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With deep gratitude, we salute the following sponsors of the Province of St. Albert the Great’s Inaugural Gala

November 12, 2016, Chicago, Illinois

St. Dominic Sponsor

Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Cooney, Jr.

St. Thomas Aquinas Sponsors

Ms. Kathleen Hegenbart
The Paluch Family Foundation

St. Catherine of Sienna Sponsors

Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Missouri
Mr. and Mrs. William T. Divane
Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois
Ms. Mary Etrick and Ms. Carol Pitcher
Euclid Beverage, Aurora, Illinois
Dr. and Mrs. Eugene T. McEnery
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Farrell
The Dominican Ecclesial Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Mr. and Mrs. John F. Flynn
Lay Dominicans of St. Albert the Great Province
Mr. and Mrs. James Lovelace
MB Financial, Pilsen – Chicago, Illinois
Ms. Carmen M. Rodriguez
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center at Purdue University,
West Lafayette, Indiana

St. Pius V Sponsors

Mr. Joseph A. Bauters
Ms. Jane G. Bolger
The Colorado Dominican Vocation Foundation, Denver, Colorado
Forest Park National Bank & Trust, Forest Park, Illinois
Peter and Mary Mavrogenes
The Mission Press @ Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, Chicago, Illinois
St. John of the Cross Parish, Western Springs, Illinois

St. Rose of Lima Sponsors

Mr. and Mrs. Art Chiappetta
Dr. and Mrs. James R. Dan
The Dominicans at K-State, Manhattan, Kansas
Mr. Angelo M. Mazzone III
St. Paul Community, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
St. Vincent Ferrer Church, River Forest, Illinois
Dr. and Mrs. George F. Wendt

On Sunday, August 7th, the Dominican Central Province begins its 800th Jubilee Assembly at Dominican University in River Forest, IL. As part of the week-long gathering, the Order of Preachers recognizes 15 men celebrating Jubilee anniversaries. Friars celebrate their profession of simple vows as well as their ordination to the priesthood.

For the first time, this year’s Assembly will also include profession of Simple Vows (Fr. Dominic Ibok, OP; Br. Stephen Peterson, OP, Br. Thomas Mary Wagaman, OP), Solemn Vows (Br. Reginald Wolford, OP), and the Vestition of this year’s Novice class (Joseph DeGuire, Jason Lewitzke, Brandon Miranda, John Sebastian Santoro, Alain El Howayek, and Hoang Nguyen).

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

Sunday August 7    6:30 pm  

First Vespers of St. Dominic with Simple Profession

Rosary Chapel

Monday August 8   4:00 pm  

Eucharist/Solemn Profession

Rosary Chapel

Wednesday August 10   6:30 pm

Evening Prayer/Vestition

Rosary Chapel

St. Pius V Associate Pastor, Fr. Chuck Dahm, OP recently submitted the following testimonial for Pilsen Snow: Poems, by Philip C. Kolin. The book features St. Pius V Parish on the cover and can be purchased online at www.finishinglinepress.com.

Philip Kolin beautifully captures the immigrants’ world in Pilsen Snow. His poems help us vividly experience their joys and sorrows with unique and surprising details. His memory of life in Chicago’s immigrant Czech community astounds and thrills us with moving descriptions of its hopes and dreams, its challenges and triumphs. Pilsen Snow is a pleasure for all who want to feel and understand how immigrants, and their descendants over the decades, ‘lived in two worlds at once.’

 

On Ash Wednesday (February 10th), Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Fr. Tom McDermott, OP, Fr. Louis Morrone, OP, and Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, OP represented the Dominican Friars in Chicago, as the Cook County Board of Commissioners presented a special certificate to the Central Province in honor of the 800th Anniversary of the Order of Preachers.

During the ceremony, Fr. Marchionda offered the following prayer:

Holy God of the Universe, of all nations, all peoples, all religions and creeds — Thank you for honoring humanity with your Holy Spirit. Thank you for respecting us enough to entrust the common good to our common care.
In these days of human struggle and sometimes strife, when faith and fear, hope and hesitation walk hand-in-hand, fill us with courage and confidence. Help us to be the leaders you have already blessed us to be — in government and politics, in faith and religion, in all facets of society. May we live up to our call to respect and care for the least among us. May we become your care and compassion toward all those in need. May we be your peace and goodness to all we meet. And, in recognition of the 800th anniversary of the Dominican Order of Preachers, may we continue to seek truth as the foundation of all that we are and all that we do. We stand before you, God of the Universe, as humble servants. Guide us in the ways of true servant-leadership, today, tomorrow, and forever. AMEN.

The feast of St. Thomas Aquinas is January 28. This is a wonderful yearly reminder of one of the most prolific theologians in history. He has a special place amongst the Dominicans, and at the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great.  The inherent challenge in celebrating Aquinas and his teachings is introducing him to a younger audience. New Priory Press is proud to offer St. Thomas Aquinas: A Biography for Young Readers” by Mary Ellen Evans, Margaret Nichols, and Geoffrey Gneuhs. In this narrative retelling of the life of the great theologian, our saint comes alive for young readers to find out about the life of such a gifted man without having to struggle with the deep philosophy in which he finds the profound truths of God. This is a great introduction to this Dominican saint and is very readable for all ages. We encourage you to visit newpriorypress.com to view this title and other examples of Dominican scholarship. Have a blessed Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas!

 

Fr. George Reynolds, O.P.

1931-2016

Click below to hear the eulogy preached by Fr. Dan Davis, O.P.

Rev. George John Dominic Reynolds, O.P., 84, died on January 13, 2016 in Chicago.  Fr. Reynolds was born April 23, 1931 in Chicago to Leo J. and Agnes R. (Shomer) Reynolds.  He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Fr. Robert Reynolds of the Diocese of Peoria.  Fr. Reynolds attended Ascension Grade School in Oak Park and St. Eulalia’s Grade School in Maywood.  After attending one year of minor seminary high school at Quigley, he transferred to Fenwick High School in Oak Park, graduating in 1948.  He studied at Loras College in Dubuque, IA for two years before entering the Dominican Order in 1951.  He professed his first vows as a Dominican Friar on September 1, 1952 in Winona, MN and continued his studies for the priesthood at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, IL and Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, IA.  He was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1959 in Dubuque.

Fr. Reynolds taught high school from 1959-1965 at Fenwick High School in Oak Park and Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, TX.  Fr. Reynolds earned a Masters of Arts in English from the University of Dallas in 1970.  Fr. Reynolds served in pastoral ministry of parishes and Newman Centers for many years including the St. Albert the Great Parish, Minneapolis, MN, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Castle Rock, CO, University of New Mexico, University of Northern Arizona, Southeastern Louisiana University, Emory University, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  In 2014, Fr. Reynolds moved to Chicago and lived at St. Pius V Priory on limited service.  He died at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago.

Along with his Dominican Community, he is survived by two sisers, Margaret Sallade and Sandy deBlaker, both of Casper, WY, as well numerous nieces and nephews.  Services were held at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in River Forest, IL on Thursday, January 21, 2016. Memorial Donations to the Dominican Friars, Central Province, 1910 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL, 60608 are greatly appreciated.

Best College Reviews recently named its 50 Best College Newman Centers, and five are staffed by Dominican Friars.

Taking into account Newman Centers who offer regular Mass times during the week, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and community-building events, the list features St. Paul’s Catholic Newman Center (Indiana University) and St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center (Kansas State University), both staffed by Central Province Dominican Friars.

The list also includes St. Thomas More (University of Oregon), St. Catherine’s (University of Utah), and Prince of Peace (University of Washington).

To read the entire article, visit http://www.bestcollegereviews.org/features/college-newman-centers/ 

PLEASE INCLUDE THE DOMINICAN FRIARS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCE IN YOUR GIFT PLANS

As 2015 comes to an end, many works of the friars rely on your support, including the historic Dominican Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, formation of the next generation of preachers, province ministries with scarce resources, health and welfare of our elder friars, and more.

Consider a year-end gift to the Dominicans, Province of St. Albert the Great, USA, and make a gift today online.

If you prefer to mail your year-end gift, please send it to: the Dominican Friars, Central Province, 1910 s. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, Illinois   60608 Attn. Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom.

If you wish to make gifts of securities, please contact Mr. Bob Dixon at the Dominican Friars Central Province, 312-243-0011.

Thank you for your support. May you experience the love of God and fellowship of the holy spirit throughout the coming new year, our year of Jubilee as we celebrate 800 years of preaching.

Friars and Staff

Office of Mission Advancement

Dominican Central Province

For those aged 70½ or older, it is once again possible to make tax-favored charitable gifts from traditional and Roth IRA accounts.

On December 18 President Obama signed into law legislation that retroactively extends the Charitable IRA Rollover for 2015 and makes this provision permanent for future years. Under the reinstated law, a total of up to $100,000 can be transferred directly from traditional or Roth IRAs to one or more qualified charities such as the Dominican Friars and the Dominican Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, free from federal income tax each year. There may also be state income tax savings. Amounts given in this way count toward required IRA minimum withdrawal amounts for the year of the gift.

To make such gifts, it is important to not withdraw funds prior to a gift, but have the gift amount distributed directly from an IRA to one or more qualified charities. For those with check writing privileges on their accounts, this may be the most efficient way to make gifts directly from an IRA.

Check with us, your IRA administrator or your tax adviser for more information.

Please contact Bob Dixon or Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, O.P. at (312) 243-0011 with any questions.

Pope Francis did not write Laudato si for the priests, the bishops or the theologians. He wrote it for you.

The Holy Father’s second encyclical letter addresses environmental concerns. Translated as “if lauded”, the 100-page document provides the basis for a lecture to be given at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Denver, Colorado on November 11^th by Marie Venner, of The Global Catholic Climate Movement. Her presentation, which coincides with the Feast of St. Albert the Great (November 15^th), is the first of several events celebrating the Dominican Order’s 800^th Jubilee throughout the Central Province (officially named the Province of St. Albert the Great).

“Given this patronal feast and the encyclical of Pope Francis, what better topic could we choose than: Catholicism engaging Climate Change: putting ‘Laudato si’ into practice?” said Fr. Ed Ruane, O.P., pastor at St. Dominic’s.

The Dominicans are uniquely positioned to host this lecture. Saint Dominic’s Order of Preachers, founded in 1216, has spawned many of the intellectual leaders of the Catholic Church, including St. Albert the Great, the natural scientist of the Church, and St. Thomas Aquinas, a student of St. Albert, whose Summa Theologiae is quoted several times in Laudato si.

So often the common perception of the Church is that it is hostile to scientific inquiry. In fact, many scientific breakthroughs have come not only from persons of deep faith, but even from priests, brothers and sisters who are scientists within the Church and its faith. A fundamental axiom of Catholic theology is that faith and reason work together and never contradict one another. Right reason corrects faith and faith enlightens reason. This ought to give us confidence to pursue questions with serenity.

“For a long time I’ve had this idea that saints are people who follow through on their inspirations which can seem a little crazy in their context,” said Venner. “But they find the moral courage. This is a time that requires a lot of moral courage and a change in thinking, which requires courage as well.”

Regarding climate, St. Albert made assertions well ahead of the widely accepted theories of his time. As an itinerant friar, he walked from city to city with his eyes wide open, loving the natural world and seeing it as a gift from God.

Laudato si comes from the canticle attributed to St. Francis in which he proclaims, “Praise be to you, my Lord, through our sister, mother earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs” and which Pope Francis reminds us that “the earth, our common home, is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.”

“This letter is to all of us, women and men, laypeople and even those who are not Catholics and who are non-believers,” Venner said. “It’s so important for each of us to read the letter, reflect on it as individuals, and discuss it with other people. The Pope has asked for dialogue.”

Not unlike St. Albert, Pope Francis seeks a sustainable and integral development of our common home because one sees God in the beauty of creation, which he calls itself a gospel, something given to us. He says the world “entails a loving awareness that we are not disconnected from the rest of creatures, but joined in a splendid universal communion.”

Venner hopes to help people get a handle on the document and see the next steps they can take. She is in the process of listing the numerous suggestions Pope Francis makes in the document.

“It’s a letter to you and it’s very current. It pertains to how we live now, how our dependence on electronics is affecting us,” Venner said. “He talks about little things that impact our daily life as well as the big picture topics in a very simple and coherent, yet insightful way.”

“The most important thing is that it’s possible to change. Many people don’t know about the solutions we have out here ready to go,” Venner added. “Pope Francis said we need to make this shift and we need to make it rapidly.”

Catholicism Engaging Climate Change: Putting Laudato Si’ Into Action takes place at St. Dominic Parish in Denver, Colorado November 11^th at 7:00PM. For more information visit www.StDominicDenver.org.