdrawal from the world,” says Clara. “In reality we only learn through doing and reflecting on the ways in which the Holy Spirit works through our actions. Lay people are called to live our their spirituality in and through the world” she said.

Anniversary of St Dominic's Dedication

2008-04-07T08:21:00.001+10:00

Last week, our community of St Dominic's in Melbourne celebrated the anniversary of the dedication of the parish church. Archbishop Justin Simonds, then-Coadjutor Archbishop, who consecrated the church of St Dominic at East Camberwell was a Dominican tertiary, or secular Dominican.

St Dominic's Parish has been served by Dominican friars since its establishment by Archbishop Daniel Mannix in 1924. The first Mass in the parish was celebrated by a friar in the front parlour of the old estate house Holyrood which had been purchased from Sir John Higgins. Borrowed pub benches sufficed for pews in the Camberwell dry area. One of the pews is still part of the priory furniture outside the library. The parish school was first run by the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia, who also administered their secondary school for girls, Siena College, across the road from the Priory.

The three Lay Dominican Chapters are part of the life and mission of the friars' community and many are regular members of the parish worshipping community. The members of the chapters of St Dominic, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Blessed Adrian Fortescue come together to study and imbibe the spirit of the Order St Dominic founded.

The Dominican priory in Camberwell accommodates a number of different entities within our Province. Twenty or so friars are assigned to the priory and the Prior Provincial has his office there, as do the Provincial Bursar and Archivist. The Province Studium and Library (which has one of the finest collections of Thomistic works in the country) are also housed in Camberwell. The Parish of East Camberwell has its offices on the ground floor of the priory building, in what was once the lay brothers' section.

Almighty God,

as we recall with joy

the dedication of this house of yours

on each recurring anniversary:

listen to your people's prayer,

and grant that our worship here

may be a sincere and holy service,

honouring your name

and bringing us the fullness of redemption.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dominican Literature at WYD

2008-03-31T13:57:00.003+11:00

Today the Church celebrates the Incarnation of the Eternal Word in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Most especially do we remember the Virgin-Mother's consent and desire for the conception: "Let it be done to me according to your word." The Annunciation reminds us once again of the magnitude of Christ's coming: the transcendent and unapproachable God took for himself human flesh and became man.

While not as great as the Annunciation itself, the Dominican friars have little annunciations for WYD. The literature we are producing for you will be available during the Dominican WYD Gathering and Vocations Expo. Designed to present the key ideas of the Order and its mission of preaching and the salvation of souls, the materials we have are written by some of the friar-greats of recent times - Yves Cardinal Congar and Fr Simon Tugwell among them. Some are booklets, others cards and bookmarks. There's great variety among what we have for you.

So, when we see you during WYD, don't forget to pick up something to read. Tolle, lege!

Be Good at What You Are: St Catherine's Theology of the Laity (Bishop Anthony Fisher)
Christianity: An Introduction to the Catholic Faith (David Albert Jones)
St Dominic and his Order of Preachers (Fr Simon Tugwell)
St Thomas Aquinas: Servant of Truth (Yves Cardinal Congar)

Easter glory fills the sky!

2008-03-24T10:52:00.003+11:00

The angel said to them,
"Go quickly and tell his disciples,
'He has been raised from the dead.'" (Matthew 28:7)

The World Youth Dominicans take this opportunity
to wish each of you a very blessed Easter.

Dominican Friars and the Vocations Expo

2008-03-17T11:16:00.002+11:00

We all have choices to make in our lives. Some of these are about the short-term, like what to eat today or which university we'll go to. Others are the long-term decisions, which are about our vocation, our calling, of which God has instituted four for our holiness: priesthood, religious life, married life and committed single life.

The Dominican friars are extending an invitation to you to consider a vocation, a calling, with us for preaching the Gospel and the salvation of souls.

Come and meet us during the World Youth Day festival at the Vocations Expo in Darling Harbour. Even if you would just like to know about our life and preaching, we'd be pleased to have a chat and offer you something to read.

We will join with more than 200 religious communities, Catholic Church organisations and charities and other initiatives to give pilgrims a small sample of the diverse expressions of Christian witness.

Vocations Expo

Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
Darling Harbour

Tue 15 July, 10-3:30pm
(followed by the Opening Mass with Cardinal Pell)

Wed 16 July, 1-10pm

Thu 17 July, 5:30-10pm
(with Pope Benedict's arrival to follow)

Fri 18 July, 6:30-10pm
(following the Way of the Cross)