The Asia Pacific Common Study Program

Every year in the Asia Pacific Region, a Common Study Program (CSP) is organized for young Dominican friars. It is organized by the Socius of the Master for the Asia Pacific in collaboration with the Provincials and Vice Provincials of the Asia Pacific Region. The organizers for the last many years have been Brother Edmund Nantes, OP, and Brother Amirtha Raj, OP, usually lasting for a month in a predetermined province and place. It is supported by the Provinces, Vice Provinces and the General Curia. Resource persons are the organizers along with a few experts.

The CSP is a bridge program between the initial formation and ongoing formation, wherein the participants are initiated into the ongoing formation program as they are likewise launched to the ministry. Thus, the participants include the newly ordained friars, solemnly professed friars, or friars sent by the Provincial/Vice-Provincial.

During the program relevant information is shared and the participants are encouraged to know one another by sharing about themselves. They are led to be enlightened with aspects which are important, relevant and suitable: dialogue with culture, information about major religions; building inter-lingual, inter-province interaction; animating and participating in discussions; moderating debates, etc. All these are carried out with the view to enable the participants to live the Dominican life with conviction and confidence, as well as to be focused and ready for the mission. By building on the community life, liturgical life, religious vows, regular observance and assiduous study, the program aims to help, guide, and motivate the participants to be a Preacher of Grace.

The Asia Pacific CSP for 2021

With the theme, “Make a difference in your Life”, the Common Study Program for 2021 is via the virtual mode, and so it is conducted online from 3 July to 10 September 2021, on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 11:00 am (Rome time). Covid-19 is a time of uncertainty and unpredictability, and so this year’s program likewise intends to discuss and deliberate new ways and means of functioning and carrying on with the ministry: to accept life as a gift, be joyful as a friar, and ready to accept the assignation; to function with responsibility; to be a graceful preacher; and to continue on their God-given ministry.

There are 37 friar participants for CSP 2021: Province of Vietnam (1); Province of India (7); Vice Province of Pakistan (4); Province of the Assumption in Australia, New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea (4); Our Lady of the Rosary Province (11); Province of the Philippines (6); and Vice Province of the Queen of China in Taiwan (4).

Among this year’s resource persons are Brother Gerard Francisco P. Timoner III, OP (Master of the Order), Br. Florentino Bolo, OP (Socius of the Master for Apostolic Life), Br. Pablo Carlos Sicouly, OP (Socius of the Master for Intellectual Life), Br. Mark Padrez, OP (Socius of the Master for Fraternal Life and Formation),  Br. Amirtha Raj, OP (Socius of the Master for Asia Pacific), Br. Benjamin Earl, OP (Procurator General), Br. Michael Deeb, OP (former Promoter General for Justice and Peace), and Br. Edmund Nantes, OP (former Syndic of the Order). Let us together make a difference!