Dominicans put Saint Dominic at the centre of the digital continent.
The second phase of the digital preaching campaign #Influencersop, “Voices of Hope for Peace“, centred on the figure of our founder Saint Dominic of Caleruega. This part of the campaign was again hosted by the official Ordo_Praedicatorum Instagram account and took place from 7 August, the eve of the feast of our founder Saint Dominic, until 17 August, feast of Saint Hyacinth of Poland.
In this month dedicated to our Father St. Dominic, whose liturgical memorial is celebrated on 8 August, short videos were published by influencers of the Order of Preachers (#Influencersop), who addressed themes of identity related to our founder. Friars, nuns and sisters of apostolic life took part.
Brother Marcos Julio García Sánchez, OP
“In my prayer I always keep in mind that we are salt of the earth, salt with a taste of Christ and if that salt does not give good seasoning, if that taste becomes bland, indifferent and tasteless, then who will give a taste of Christ to humanity? I deeply believe that this is what we are called to do, to give that good taste of humanity to the world, a world that is becoming more and more filled everyday with everything that does not nourish. A world in which we see many experiencing sickness in their souls because they are constantly looking for where the bread of life is not. We are sent to give a taste of Christ to humanity.”
Brother Marcos is a Venezuelan son of the Province of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Provincial Vicariate of Spain. He spoke on the theme “The ‘Flavour’ of Dominican Preaching”.
Br Marcos is a journalist and broadcaster, born in Mucuchíes, Mérida state. He has a degree in theology and has directed the Colegio Cristo Rey in San Cristobal, Venezuela. Since 2020, he has been living in Spain, serving as vicar of the parish of San Pedro Mártir Sanchinarro. In 2023, he participated in season 11 of MasterChef Spain. He is Media Promoter of his province.
Sister María Laura Lissette García Colón, OP
“I seek that all may know Jesus Christ and strive to make our motto ‘to bring Christ to the Family and the Family to Christ‘come alive“
Sister María Laura Lissette García Colón, OP, is a Puerto Rican dominican sister of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. She is dedicated to youth ministry and spoke on the theme Saint Dominic, Preacher by Listening.
Bro Donato Noalcca Merma, OP
“Social networks are new existential realities that need the presence of Preachers to bring the Word of God, in accordance with today’s needs. And in this environment I would like to make God present, in the style of our Father St Dominic.”
Brother Donato is Peruvian and a son of the Province of St John the Baptist of Peru. He spoke on the theme Care for the Environment Inspired by St Martin de Porres.
Br Donato was born in Cuzco and his native language is Quechua. He studied psychology and is a technician in International Business Administration. He also studied philosophy and theology and is currently completing a master’sdegree in Organisational Development and People Management.
Bro Bernardo Sastre Zamora, OP
“As a Dominican, I seek to serve the Church and the world of today. I want to continue to collaborate with the fascinating mission that is the preaching of the Gospel, oriented towards the salvation of souls (salus animarum) – in particular, in the field of teaching and research in fundamental theology, specialising in the School of Salamanca. I ask your prayers that I may continue faithfully to follow Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the footsteps of Our Father St. Dominic.”
Brother Bernardo of the Province of Hispania spoke on the theme Peace, a Dominican Preaching.
Br Bernardo was born in Valladolid (Spain). He studied music, specialising in violin and piano, and at university he studied for a degree in physics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas – the Angelicum. He is currently completing his Licentiate with a specialisation in fundamental theology at our Pontifical Faculty of Theology of San Esteban. On 20 May 2023, he was ordained deacon, and on 22 June 2024, he was ordained priest. “We are sent to serve, and only to serve. Blessings, and many thanks for your prayers.”
Sister Maria Dilma Clavo Vasquez, OP
“Mother Guzmana, in love with the evangelical ideal and above all with the life of our Father St. Dominic, wanted us too to live this life of evangelical poverty and simplicity, as in the early days of the Order. At a time when it is difficult to proclaim the word of God, we hope that the spirit of St. Dominic will be present in this 21st century.”
Sister Maria Dilma is a dominican sister of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Asti, Italy. Her community was founded in 1902 by Mother Guzmana Romanengo. Sisterpresented on The Charism of the Community Inspired by St. Dominic of Caleruega.
Sr Dilma was born in Chota – Peru. She has a degree in educational psychology from the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences in Rome. She is in charge of media for her Congregation and is also director of youth ministry and the Rosary Apostolate. She teaches psychology at the Señor de los Milagros Educational Institution in Peru.
Sister Andrea Desi Rihani, OP
“As Dominicans, we are invited to deeply embrace, preserve and develop the contemplative life, thus enabling us to workcourageously against the current of our time. Contemplation of Divine Truth directs all our senses to look at God in silence, becoming aware of and feeling God’s presence. The Holy Spirit enables us to see God and to see everything as God sees it, both in prayer and in the experiences of life.”
Sr Andrea Desi Rihani, OP, a religious sister of the Dominican Sisters in Indonesia, addressed the theme Dominicans and the Contemplative life.
Sister Andrea is a psychology graduate, educator and digital creator in Indonesia.
Brother Washington Jácome Gusñay, OP
“The following of Jesus Christ in the style devised by St. Dominic of Guzman has captivated me since I entered the Order. Preaching for the salvation of mankind motivates me to explore these digital spaces where people are today. Being at the forefront, where people are, allows us friars to be creative in the way we bring the Good News.”
Brother Washington Jácome Gusñay, OP from Ecuadorian is a son of the Vice-Province of St Catherine of Siena. He spoke on the theme The Preaching of the Friars in Ecuador.
Br Washington is in his third year of theology. He manages the Vice-Province’s student digital ministry and collaborates with the Vice-Province’s Media Promoter.
Sister Mirella Soro, OP
“Dominic’s dream is that all people return to God’s embrace. To touch people’s hearts does not depend on us, but on God. Today Dominic continues to rely on his daughters, the nuns who, with their prayers, support evangelisation in the world.”
Sister Mirella Soro, OP, is an Italian Dominican nun from the Monastero di Santa Maria della Neve e San Domenico in Pratovecchio, Italy. She addressed the theme St Dominic and the Nuns
Sister Mirella was born in Sardinia, Italy. She is currently a formator in her monastery and a scholar on the life of St Catherine of Siena.
Brother Ronald Fajardo, OP
“The Dominican charism constantly challenges us to go out of ourselves, to open ourselves to the immense love of God and to announce to the most needy a time of grace and hope. In this way, we encourage the struggles of the poorest in the search for answers to the deepest questions about the meaning of faith and life.”
Brother Ronald Fajardo, OP, from Guatemala is a son of the Province of St Vincent Ferrer in Central America. He spoke on the theme The Preaching of St Dominic on the Frontiers Today.
Br Ronald graduated as a lawyer and notary from the University of San Carlos in Guatemala. Attracted by the Dominican charism, he asked to be admitted to the Order and studied philosophy in Costa Rica at the Theological University of Central America Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero. He also studied at the Pontifical University of Salamanca, earning a bachelor’s degree in theology and a licentiate in canon law. He was ordained deacon on the Solemnity of St Dominic in 2024 in the same place where he was baptised: the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Sister Patricia Turpo Meneses, OP
“St Dominic de Guzman was the father of the most iconic young saints, such as St Agnes of Montepulciano and St Catherine of Siena. May St Dominic also be a light for us.”
Sister Patricia is a Dominican sister of the Dominican Congregation of the Immaculate Conception. She spoke on the theme Young Saints according to the Charism of St Dominic.
Sister Patricia is currently in formation. She is a pastoral minister and teacher, and also a digital creator. She seeks to evangelise young people through her social media presence.
Brother José Jaime Pérez Lucio, OP
“I strive to transmit everyday the joy and hope that emanates from faith in the Risen Jesus in living together with the people around me, in preaching and study. That is why I am convinced that theology is not a sterile discipline, but that it is meant to open paths of peace and charity for those who live in fear, sadness and indifference. “
Brother José Jaime is a son of the Province of Mexico. He spoke on the theme Saint Dominic, Preacher of Grace and Teacher of the Word.
Br José trained as an economist at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. He has a degree in philosophy and a licentiate in patristic theology from the Johannes Gutenberg University, Germany. He has served as media promoter for the Province of Mexico and currently carries out his diaconal ministry in the Dominican parish of St Bonifaz and the Spanish-speaking Catholic community of Mainz.
Sister Natalia Motato Vinasco, OP
“My life challenge is to be a missionary disciple who, through a deep spiritual life, can lead others to experience the transforming love of Jesus Christ. As a Dominican called to preach in season and out of season, I am invited to step out of my comfort zone and go to new places, among them, the digital continent. This new frontier challenges us as a Church day by day, and calls me to be a light in this cyberspace. It leads me to share the faith and Christian values in an authentic and relevant way for people of all ages and cultures“
Sister Natalia is a Colombian Dominican sister of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of St Catherine of Siena. She spoke on the theme St Dominic, a Charism Lived in Your Congregation.
Sister Natalia was born in El Dovio – Valle in Colombia and made her vows in 2022. She is a student of the Licentiate in Theology at the University of Santo Tomas and a teacher of religion at the Colegio Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Floridablanca, Santander.
The Student’s Media Center
The Student’s Media Center group in the Philippines made two videos.
The first, recorded at St. Dominic’s Church in Quezon City, the motherhouse of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, is a music video entitled “Why should we preach?”, It is about preaching through the example of St. Dominic, to whom they pay homage: “As we gather to celebrate the feast of our Father St. Dominic, let us continue to pray for the gift of vocations so that men and women will be called to live and preach the truth of the Gospel”.
In the second, entitled Itinerant Preacher, the members of the group perform a choreography to the rhythm of the traditional song “Dominique, nique, nique.” The viewer is given a visual tour of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazarene, the Minor Basilica of San Sebastian and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the National Shrine of St Michael and the Archangels, the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, the National Shrine of St Jude Thaddeus, the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Manila and the Church of St Augustine – Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation of Manila.
The digital preaching campaign #Influencersop, “Voices of Hope for Peace”, is part of the project that seeks to highlight the Dominican identity on the digital continent. It aims to unite us in order to make our voices heard in the world. It also seeks to experience the communitarian dimension of digital preaching (cf. LCO 139) and the importance of the Dominican Family putting its gifts and resources on the new continent (cf. ACG Tultenango, 96,99).
We thank all the volunteers of the Dominican Family who are joining us and sharing content on Dominican identity. If you want to know more about them, you can visit them on our official Ordo_Praedicatorum Instagram account, #Influencersop, “Voices of hope for peace”.
The Voices of Hope for Peace campaign on #Influencersop will continue during the month of the Rosary (October). We encourage the influencers of the Dominican Family to contact us at contact@curia.op.org.
We thank the Dominican Family for following the contents of the digital channels of Ordo Praedicatorum. A special recognition to the brothers and sisters who sacrificed some time of their holidays to prepare their videos and preach. We entrust the preaching of the #influencersop to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary.
