Memorial of Bl. Jane of Aza
2 August 2025
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Dominican Family,
Greetings from the General Chapter here in Krakow!
At the beginning of our chapter, fr. Vivian Boland presented the work of the theological commission on The Vocation of the Cooperator Brother in the Order and in the Church. There is much to ponder and learn from the report, which was well received by the General Chapter.
The General Chapter of Biên Hòa requested for a theological research that will “deepen our understanding of the specificity of the cooperator brother vocation in the Order and in the Church” (ACG 2019, 199). The Order of Friars Preachers is a communion of cooperator and ordained brothers; and the Dominican Family is a communion of those who share the charism received by St. Dominic – friars, both lay and ordained, contemplative nuns, apostolic sisters, lay and priestly fraternities, secular institutes, and associations of young people (youth movements). The present study considers the vocation of the Cooperator Brother within the broader context of the Dominican Family and its participation in the Church’s mission of evangelization. Thus, I am happy to share for your reflection, the report of the commission.
I thank the members of the commission for their excellent work: friars Anthony Akinwale (Nigeria, presbyter), Vivian Boland (Ireland, chair, presbyter), Franklin Buitrago Rojas (Colombia, presbyter), Andrew Hofer (St Joseph USA, presbyter), Felicísimo Martinez (Rosary Province, presbyter), Francis Nguyen Van Nhut (Vietnam, presbyter) and Joseph Trout (St Albert in the USA, cooperator brother) along with Sr. Hedvig Deák (Hungary, Congregation of St Margaret of Hungary, apostolic sister) and Erik Borgman (The Netherlands, Lay Dominican). I also thank friars Mark Padrez and Juan Manuel Hernández, who, as former and present Socii for Fraternal Life and Formation, served as the Commission’s liaison persons on the general council.
Please continue to pray for a grace-filled General Chapter. I also wish you a Blessed Solemnity of our Holy Father St. Dominic!
In Domino et Dominico,
fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP
Master of the Order
Credits for thumbnail: https://decimaterceracuadrillasanmartin.blogspot.com/2014/02/san-juan-macias.html
