Lay Dominicans of Dallas & Fort Worth | Southern Province ~ St. Martin de Porres

Author: Roy Johnston

A Look into the Dominican Family

What is a Lay Dominican? Many of us are asked this question when people see us wearing a white scapular or pin of the Dominican shield or cross. To quote one of the members of our Chapter, “It isn’t a social club or bible study.  People come here to discern joining a religious order.” Then comes the next question, “If you want to join a religious order, why don’t you become a priest (or brother, monk, nun, or sister)?  Answering that question is a little more complicated. However, people who discern joining the Dominican Laity are not called to religious life. Rather, we have been called to live the life of Dominican Spirituality in our secular lives.  As our welcome to you stated, we come from all walks of life and backgrounds.  We belong to our parish and we live in the world.  We answer Christ’s call to ongoing renewal and conversion by living our Catholic lives in the spirit of how St. Dominic lived.  We have suffrages that we are obligated to perform, we meet regularly, study, pray, and serve the Lord in a multitude of ways. In the ways we serve the Lord, we call this preaching. Lectoring, leading a bible study, feeding the hungry, speaking out for the unborn, the unloved, the unknown and being the head of our families are all ways of preaching.  There are enough examples of how to preach to fill volumes. Living out Dominican spirituality allows us to be better preachers and more importantly, faithful Christians. 

Lay Dominicans are also governed by the Fundamental Constitution of the Dominican Laity, and our provinces provide a General Directory and Statutes. According to the Fundamental Constitution of the Dominican Laity, sec. 4, “They have a distinctive character in both their spirituality and their service to God and neighbor. As members of the Order, they share in its apostolic mission through prayer, study and preaching according to the state of 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.”

Lumen Gentium 31

The Family of St. Dominic is large. There are 5,742 Dominican friars, including 4,302 priests. There are 25,000 sisters and nearly 3000 nuns. There is no general registry of Lay Dominicans.  These are managed and governed by Province, area and chapter. 

The best way to introduce you to the Dominican Family is to introduce you to us; to show you who we are, what we do, and how we live the spirit of St. Dominic in our lives.  Considering this, I could not think of any individual better to introduce you to than Silvia T. She is the newest perpetually promised Lay Dominican in our Chapter.  I had the privilege of attending Silvia’s Rite in October of 2018.  It made a lasting impression on me to see the joy emanating from her. 

I met Silvia at the first general meeting I attended in 2015.  She has a joy that naturally fills a room.  I was impressed by an inner peace that she exuded and was generously welcomed by her with an enormous hug.  I later had the opportunity to sit with Silvia as I was discerning to move from inquiry to candidacy.  She mentored me in a very special way…by sharing of herself humbly. She was a bit flummoxed when I asked her to sit with me and chat again.  After a bit of prayer, she agreed to a conversation. I’ve outlined it here and hope that her example of how she lives out her vocation as a Lay Dominican will help you in your discernment of vocation and Christian life.

RJ:  Well…here we are…

ST: Laughs. Yea, what are we doing again?

RJ:  I don’t know. Let’s just talk and see what happens.  I’ve been scouring the internet looking at different Dominican websites.  They are all beautiful and have a lot of historical content, information about our Order, the Saints, the pillars of Dominican spirituality and more.  I think that is great. Somehow though, I want people who come to our website to encounter us.  I want to show what it means to be a Lay Dominican and a member of our religious order.

ST: laughs again And you want to start with me? Why on earth…

RJ:  interrupts Yes.  I have never seen a more joyous occasion then when you made your perpetual promises to live by the spirituality of St. Dominic.

ST: It was.  I spent 5 years as a temporarily promised Lay Dominican.  The Rite of Perpetual Promise was one of the happiest days ever.  I am very grateful to our Lord for leading me to the Dominican Laity.

RJ: I always like to ask the question if someone is a cradle, convert, or reverted Catholic.  It seems like when I asked you that question when we sat down a couple of years ago, you said something along the lines of “I am being continuously converted.” Is that correct?

ST: Yes, it is.  The Lord has always been patient and loving with me.  There are things that He led me to that impacted me years later in ways I would not have anticipated. I experienced renewal during a Marriage Encounter weekend.  I like to call myself a retreat junkie. (laughs) It wasn’t always like that.  I used to be scared that I wasn’t worthy, and I was quite pushy as a person.  The Lord, however, was calling me to a life of obedience. The retreats helped with all of that.  I learned that I was worthy.  That the Lord, was calling me…ME, to serve Him, with the gifts that He gave me.  In order to better use those gifts, I had to seek His will, and be willing to be patient.

Silvia Tovar

I remember I was working in San Antonio, and I was up for a possible promotion.  A coworker was also a candidate for this.  We both had to give a presentation in order to be considered for the promotion.  She had been given materials and an outline, I was not. I was going to have to wing it.  I was very nervous and worried that I wasn’t worthy of this promotion.  Prior to giving our presentations I offered to pray with my coworker, she was nervous too. She declined saying she didn’t want to. I persisted and said let’s just say the Lord’s Prayer together. She still wouldn’t.  I prayed alone and just asked God for the gift to be able to speak.  My coworker stumbled a lot during her presentation.  My presentation showed them my potential. Not only was she offered the promotion; but, I was too!  I had done a good job and though I wasn’t considered an optimal candidate at the beginning, I got the promotion.  It was the Lord’s help that got me that promotion.  It also prepared me later for preaching! That was more than a decade before I encountered the Order of Preachers of St. Dominic.  God is so patient.

RJ: Amen to that. You mentioned you are a retreat junkie?

ST: Oh, yes.  I attended the Marriage Encounter weekend and that led to another type of retreat that I was able to not only attend but help facilitate. It is called Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP). That also led me to ACTS retreats and others as well.  It eventually led me to the idea of joining a lay order.

RJ: Have you discerned with other religious orders?

ST: Yes, I discerned with the Carmelites for a while. Their spirituality is beautiful and it focuses a lot on contemplation. I didn’t feel called to the Carmelite Spirituality though.  There were Lay Dominicans in my parish in Atlanta that invited me to come and see.  I should have known that this would have been a good fit.  My confirmation saint is Catherine of Siena.  I also claim St. Thomas Aquinas as one of my patron saints.  Hindsight is always 20/20.  There was an immediate feeling of peace when I encountered the Lay Dominicans in Atlanta.  I knew I was at home.  I am so grateful to the Lord for loving me and calling me to live the spirituality of St. Dominic.  It isn’t always easy.  Serving the Lord is rewarding though. 

RJ: So, let me back track a little bit.  You attended CRHP in 2007. You are almost 70.  Most of the time, when someone is approaching 60 they know what they want to be when they grow up….

ST: loudest laughing known to man.  Yea, I’m a little slow.  But that is ok.  Roy, I was always so afraid.  I masked it by always having to be right.  The Lord slowly removed that from me.  The retreats helped.  When I first talked at a retreat, I was so afraid that I wouldn’t have anything in common with people.  I was a short Hispanic from the barrio in San Antonio. How would all these white women relate to me? (laughs).  I was in adoration, shaking and crying. I prayed again for the Lord to give me the gift to speak. And you know, what- He did!  The relationships that I made with those women was important.  When I was sick I had a community of friends, sisters we call each other, to help take care of me.  When I had cancer, they removed my kidney.  These women helped me in every way imaginable.  One of those white ladies came and cleaned out my cabinets.  It was humbling for me.  I knew she was very successful.  Heck… She had a walk-in refrigerator.  Yet here she was, cleaning my cabinets.  God is so good, Roy.  I am so grateful for Him.

RJ: You mentioned that you had cancer…

ST: I have cancer now.  I had a kidney removed about 12 years ago. Later I had a lumpectomy because I had breast cancer. I had my adrenal gland removed a few years later because it was cancerous. These were all different types of cancer. None were related to each other.  My breast cancer returned, and I had to have my right breast removed.  Soon after, I learned that the cancer I had, had spread to the bone.  I take medicine now to keep the cancer from spreading.  It works but has side effects.  We don’t know how long it will work for, but I am happy that it works today.

RJ: I am not sure I could muster a tenth of the gratitude and joy you have, if I had cancer five times.

ST: The bouts of cancer have taught me to always to  trust in the Lord.  My life is in His hands. I am here because there are things, he still wants me to do.  I am still called to live my faith. The cancer doesn’t allow me an excuse to stop.  I have cancer, and you know what?  God still calls me to step outside my comfort zone.  He leads me in His own gentle way to do the things that He wills.

RJ: I know your mobility is a bit more limited, and you use a scooter to get around.  Can you share a little bit about how you live out Dominican spirituality now?

ST: My children don’t currently practice our faith.  I don’t preach at them. I don’t stop being Catholic though.  When my kids were younger, we would go to a Posada at Christmas.  My daughter expressed interest in going this last year and she took my granddaughter.  I must remember to be patient. I like to be pushy, remember.  I must trust the Lord and be obedient that His will shall be worked in the lives of my children and grandchildren.  I gave my daughter a crucifix. She asked why, and I told her that she knows what the crucifix is and what it means.  I heard her explain it to my granddaughter.  I pray for them every day.

RJ: You mentioned that your praying for the gift to be able to speak is connected to your preaching today and Dominican Spirituality…

ST: Yes!  Here in our retirement community, I help deliver communion to those who cannot get out.  We also have a spirituality group that meets once a month.  I lead that group.  There is always a topic for discussion.  We also pray with the Gospel reading for the following Sunday. I often go to The Preacher Exchange and use Fr. Jude Siciliano’s First Impressions as a guide to the discussion. 

Our group also put together a food drive for Lent.  We donated food to the N. Texas area Food Bank.  We were so successful that the management for our retirement community was shocked that we filled the space to overflowing for the food drive.  We had to end it early because we ran out of space!

I continually focus on what the Lord is calling me to do. That is my focus every day.

RJ:  I think that your actions and how you live the Spirit of St. Dominic is a powerful witness to the power of God in your life.  What do you want to do next?

ST: Even though my mobility is limited some. I would still love to go on 1 last pilgrimage to Rome. It is the getting there that is difficult.  The long plane rides are not good for me. 

I would also like to see my children come back to the faith.  I love them so much.  To see them embrace our faith, would bring me great joy.  I want them to know the faith and know what it has done for me, and what being a lay Dominican has done for me.  I must let go and let God handle the details of that.  The Lord has been so merciful, kind, patient and gentle with me.  I also believe that He is with my children as well.  I think that is what St. Faustina meant when she said, “Jesus, I trust in You!”

RJ: One last question/comment.  You talk about gratitude a lot. What are you grateful for?

ST: I am grateful that the Lord has heard my prayers and blessed me with gifts that I get to share with others. I am grateful for St. Dominic, Dominican Spirituality, and the Order that welcomes the laity to a place within the Order. I am grateful for the life affirming purpose that He has given me to preach the Good News. 

Past Imperfect

Don’t Rely Solely on the Past to Define Your Self-Worth

     Before considering whether or not it is useful to reflect on past life events, we must understand the difference between introspection or self-absorption and the examination of conscience.

     Introspection, if not supported by professional therapy, will become an exercise in self-absorption in exploring the past. The object of such an exercise is the contemplation of one’s worth. Such an exercise is in itself is useless; because it doesn’t result in any personal improvement. The mental exercise of withdrawal or self-absorption leaves no room except for oneself. Whoever does this is left alone, withdraws from reality, and puts all hope of perfection and perhaps salvation on self-worth or esteem. The problem with this practice is that one ends up contemplating personal limitations, at the risk of falling into anguish and even guilt when seeing how far one is from reaching the self-imposed ideal of oneself.

     Special care should be taken not to confuse psychological introspection with the practice of ethical self-reflection or religious examination of conscience. These practices are aimed at improving the human person. Their purpose is not the contemplation of oneself, but the discernment and evaluation of the conformity of one’s actions with the ethical and moral standards and the norms of a given society or religion.

     The way these practices work can be summed up in the proverb: the tree is known by its fruits. We constantly evaluate our conduct in the face of ethical-moral or religious standards. If we discover that our conduct does not conform to those standards, then another plan of action is developed with the aim of achieving the perfection of moral conduct. Ethical-moral and religious norms, not having their origin in our subjectivity, are capable of purifying our heart (conscience) by shedding light on our true intentions. They point to higher moral dignity, and therefore, have a therapeutic action, correcting the intentions of the heart that are at the origin of our actions, while urging us to leave our moral comfort zone.

     It is important to note that ethical-moral and religious norms, alien to our subjective imaginary, are not susceptible to psychological manipulation that impoverishes them by equating them with one’s own worth. On the contrary, those who are carried away by their psychological urges become the measure of their own conduct and are unable to attain virtue or character. Self-absorbed, they are at the mercy of mood swings making them prone to anguish, guilt, and self-pity, as these feelings come from self-criticism and not from ethical and religious values. Torturing ourselves by ruminating past failures and missed opportunities is nonsense. Moral and religious norms, on the contrary, plant us firmly in the present towards the future. It is in the projection towards the future that morality and religion become, for those who welcome them, in ideals of life greater than oneself.

    The self-absorbed person lives in the subjectivity of imagination and memory, a meeting place with the past. In contrast, the centered and level-headed person exists in the present. In fact, our mental health is determined to some extent by our attention and performance in the present. The matter of our bodies makes us experience change or becoming, our psychology testifies to this. However, we also experience that we are different from our becoming: we exist and we are! The experience of existing in the present tells us that we are different from our past, from our memories, and from our failures; thus healing our wounds. The present makes us understand that we are not our problem. Self-absorption on its part prevents us from recognizing our existence and our being as different from the situations and circumstances that hurt us.

     Those who judge their past in light of the present run the risk of reproaching and condemning not only their past actions, but their whole lives, shaming themselves and becoming morally rigid and discouraged. By “light of the present” we mean knowledge acquired through studies, work, or dealing with valuable people from whose example we learn prudence and wisdom. It also means changes in our well-being and our spiritual life, in addition to opportunities for self-improvement. In short, what now allows us better judgment and maturity than we previously lacked. Therefore, we should not judge the past based on the present, since we never experience the same situation twice in life and under the same circumstances.

     The past does not change, but we can consider it in light of what we want to achieve in the future. It is not the future that can be changed. It is the present! All change takes place in the present. The past becomes a life lesson when viewed in light of a self-improvement project. Past experience seen in the light of an ideal that surpasses us in dignity will build the improved version of ourselves.

Submitted by Valdemar G. ~ an inquirer with our Chapter

A way of preaching

Each Dominican is called to preach.  That action can manifest itself in a multitude of ways.  Our Dominican friars write homilies.  The Dominican Sisters may preach by teaching. A Dominican Nun who is cloistered may preach to those she lives with.  Lay Dominicans preach as well, according to their vocation.  I may preach when I give a lecture on scripture. Others preach the Gospel in the work place. Many members of the laity may preach while serving the poor and marginalized.  Some members, like Pete C., preach by sharing God’s love and the Gospel, through poetry. Below are a few of his, that he has shared with me, to share with you.  In a month or so, I will share a few more.

A Light for All To See

Through the windows of man’s eyes, the spirit of his soul is cast.

That from these eyes in time, the light of Christ does shine.

In and through the darkness, drawing others to the light.

Like a moth to a flame at night, burns not in this fire bright.

But each by their measure, draw others to Christ’s light.

From beneath these eyes lies wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to be.

That will open the doors to Gods kingdom, love, and mercy.

All that remains is to have faith, love, trust, and to obey Him we must.

And likewise love our neighbors all, as ourselves, lest we might fall.

So, when you’re trying to make a choice, look in the mirror and seek that voice.

You are the treasure is what you see, your life as it is meant to be.

Now is the time to hear the voice, look and proclaim what is that choice.

All life springs from what has been sent, that all may see this new light’s event.

And through the windows of man’s eyes, the spirit of his soul will rise.

From these eyes let God’s passion flow, and spread His Words for all to know.

Far and wide all might hear and see, what God’s promise is for us to be.

Our salvation at life’s end we will be, as we enter into His Kingdom you and me.

Pete C. – August 12, 2019

Continuing Cycle

To live for one

is not to exist – for all. To not exist – for all

is to live alone. To live alone

is to live for only one.

To live for God

is to love God.

To love God

is to love ourselves.

To love ourselves

is to love others.

To love others

is to live for God.

To live for God

Is to live for others.

To live for others

Is to live for all.

Pete C. – Spring 1970

Pete C. is currently a candidate in our Chapter and looks forward to making his temporary promises soon.

Preaching to Adolescents

Each Dominican is called to preach. Part of our journey as lay members of the Dominican Family is to search out the ways in which the Lord calls us to preach. Jenny N., one of our perpetually professed members, has answered that call in a very dedicated way. Last year, Jenny completed her Master’s degree in Catechetical Ministry at the University of Dallas. She is now a Youth Ministry Coordinator at a parish in her diocese. Occasionally, we are called to preach to the choir. Last year, Jenny presented her Master’s capstone “Adapting for Adolescents: A case Study on Adapting the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults to Meet the Needs of Adolescents.”

We are the choir. We know our faith and much of its beauty. However, we can always learn more and be open to understanding more. Anyone with an interest in the new evangelization will benefit from reading this, especially those who work with youth. Below is an excerpt of Jenny’s preaching. If you would like to read more, please send an email to laydominicansofdallas@gmail.com. Your request will be forwarded to Jenny.

Adapting for Adolescents: A case Study on Adapting the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults to Meet the Needs of AdolescentsIntroduction and Chapter 1

The purpose of this paper is to examine the reasons why the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults should be adapted for individuals of adolescent age as well as the implications these considerations have upon all catechetical ministries for such individuals. From these implications, conclusions will be drawn regarding the impact that such adaptations and considerations could have on the general engagement of this age group in the Catholic church. The introduction will provide a literature review of documents, ministerial writings, and historical practices within the Church depicting the primacy of the catechumenal model of catechesis, as practiced in preparation for the Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults. Research will be presented regarding the use of RCIA as the basis for all catechesis as well as the principles inherent in this process. The paper will then explore the inclusion of adolescents in this process, and the merits of adapting the process to meet the individual needs of these individuals based upon the psychological stage of adolescents as discussed in Stages of Faith by James Fowler. After reviewing this foundational research, analysis will be completed on what principles or practices should be put into a process for adolescent participants in the RCIA process. The conclusions from this study not only inform practices to be used for uncatechized adolescents seeking full initiation into the Church, but also, by extension, the foundational nature of the catechumenate, informative to all adolescent ministry within the Church. Finally, the implications of incorporating such applications to adolescent ministry will be applied to current trends in the statistics of the participation of this demographic in the Catholic Church in America.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Primacy of the Catechumenate
The National Directory of Catechesis explains that “[t]he baptismal catechumenate [is] the source of inspiration for all catechesis.”1 The catechumenal process, along with the rites contained in the RCIA, create an atmosphere that encourages a true conversion of heart, guiding new members of the Christian community in a lifelong development in their relationship with Jesus Christ. As stated by St. Pope John Paul II, “the definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ”2 By understanding this relationship as the main aim and goal for catechesis, those ministries concerned with catechesis depart from a simply educational task by involving multiple aspects of human need in the methods involved in the programming developed for a catechetical ministry. This is expressly stated in the Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church which originated from the Second Vatican Council. “The catechumenate is not a mere expounding of doctrines and precepts, but a training period in the whole Christian life, and an apprenticeship duty drawn out, during which disciples are joined to Christ their Teacher.”3

In order to promote this relationship, the structure of the RCIA process does not mandate a strict and uniform series of classes, but rather it “is suited to a spiritual journey of adults that varies according to the many forms of God’s grace, the free cooperation of the individuals, the action of the Church, and the circumstances of time and place.”4 This enforces focus on personal development of relationship over the conveyance of information. The attention to the individual journey of adults directs a somewhat fluid and responsive model which can be adapted and molded to meet the needs of individuals participating in the process. This is seen in the varying circumstances addressed in Part II of the ritual text.5 It is also integrated into the entire process of catechesis, calling for recognition and incorporation of the individual’s life experience and station.

The process for catechesis of individuals participating in the RCIA process, therefore, is understood more “as a period of suitable instruction, may be sanctified by sacred rites to be celebrated at successive intervals of time,”6 rather than an educational program or class. The process for this instruction relies heavily on liturgical catechesis; that is, catechesis through the participation in and reflection upon the liturgy of the Church. Use and importance of liturgical catechesis in the RCIA process will be discussed at greater length as one of the principles of the catechumenate in the second chapter of this paper.

Inclusion of Adolescents (ages 13-18) in the RCIA Process
Part two of the RCIA text expresses the need for including children of catechetical age in the RCIA process. This applies to “children, not baptized as infants, who have attained the use of reason and are of catechetical age.”7 Generally, the age of reason is regarded to be seven years old.8 These children, seeking initiation, either of their own desire or as guided by their parents or guardians have reached an age where they are capable of developing and forming the personal relationship with Christ that indicates the conversion of heart that the RCIA process is designed to promote. For this reason, it is appropriate for adolescents, similarly seeking initiation into the Church, to be included in the RCIA process prior to receiving the Sacraments of Initiation.

Part two of the RCIA text continues to explain the need to adapt both the method of catechesis as well as some rites within the process to meet the developmental and formational needs of children of catechetical age. Such adaptations include an awareness and sensitivity to the reliance these children have on parental figures as well as their social environment and peers.9 In order to understand ways of adapting the RCIA process to meet the needs of adolescents, it is appropriate first to understand the process itself, how it was developed, and by what principles it functions as the means by which individuals are fully initiated into the Church and subsequently serves as the basis for all catechetical ministry. Once this is understood, in order to adequately understand adaptations appropriate for this age group, a review of the developmental needs will be conducted. As the ritual text offers adaptations of the rites that can be used, the primary focus of this study will remain on the catechetical formation of individuals engaged in the RCIA process.

BY: Mrs. Jenny N., OP, MCat


Bibliography

1 Congregation for the Clergy. National Directory for Catechesis. (Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005), no. 35.
2 John Paul II, Catechesi Tradendae (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1979), no. 5.
3 Vatican II council, “Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church: Ad Gentes,” in Vatican II Documents (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2011), no. 14.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 1988), no. 5.
5 RCIA., nos. 252-504.
6 Vatican II council, “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy: Sacrosanctum Concilium,” in Vatican II Documents (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2011), no. 64.
RCIA, no.252.
8 NDC, p 119, no. 36.A.
9 RCIA, nos. 252-259.


2019 Retreat – Lord, open my lips.

On September 14th the Lay Dominicans of DFW held their 2019 Retreat. The theme was Lord, open my lips. The inspiration for the retreat came from the readings for the 24th Sunday of Ordinary time, specifically from the responsorial psalm, Psalm 51. The contributions from the members of our group were tremendous. With council contributions such as artwork contributed by Jana Sullinger, music contributed by Jeremy Childress, general event organization by Roy Johnston, liturgical and sacramental assistance by Jenny Norton, general oversight by Natasha Childress and breakfast provided by numerous members of the laity, a memorable experience was had by all.

After a brief ritual calling to mind our baptismal promises, Fr. Jude Siciliano, OP worked with the retreatants giving a brief introduction to the lectionary. Our retreat was dynamic and communal experience. We talked and shared at length, sharing our experience with sacred scripture and the impact it has had on our lives.

As we moved forward, we began to pray deeply with Psalm 51. Each reading of the psalm brought the retreatants closer together with heartfelt sharing. A time of reflective silence and meditation was offered with simple instructions – Each of us were asked to write our own psalm. These instructions were intentionally excluded from the workbook. The only individuals aware of this exercise were those involved in the planning of the retreat. Dwelling on inadequacy being a favorite human pastime, it was decided to omit mentioning this so that individuals could approach the idea whole heartedly. Though many had trepidations about such a task, each individual ‘retreated’ to the quite places in the priory to write their personal psalm.

All of the Psalm writing leading to a deep sense of trust in the Lord, and quite the appetite. Individuals brought their own lunch, snacked on leftover breakfast and got to know each other in the Priory day room. With 34 retreats, 5 of which were novices and 12 of which were not lay members, one of our favorites of Dominican spirituality was embraced – Community.

Our retreat finished out after lunch with more discussion on Psalm 51, more singing, and a love offering for the priory. During our closing ceremony of the retreat, individuals were given the opportunity to share their psalm with the group. Going into this part of the retreat in prayerful and sacred silence, retreatants shared their hearts with each other. Some psalms paraphrased Psalm 51. Others embraced rhyme and meter. Some were penitential and others lifted hope and praise. Collectively, our chapel was consecrated with the hearts and prayers of all in attendance. After prayer and an anointing for the journey, the retreatants went out to the world with a renewed heart and opened lips.

2019 Retreat photos

Retreat Psalms

After the retreat, we invited individuals to share their psalm for this post. Below are a few to enjoy.

Psalm 51 – 5~7~5, by Mr. Mark Connolly, OP

O merciful God,

You know I am a sinner.

Yet, you love me still.

My soul is shattered,

I am helpless in my sin,

I cry out to you.

Grant me your mercy,

Remember not all my sins,

Renew me this day.

Am I not worthy?

You made me, make me again.

I want to love you.

A Dominican?

You want me as a preacher?

Am I truly fit?

Well, no, not hardly.

But if You wish, here I am.

Gonna need your grace.

Order of Preachers!

Let us set the world on fire,

And bring Truth to all.

Psalm by- Dr. Jana Sullinger OP, MD

O’ merciful God,

Forgive my sins against you.

Cleanse what I defiled.

My sins I know well…

Ever present before me,

Against you alone.

Right is your judgement!

Before my birth-a sinner,

Seen and known by you.

Those in truth-you love.

Your hidden wisdom-teach me.

That I shine-wash me.

With joyful music

You fill my broken spirit-

Blinded to my sin.

Create a new heart…

For me, a right, new spirit.

Cast me not aside.

Lord, renew my joy.

Do guide and strengthen my will,

So that I may preach.

Remove my sorrows.

Open my lips to proclaim

Your praise and goodness.

My gift, does not please.

A shattered spirit, I give.

A new heart, welcomed.

In love, renew us.

Recreate and reshape us.

Lord, open our  lips!

A psalm to my Lord by ~ Roy Johnston

Eye me with compassion, Lord. That which I withhold from others.

Those transgressions against them, against you – done without shame, those sins suffocate me. My guilt robs me of the breathe freely given by you.

With perfect clarity you know, see and understand my selfishness; born of pain, pride and arrogance – wrought with guilt and shame.

Redirect my passions; align my compass, my orientation to you alone.

I know that the river of your grace flows into an ocean of mercy that must drown me if I am to every breathe freely.

May my lungs burst from your compassion. Let my consumption overflow like a song, reaching all that would hear your praise.

My offering is my poverty, the broken pieces I have remaining of my misdirected will.

Turn not away from me.

Transform those things.

Let not my offense keep us separated, but your grace bind me to you and all that lives in you.

~Forever

On Knowledge…

Gaining Knowledge

How does a good Catholic gain knowledge? What, in that case, is knowledge. There is a lot of data. Is having lots of data the same as having lots of knowledge? Am I going to answer any of these questions?

Let’s play with koans. Koans are a Zen Buddhist thing. No, I am not Thomas Merton blending and confusing mysticisms. Koans are a tool used by Zen monks to test their apprentices. They are designed to challenge the status quo, to instill a doubt, to possibly confuse. We don’t like confusion. Our natural inclination is to seek a resolution,and sometimes this creates the environment for a breakthrough.

Probably the one everyone has heard is, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”

Not all koans are questions. One koan goes something like this: “If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.”

I seem to gravitate to the statement version. I made some up. You should try it, it’s fun!

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him think.

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to think and he will always be hungry. (At least, I think I made that up. When I google searched it, it came back with me.)

Give a man a book of zen koans with answers if you hate him.

Data is data, not knowledge. If you just give someone the answers, you specifically teach them not to think. But we have rational souls, and the best teachers teach you to think. And why should we think? To know truth.

The value of a zen koan consists in the relationship between the master and the student. It’s not a test, per se. It is a challenge to one’s mind. The right challenge at the right time is the genius of the master. One may never be asked if they can describe the sound of one hand clapping because the master may not find that particular koan useful for this particular student. That a book exists with the “answers” is both funny and sad.

In some traditions, a student is given one thought to ponder for the rest of his life. It makes sense, if everything is in fact interrelated. So, what does he do for the rest of his life if he finds the answer one day in the stacks at a library?

I will wager that some of the best and most productive koans have been lost to history because they were developed on the spot by the master for a specific student, and then were set aside.

And probably many glimpses of truth simply go unrecognized or are just ignored.

Here is a koan: “I am to be crucified. Follow me.”

*All posts are the thoughts and expressions of the original author. Please do not cite, copy, or share without their express permission. The views expressed in this post are the author’s alone.*

Dominican Life

What is a Lay Dominican? Many of us are asked this question when people see us wearing a white scapular or pin of the Dominican shield or cross. To quote one of the members of our Chapter, “It isn’t a social club or bible study.  People come here to discern joining a religious order.” Then comes the next question, “If you want to join a religious order, why don’t you become a priest (or brother, monk, nun, or sister)?  Answering that question is a little more complicated. However, people who discern joining the Dominican Laity are not called to religious life. Rather, we have been called to live the life of Dominican Spirituality in our secular lives.  As our welcome to you stated, we come from all walks of life and backgrounds.  We belong to our parish and we live in the world.  We answer Christ’s call to ongoing renewal and conversion by living our Catholic lives in the spirit of how St. Dominic lived.  We have suffrages that we are obligated to perform, we meet regularly, study, pray, and serve the Lord in a multitude of ways. In the ways we serve the Lord, we call this preaching. Lectoring, leading a bible study, feeding the hungry, speaking out for the unborn, the unloved, the unknown and being the head of our families are all ways of preaching.  There are enough examples of how to preach to fill volumes. Living out Dominican spirituality allows us to be better preachers and more importantly, faithful Christians. 

Lay Dominicans are also governed by the Fundamental Constitution of the Dominican Laity, and our provinces provide a General Directory and Statutes. According to the Fundamental Constitution of the Dominican Laity, sec. 4, “They have a distinctive character in both their spirituality and their service to God and neighbor. As members of the Order, they share in its apostolic mission through prayer, study and preaching according to the state of 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.”

Lumen Gentium 31

The Family of St. Dominic is large. There are 5,742 Dominican friars, including 4,302 priests. There are 25,000 sisters and nearly 3000 nuns. There is no general registry of Lay Dominicans.  These are managed and governed by Province, area and chapter. 

The best way to introduce you to the Dominican Family is to introduce you to us; to show you who we are, what we do, and how we live the spirit of St. Dominic in our lives.  Considering this, I could not think of any individual better to introduce you to than Silvia T. She is the newest perpetually promised Lay Dominican in our Chapter.  I had the privilege of attending Silvia’s Rite in October of 2018.  It made a lasting impression on me to see the joy emanating from her. 

I met Silvia at the first general meeting I attended in 2015.  She has a joy that naturally fills a room.  I was impressed by an inner peace that she exuded and was generously welcomed by her with an enormous hug.  I later had the opportunity to sit with Silvia as I was discerning to move from inquiry to candidacy.  She mentored me in a very special way…by sharing of herself humbly. She was a bit flummoxed when I asked her to sit with me and chat again.  After a bit of prayer, she agreed to a conversation. I’ve outlined it here and hope that her example of how she lives out her vocation as a Lay Dominican will help you in your discernment of vocation and Christian life.

RJ:  Well…here we are…

ST: Laughs. Yea, what are we doing again?

RJ:  I don’t know. Let’s just talk and see what happens.  I’ve been scouring the internet looking at different Dominican websites.  They are all beautiful and have a lot of historical content, information about our Order, the Saints, the pillars of Dominican spirituality and more.  I think that is great. Somehow though, I want people who come to our website to encounter us.  I want to show what it means to be a Lay Dominican and a member of our religious order.

ST: laughs again And you want to start with me? Why on earth…

RJ:  interrupts Yes.  I have never seen a more joyous occasion then when you made your perpetual promises to live by the spirituality of St. Dominic.

ST: It was.  I spent 5 years as a temporarily promised Lay Dominican.  The Rite of Perpetual Promise was one of the happiest days ever.  I am very grateful to our Lord for leading me to the Dominican Laity.

RJ: I always like to ask the question if someone is a cradle, convert, or reverted Catholic.  It seems like when I asked you that question when we sat down a couple of years ago, you said something along the lines of “I am being continuously converted.” Is that correct?

ST: Yes, it is.  The Lord has always been patient and loving with me.  There are things that He led me to that impacted me years later in ways I would not have anticipated. I experienced renewal during a Marriage Encounter weekend.  I like to call myself a retreat junkie. (laughs) It wasn’t always like that.  I used to be scared that I wasn’t worthy, and I was quite pushy as a person.  The Lord, however, was calling me to a life of obedience. The retreats helped with all of that.  I learned that I was worthy.  That the Lord, was calling me…ME, to serve Him, with the gifts that He gave me.  In order to better use those gifts, I had to seek His will, and be willing to be patient.

Silvia Tovar

I remember I was working in San Antonio, and I was up for a possible promotion.  A coworker was also a candidate for this.  We both had to give a presentation in order to be considered for the promotion.  She had been given materials and an outline, I was not. I was going to have to wing it.  I was very nervous and worried that I wasn’t worthy of this promotion.  Prior to giving our presentations I offered to pray with my coworker, she was nervous too. She declined saying she didn’t want to. I persisted and said let’s just say the Lord’s Prayer together. She still wouldn’t.  I prayed alone and just asked God for the gift to be able to speak.  My coworker stumbled a lot during her presentation.  My presentation showed them my potential. Not only was she offered the promotion; but, I was too!  I had done a good job and though I wasn’t considered an optimal candidate at the beginning, I got the promotion.  It was the Lord’s help that got me that promotion.  It also prepared me later for preaching! That was more than a decade before I encountered the Order of Preachers of St. Dominic.  God is so patient.

RJ: Amen to that. You mentioned you are a retreat junkie?

ST: Oh, yes.  I attended the Marriage Encounter weekend and that led to another type of retreat that I was able to not only attend but help facilitate. It is called Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP). That also led me to ACTS retreats and others as well.  It eventually led me to the idea of joining a lay order.

RJ: Have you discerned with other religious orders?

ST: Yes, I discerned with the Carmelites for a while. Their spirituality is beautiful and it focuses a lot on contemplation. I didn’t feel called to the Carmelite Spirituality though.  There were Lay Dominicans in my parish in Atlanta that invited me to come and see.  I should have known that this would have been a good fit.  My confirmation saint is Catherine of Siena.  I also claim St. Thomas Aquinas as one of my patron saints.  Hindsight is always 20/20.  There was an immediate feeling of peace when I encountered the Lay Dominicans in Atlanta.  I knew I was at home.  I am so grateful to the Lord for loving me and calling me to live the spirituality of St. Dominic.  It isn’t always easy.  Serving the Lord is rewarding though. 

RJ: So, let me back track a little bit.  You attended CRHP in 2007. You are almost 70.  Most of the time, when someone is approaching 60 they know what they want to be when they grow up….

ST: loudest laughing known to man.  Yea, I’m a little slow.  But that is ok.  Roy, I was always so afraid.  I masked it by always having to be right.  The Lord slowly removed that from me.  The retreats helped.  When I first talked at a retreat, I was so afraid that I wouldn’t have anything in common with people.  I was a short Hispanic from the barrio in San Antonio. How would all these white women relate to me? (laughs).  I was in adoration, shaking and crying. I prayed again for the Lord to give me the gift to speak. And you know, what- He did!  The relationships that I made with those women was important.  When I was sick I had a community of friends, sisters we call each other, to help take care of me.  When I had cancer, they removed my kidney.  These women helped me in every way imaginable.  One of those white ladies came and cleaned out my cabinets.  It was humbling for me.  I knew she was very successful.  Heck… She had a walk-in refrigerator.  Yet here she was, cleaning my cabinets.  God is so good, Roy.  I am so grateful for Him.

RJ: You mentioned that you had cancer…

ST: I have cancer now.  I had a kidney removed about 12 years ago. Later I had a lumpectomy because I had breast cancer. I had my adrenal gland removed a few years later because it was cancerous. These were all different types of cancer. None were related to each other.  My breast cancer returned, and I had to have my right breast removed.  Soon after, I learned that the cancer I had, had spread to the bone.  I take medicine now to keep the cancer from spreading.  It works but has side effects.  We don’t know how long it will work for, but I am happy that it works today.

RJ: I am not sure I could muster a tenth of the gratitude and joy you have, if I had cancer five times.

ST: The bouts of cancer have taught me to always to  trust in the Lord.  My life is in His hands. I am here because there are things, he still wants me to do.  I am still called to live my faith. The cancer doesn’t allow me an excuse to stop.  I have cancer, and you know what?  God still calls me to step outside my comfort zone.  He leads me in His own gentle way to do the things that He wills.

RJ: I know your mobility is a bit more limited, and you use a scooter to get around.  Can you share a little bit about how you live out Dominican spirituality now?

ST: My children don’t currently practice our faith.  I don’t preach at them. I don’t stop being Catholic though.  When my kids were younger, we would go to a Posada at Christmas.  My daughter expressed interest in going this last year and she took my granddaughter.  I must remember to be patient. I like to be pushy, remember.  I must trust the Lord and be obedient that His will shall be worked in the lives of my children and grandchildren.  I gave my daughter a crucifix. She asked why, and I told her that she knows what the crucifix is and what it means.  I heard her explain it to my granddaughter.  I pray for them every day.

RJ: You mentioned that your praying for the gift to be able to speak is connected to your preaching today and Dominican Spirituality…

ST: Yes!  Here in our retirement community, I help deliver communion to those who cannot get out.  We also have a spirituality group that meets once a month.  I lead that group.  There is always a topic for discussion.  We also pray with the Gospel reading for the following Sunday. I often go to The Preacher Exchange and use Fr. Jude Siciliano’s First Impressions as a guide to the discussion. 

Our group also put together a food drive for Lent.  We donated food to the N. Texas area Food Bank.  We were so successful that the management for our retirement community was shocked that we filled the space to overflowing for the food drive.  We had to end it early because we ran out of space!

I continually focus on what the Lord is calling me to do. That is my focus every day.

RJ:  I think that your actions and how you live the Spirit of St. Dominic is a powerful witness to the power of God in your life.  What do you want to do next?

ST: Even though my mobility is limited some. I would still love to go on 1 last pilgrimage to Rome. It is the getting there that is difficult.  The long plane rides are not good for me. 

I would also like to see my children come back to the faith.  I love them so much.  To see them embrace our faith, would bring me great joy.  I want them to know the faith and know what it has done for me, and what being a lay Dominican has done for me.  I must let go and let God handle the details of that.  The Lord has been so merciful, kind, patient and gentle with me.  I also believe that He is with my children as well.  I think that is what St. Faustina meant when she said, “Jesus, I trust in You!”

RJ: One last question/comment.  You talk about gratitude a lot. What are you grateful for?

ST: I am grateful that the Lord has heard my prayers and blessed me with gifts that I get to share with others. I am grateful for St. Dominic, Dominican Spirituality, and the Order that welcomes the laity to a place within the Order. I am grateful for the life affirming purpose that He has given me to preach the Good News.  unction t(t)

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