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January 2024
January 2024
It is compassion that cures our blindness to suffering.
Brother Gerard
For more pictures, please click here.
May God the Father bless us. May God the Son heal us.
May God the Holy Spirit enlighten us, and give us eyes to see with,
ears to hear with, hands to do the work of God with,
feet to walk with, a mouth to preach the word of salvation with,
and the angel of peace to watch over us and lead us at last,
by our Lord's gift, to the Kingdom. Amen.
Dominican Blessing
Brother Master Gerard Francisco Timoner, III, OP, the 88th successor of St. Dominic visited DIS-Taipei (DIST) during his canonical visit to the “Vice-Province of ‘Regina Sinae’” and the Province of “Our Lady of the Rosary” last January 15, 2023. The Master (General Superior in Canon Law) is the “teacher” of his brethren who serves the Dominican Family in charity. He is granted broad and direct authority over every brother, convent, and province, and every nun and monastery. He is required to visit the whole Order twice during his nine-year term.
Br. Gerard was with Br. Jamshed Albert Gill, OP, Socius for the Asia-Pacific, Br. Angelik Kitsula, OP, Prior Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province of the Queen of China, and Br. Tomasz Zalewski, OP, the Vice-Provincial Secretary and the Chaplain of DIST. They attended the morning assembly and joined the DIS Family in celebrating the achievements of the students in the recently held “Young Shakespeare Competition” and in the House Merit Contributions for the months of November and December. This was followed by their formal introduction and a few words from the Master.
Br. Gerard began by thanking everyone and expressing how happy he is to be with the DIS Family amidst the harsh realities prevailing over the world. He shared with the community about his recent canonical visit to Iraq where our sisters and brothers had been through a lot.
The essence of peace according to Br. Gerard was reflected by the very sight of our brethren, where compassion for each other reigns.
The Master was curious to know what word best describes a DIS student and so requested representatives from each grade level. This request was received overwhelmingly and in no time he had the volunteers on stage. Aside from the D’TORCH: “Truthful, Organized, Reflective, Courageous, and Helpful,” it delighted him to hear values such as loving, caring, inspiring, wise, compassionate learner, respectful, faithful, religious, and proactive (see video below). This level of awareness is important and it was from where the Master urged the DIS Family to be passionate for truth and compassionate for humanity. He recalled the time during Pope Francis' 2015 visit to Manila, when Glyzelle Palomar, a formerly homeless child, broke down in tears and asked, "Why did the Lord allow children like her to suffer?" While it is impossible to explain why, the Holy Father responds that “certain realities in life can only be seen through eyes cleansed by tears.” Br. Gerard added that it is compassion that cures our blindness to suffering. This, then, helps us to find The Way that gives us meaning to our lives about others.
After his speech, he spent time with some members of the Dominican Family in DIST, the Misioneras Sisters, the Dominican Laity, and the Dominican Youth Movement. He lauded the school culture. In particular, he praised the Schoolwide Learning Outcomes or the D’TORCH values and how the institution’s customs and traditions seamlessly wed with the Dominican pillars of prayer, study, community, and service. He thought that this is best emulated in all similar institutions of learning affiliated with the Order. The establishment of a formidable network for Dominican Schools worldwide will help facilitate exchanges of best practices in education. Before concluding the meet and greet, Br. Gerard bestowed on those who are present the 13th Century Dominican Blessing:
May God the Father bless us. May God the Son heal us. May God the Holy Spirit enlighten us, and give us eyes to see with, ears to hear with, hands to do the work of God with, feet to walk with, a mouth to preach the word of salvation with, and the angel of peace to watch over us and lead us at last, by our Lord's gift, to the Kingdom. Amen.