As a member of the Lay Fraternities, I am humbled by your request and blessed at the same time. I have been praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as we near Pentecost, as this Solemnity is a favorite of mine. The Holy Spirit, separate but Trinity, is their shared uncreated love. This activity is a ‘welcomed guest.’
- In general terms …
- As a member of the Dominican Laity, the letter is relatable to all members of the Order. Personally, the image of shepherd was one of my first images of sweet Jesus that drew my heart. Several years ago, this was bookended by my directing a women’s retreat in my dioceses, the theme being the Good Shepherd. That image is dear to me. I see it in my spiritual life as a Dominican and in my professional life as a nurse, ministering the elderly.
- This said, Dominicans are Dominicans first. All of us preach in different ways, according to our state in life. Perhaps a sentence about ‘bloom where you are planted’ would be a consideration. While the sisters work in the vineyard of schools and hospitals, they live in community, a point that was well crafted in the Master’s letter.
- Are there elements …
- Honestly, I wouldn’t add a thing. I think as a member of the laity, the concepts of fisher and shepherd were so beautifully written, it is enough.
- I feel the laity needs more focus and training on preaching with our ‘bark’ by means of seminars, study modules, web conferences with friars, sisters, and professors who teach our religious. For us, the study pillar doesn’t totally support our preaching. We could use more focus on training as it relates to preaching. We have the unique privilege of being in the trenches. The biggest insight my prayer enlightened is to transform this letter into a study module for us. The questions at the end are great can could include more. Our pillars (legs) are sturdy. The thought of them holding up the table (of preaching) is a concept worth exploring. We mention pillars and don’t think anything sits on them. Since our pillars are solid, a mention that they support preaching could be a concept that builds on them. This supports the concept of fishers are shepherds and shepherds are fishers.
- How can we renew (Laity) …
- A time of communal prayer for this intention (Rosary), including a prayer written for this purpose.
- Symposiums or the like on preaching (for the laity) after all we are all fishers and shepherds.
- Sharing our successes so other members of the Order can encompass them. Call it come to the table moments(!)
I suggest the following …
- Including the Holy Spirit in some way in this letter, since the Great Jubilee is of Pentecost is the anniversary.
- A thought would be to separate the sisters from the laity, for the simple purpose of conceptualizing the role of each. Neither the laity nor the youth lives in community; with its communal prayer and practices. Our fraternities can serve this purpose. We have the opportunity to join the friars online, in podcasts and through offerings. We need these.
- Provide a talk, seminar or document for study on Virtues, since the enliven our preaching.
Give (the laity) or any family member examples or situations of virtue and how to live this in our words and actions – ie: practical tips).
- Encourage members of the Order (and the Youth) to help parishes and become involved in the services and ministries. This would include teaching faith formation and allowing us to preach with our actions and by our lives.
- We can study related encyclicals.
- Bring someone to Mass, provide written names of churches with Mass time to give to others.
- Fr. Ignatius John Schweitzer, OP (province of St. Joseph, eastern USA), has friend that asked their pastor to allow them to have a campaign to call parishioners post COVID and get them back to Mass, it really was impactful. It is worth a consideration. It was very fruitful.
- Encourage each province to do something to annually to prepare for the Great Jubilee.
- Add page numbers to this letter (for ease of study).
Conclusion
- This letter is personal yet inclusive for all members of the Dominican family. In its pages, each Dominican is made to feel unity with the whole. It is a gentle but firm reminder of our role as Catholics and Dominic’s mandate, no matter of our state in life. It recalls our vow and promise to live according to the Rule of St. Dominic, for life in a clear and inclusive way.
- This letter is a treasure and to preserve it in some way so it could be used to start a zoom type meeting to discuss it as fraternities and be worth the effort. We call this in the US ‘Family Time with the Laity.’
Thank you for your efforts in contacting me with this labor of love, I couldn’t put this letter down! What a gift it will be to the Order. I does take us “duc in altum.” This letter is a treasure. God is good to each of us.
— Mrs. Kathy Kendrek OP
Province of Saint Joseph, eastern USA
