Ministry

Ministry and Preaching

St. Dominic was filled with a passion for preaching. He recognized the potential power and impact of the spoken word if guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Dominic understood how people's lives could be enriched, supported, challenged and changed when they heard the message of hope and truth he and his friars preached. He insisted that Dominican preaching should always be grounded in sound Catholic doctrine and theology. At the same time, Dominic made sure his friars preached as much by example as with words. His preaching was grounded in the reality of every day life and presented in a way that people of all backgrounds could understand and relate to their life.

Preaching in Every Ministry

Every Dominican friar is called to preach the Gospel in one form or another. Opportunities for preaching arise in sacramental and non-sacramental contexts. Sacramental preaching occurs most commonly during the celebration of the Eucharist - the homily. However, a great deal of preaching occurs within a non-sacramental context - teaching, counseling, campus ministry, prison ministry. Whatever the ministry, the friar must be able to see and interpret the times and be able to effectively communicate the truth and power of the Gospel message. This is especially true in this new era of communication and information technology.

Ministry Opportunities

The 124 Dominican friars of the Southern Province are involved in a variety of ministries. Friars are assigned to a particular ministry after prayerful discernment and consultation with the Prior Provincial. First and foremost in this process are the needs of the Province and the local Church. Our mendicant tradition allows a friar to minister in a many different settings throughout his Dominican life. Listed below are the areas where Dominicans have traditionally ministered;

• Preaching: Our Dominican legacy calls every friar to some form of gospel preaching. Preaching is our heritage and what "we do" no matter where our ministry takes us. Each friar responds according to his gifts and ministerial context. Some preach in the form of full-time itinerant preachers, while others preach occasional parish renewals or retreats in addition to their other ministries.
   
• Higher Education: Many of our friars are internationally known in their fields of academic expertise. These men are professors at centers for higher learning throughout the United States and the world. Some of these centers of higher learning include, The Aquinas Institute of Theology, Xavier University of Louisiana, Barry University, St. Thomas Aquinas University in Rome (The Agelicum), Christian Brothers University, and Arizona State University.
   
• Parish Life: Parish ministry is the single largest ministry within the Province. Over 40 friars serve thirteen parishes throughout the Southern United States - including Miami, Memphis, San Antonio, New Orleans, Hammond, Ponchatoula, and Houston.
   
• Campus Ministry: Our friars continue the Order's historical commitment to providing an educated Catholic presence on university campuses. As campus ministers, they preach, teach catechetical programs and explore the relations between science and faith and between religion and the arts. Our Province staffs campus ministry centers on numerous college campuses including: Barry University, Tulane University, Xavier University, Ohio Dominican University, Duke University and in the fall 2010 we will begin campus ministry at Texas Tech University.
   
• Mass Communications and the Arts: Many of our friars publish theological and spiritual works in books, professional journals, on the web and popular magazines. Other friars within the Province involve themselves in electronic media through radio, television and film production.
   
• Diocesan Chanceries: Some of our friars work closely with local chanceries as assistants to bishops, on diocesan curiae as canonists, as promoters of peace and justice, and community service organizers.
   
• Special Chaplaincies: Approximately one-third of our friars are assigned to special chaplaincies. These ministries strive to promote the well-being of those who are on the fringes of society: the sick, the poor, the elderly, the displaced, the imprisoned, and other marginalized populations.