1. At the end of the twentieth century, the Order, along with the rest of the Church and of humanity, is confronted with the numerous challenges of a world, whose vertiginous evolution affects and puts religions and traditional ideas in question.This general chapter, the last of the century, is aware of all these challenges, and wishes to encourage the brothers and all the members of our Order, especially the youngest, in the sustained effort we make to face better these new and original situations in our world. Convinced that formation is one of the major tasks of the Order and that it depends in great part on the authenticity of our vocation and the quality of our community life, we want to underline here the necessity of a more global and complete vision of Dominican formation, which alone can unify and enliven our preparation for the doctrinal and prophetic mission of the Order.

2. "And he appointed twelve· to be with him" (Mk 3: 14). During three years, Jesus patiently taught and educated his disciples by the preaching of the Kingdom through his actions and with power, and by the example of his whole life devoted to the Father. He took special care to form them, apart from the crowds, for mission (cf. Mk 4: 10; 6: 31;etc.), giving them special instructions for mission and for fraternal life in community (cf. Mk. 18). The call which is addressed to us today in the Dominican Family, is, first of all, a call to live in company with Christ the condition of a disciple, in the slow and progressive growing to maturity in the faith. The process of complete Dominican formation, which begins with the years of initiation and continues with permanent formation, plunges its roots and draws its dynamism from this patient search for God.

3. "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (Jn 8: 31-32) Interior freedom, the freedom which leads to the whole Truth, supposes that we engage in a voluntary process of conversion of heart, a process begun by profession of vows and commitment in the heart of the Order. As in preceding Chapters, we wish to reaffirm the importance of formation of heart in Dominican life. Compassion and mercy, reflections of the Face of the Lord God, are welcomed and lived with a vulnerable heart, in a human affectivity which is often wounded and made fragile by all sorts of handicaps. The project of a chaste life opens the heart and oneâs whole being to new qualities in relationships, marked by humanity and the Gospel, both in community life and with the outside world.

4. It is more opportune than ever to recall that Dominican formation, whether it is intellectual, spiritual or pastoral, aims above all to make us true disciples of Christ, assiduous in hearing his Word, in the ardent search for the Truth of God, and stirred by the cries and groans of humanity in labour. Our spiritual tradition, the teaching and example of the saints of our Order, as well as the humble experience of God displayed in the daily life of our brothers and sisters, constitutes a support and a source of stimulation in our striving for conversion. Besides, creative fidelity to the doctrinal tradition of the Order can greatly contribute to a renewal of the philosophical and theological sciences in the Church. Contemplation, study and the apostolate remain the enlivening poles of Dominican life.

5. After all, it is reported in the Gospels that Jesus "began to send the twelve out two by two" (Mk 6: 7) to announce the Good News to all parts of Israel. Dominic was inspired, no doubt, by this action of Jesus, when he dispersed his brothers across Europe so as better to form them for mission. Our fraternal collaboration in the mission received from Christ and following Dominic, constitutes a living witness and a strong sign that the Kingdom of God is already among us. In his Gospel, Luke tells us that the apostolic group, gathered around Jesus to carry with him the message of the Good News, was composed of the Twelve and of women who shared the life and mission of the community. It is the same in Jerusalem in the first Christian community composed of apostles along with men and women announcing, each according to his or her charism, the Good News of the Risen Lord (cf. Acts, chapters 1ö5). Today more than ever, whether it be in initial or continuous formation, or whether this be in the diverse tasks of preaching, collaboration between the branches of the Dominican Family stand out as a necessity, so as better to incarnate and realise the charism transmitted by our father, St. Dominic. It proves also to be, for all, a place of mutual formation in true dialogue, in sharing and solidarity, in the practice of fraternal correction and reconciliation.

6. Apostolic fraternity is one of the strong values we are called to live and display in our communities. Dominican community, encouraged by the model of the apostolic community of Jerusalem, and challenged by the sometimes despairing search for community life in our societies, is called to rediscover in our democratic style of government and in the apostolic goal of lived fraternity, the prophetic values and Evangelical dynamism of the Beatitudes. The priory÷or monastery÷then appears as a "Holy Preaching", a house of prayer and preaching, where one "speaks of God or to God", where there is mutual help in sharing and example.

7. Finally, in the face of growing individualism and solitude which characterises our societies, communities are called to constitute a true challenge for young people in search of an ideal, through becoming true places of fraternity and prayer, characterised by research and by the service of truth, by the joyous celebration of the Word, by sharing in solidarity, goods, projects, responsibilities, and a concerted apostolic commitment. Thus we can express, live and prosper, in different ways, a new vision of the Order for the third millennium.

© 1998 Order of Preachers General Chapter, 1998 Internet site by Scott Steinkerchner OP email: steinkerchner@op.org