Saint Dominic

The Dominican Order began at the intersection of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries with the birth of Saint Dominic in Caleruega, Spain. This global, democratic Order, committed to liberating all peoples from economic and spiritual poverty, translates the joyful message of the Gospel into a life of shared prayer and shared resources. The international Dominican Family – the “Order of Preachers” – proclaims the love of Jesus to ever-widening “frontiers of human experience.” We speak Truth for the healing and reconciliation of all relationships on our home planet.

The unique document which launched the Dominican Order embraces Dominic’s futuristic vision of men and women, religious and laity united in equal partnership. Boldly, but without fanfare or class distinction, the document names three groups who are to share the title “preachers”: the friars, the cloistered nuns, and a band of lay women and men. Today’s Dominican Family includes the vowed, apostolic sisters.

A man of remarkable energy, Dominic was once nicknamed “Athlete of the Lord.” He traveled on foot all over Europe establishing communities in nine different countries. His sons and daughters were among the first to travel to the Western Hemisphere and on the island of Santo Domingo where they landed, Dominican missionaries are still remembered for their courageous stand in defense of the human rights of the indigenous peoples.

In our Mission and Vision Statements that guide the daily life and ministry of our community, the 800-year-old Dominican tradition of living and proclaiming the Gospel through contemplative prayer, social justice advocacy and care of all life forms on our planet remains strong.