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November 2022
November 2022
to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will
Dominican Way
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Last November 5, 2022, the Lay Dominican Chapter of St. Martin de Porres in Taiwan had its Temporary Profession to the Order of Preachers. They promised to live according to the Rule of the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic for three years with annual renewal until they become fully integrated into the Order. It transpired during the celebration of the feast day of St. Martin de Porres, their chosen patron saint. The fifteen aspirants were:
Members of the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic are men and women fully incorporated into the Order of Preachers by way of a special promise. They live their Dominican vocation in the world, according to their state as lay persons.
Lay Dominicans, who in the past have been called Third Order or Dominican Tertiaries, have existed almost as long as the Dominican Order itself. The Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic was founded with its own rule in 1285 and was officially recognized by the Church on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas in 1286. Its most recent Rule was approved by the Church in 1987.
Lay Dominicans are “distinguished both by their own spirituality and by their service to God and neighbor in the Church. As members of the Order, they participate in its apostolic mission through prayer, study, and preaching according to the state proper to the laity”.
Lay Dominicans come from every background, joining the Dominican charism to their state of life in the world. In this unique Dominican way, they live out their special vocation “to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will”.
The Temporary Profession admission rites were held in the presence of Rev. Fr. Angelik Kitsula, OP, Prior Vice Provincial of the Vice Province of the Queen of China, in place of the Master of the Dominican Order, Gerard Francisco Parco Timoner III.
The admission rite was witnessed by their spiritual companion Rev. Fr. Tomasz Zalewski, OP, Sor Ma. Zenaida T. Ancheta, OP, their Religious Assistant, and Bro. Patrick Dave Q. Bugarin, OP, Coordinator. They were very instrumental in molding the aspirants. Each aspirant received a locket necklace of St. Martin de Porres. It symbolizes a commitment to the Lay Dominican Fraternity of St. Martin de Porres and a valuable possession that each holder wants to keep and cherish forever.
Also present during the ceremony, were Sr. Teresita Su, Prioress Provincial of the Province of St. Vincent, and other members of the Dominican Family from different convents and Lay Dominicans based in Taiwan.
Likewise, fourteen new aspirants were also formally admitted to the St. Martin de Porres Chapter. It formalizes their observer status in the chapter. We pray that they may continue to participate in its apostolic mission through prayer, study, and preaching according to the state proper to the laity.
