TALLINN, Estonia — Lay Dominicans, inquirers and young adults gathered in Tallinn from March 27–29 for the retreat “Dominican Paths to Holiness: Preaching by Lay Dominicans,” a weekend of prayer, formation and fraternity centered on the preaching mission of the laity in the Dominican family.
Held at the Bridgettine Convent Guest House in Pirita, the retreat brought together members of the Pier Giorgio Frassati Lay Fraternity along with other participants. The weekend was led by fr. Cristóbal Torres Iglesias, OP, General Promoter for the Laity, and assisted by fr. Alain Arnould, OP, religious assistant of the Pier Giorgio Frassati Lay Fraternity and former socius to the Master of the Order for Europe.
The retreat offered a sustained reflection on the distinct vocation of Lay Dominicans and on the many ways preaching takes shape in ordinary Christian life. Through a series of conferences, fr. Cristóbal explored the varied faces of Lay Dominican spirituality and ministry, presenting examples drawn from well-known figures and from contemporary members of the Dominican laity. Among those considered were Sigrid Undset, Giorgio La Pira and Bartolo Longo, each of whom witnessed to the Gospel in public life, culture and service in ways that continue to inspire the Dominican family.
The conferences highlighted the work of present-day Lay Dominicans engaged in preaching through the arts, culture and social justice. That theme resonated in a particular way with the local fraternity in Tallinn, whose members include visual artists, theater actors and musicians. In this setting, the retreat invited participants to consider how creative gifts, professional work and apostolic commitment can become authentic forms of Dominican preaching.
The program included common prayer and liturgical celebration. Participants took part in Palm Sunday Mass and prayed the Stations of the Cross outdoors among the ruins of the historic 15th-century Bridgettine church in Pirita. The setting offered a fitting backdrop for meditation during the final days of Lent and underscored the retreat’s emphasis on contemplation joined to apostolic life.
In addition to members of the Frassati Fraternity, the retreat welcomed a young adult group accompanied by fr. Alain, along with other guests and inquirers interested in the Dominican vocation. Their presence reflected the growth of the fraternity and the wider interest in Dominican life among young adults in Estonia.
The weekend in Tallinn offered instruction and encouragement, reminding participants that the call to preach belongs to the whole Dominican family and that lay men and women continue to find new paths to holiness in service to the Church and the world.
