Provincial Mission Statement COUNCIL DELEGATES ELECT NEW OFFICERS Called to a deeper relationship of love and service to God, From October 25th through October 28th, the Provincial Council met in we are members of the Dominican Order, who commit Chicago with the primary duty of electing new officers. With the guidance to live the Dominican charism as lay people. In of the Holy Spirit, and grounded in prayer, the Provincial Council elected collaboration with the Dominican Family, Mr. Joseph Komadina, O.P. our new President. The newly elected officers we work to promote social justice and peace in society. and their subsequent appointees are listed on this page. May we all be thankful for our past officers, including former Supported by prayer, study, community and President Karen Sabourin, and may we all pray diligently for our ministry, we fulfill our vocation to proclaim the new officers in the great tasks that lie before them. Gospel wherever we, as individuals, live and work. The news delivered by Council delegates about their chapters throughout the Province may be found in our St. Albert the Great Lay Dominican Executive Committee “News from around the Province” section on page 4. President: Mr. Joseph Komadina, O.P. The weekend was a great success, featuring reports from all our extra- ordinary missions throughout the Province of St. Albert the Great. Vice-President: Mr. Terry McSweeney, O.P. Treasurer: Mrs. Mary Lee Odders, O.P. Recording Secretary: Mrs. Cheryl Beckman, O.P. Past President: Ms. Karen Sabourin, O.P. Provincial Promoter: Rev. Rich Litzau, O.P. * * * * * * * Lay Dominican Inter-Provincial Council Reps DLIPC Delegate: Ms. Sharon Huizenga, O.P. DLIPC Alternate: Mr. William McHugh, O.P. * * * * * * * Appointees Formation Committee Chair: Mr. Terry McSweeney, O.P. Promoter Fr. Rich Litzau and Former President Karen Sabourin Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Jean Robertson, O.P. with newly elected President Joe Komadina, DLIPC Delegate Sharon Huizenga, Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation: Mrs. Teresa Cecil, O.P. Vice-President Terry McSweeney, and DLIPC Alternate William McHugh. Archivist: Ms. Jill O’Brien, O.P. Strategic Plan: Mr. Ed Shea, O.P. Can You Spare Some Change For An Important Cause? Liturgy: Ms. Sharon Huizenga, O.P. Communication Coordinator: Mr. Joseph Komadina, O.P. by Mr. Joseph Komadina, O.P. * * * * * * * At this time of year the change of seasons becomes a cliché as topic. As we shift from Winter into Spring, we can't help but be reminded of change For Submissions to Challenge: and growth. My point in the previous sentence is that what is shifting depends on where we are. Our tendency to look at all through the narrow lens of our Mr. Jonathan Stahl, O.P., Editor own experience often blinds us to a larger view. What's happening in our 1 4 3 3 Union Street little corner of the world must be what's happening everywhere. No closer-to -home example of this exists than our imaginative views of the Na- Indianapolis, IN 4 6 2 2 5 tivity in the northern hemisphere. We've been taught in recent years [email protected] to expand our imaginative vision of this event. KOMADINA...continued on page 6 AA WordWord fromfrom ourour PromoterPromoter,, te deum FrFr. RichRich LitzauLitzau, OO. PP. , . St. Albert the Great Province (The Te Deum was said by the Provincial Coun- cil after the election of new officers. We ask you to join us and the entire Province in thanksgiving for our “Preach always, and if you must, use words.” Attributed to Father Francis, past and new officers.) this challenge seems to be particularly confrontive to the family of Dominic. For us, preaching is a way of life; and the pulpit a natural outlet. Actually, Father Francis’ challenge echoes Father Dominic’s charge to us to “either be speaking to God, or about God”. It is a call to Dominicans to stay President: You are God: we praise you. aware and open to opportunities to speak about God. All: You are the Lord: we acclaim you; For those of us blest with ordination, preaching occasions are rampant. For You are the eternal Father: our solemnly professed brothers, preaching occasions are regularly available. All creation worships you. For our Life Professed family members, preaching occasions can be rare To you all the angels, all the powers of heaven, gems. That is, if we only consider preaching as an activity done from the pul- Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: pit, within the context of a liturgical moment. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. The truth is that we are all confronted regularly with opportunities to preach in the manner offered by Francis, that is, to preach with our lives. In a special The glorious company of apostles praise you. way, members of the Dominican family live out the Corporal works of Mercy, The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. and in doing so, we preach with our lives. So the truth is, Dominican Laity The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. actually blend the challenges of our Fathers Francis and Dominic. In an ac- Throughout the world the holy Church tive, engaged way, the apostolate of the Laity, Dominican Lay brothers and acclaims you: sisters practice these works of compassion and love in the very fabric of their Father, of majesty unbounded, lives. Grounded in the Dominican Rule, their ministries flow from the prayer Your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and contemplation practiced within their respective chapters. And the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide. You, Christ, are the King of Glory, Enfolded within this working out of the Corporal Works of Mercy lies the po- The eternal Son of the Father. tential for opportunities to take to the pulpit and “Speak about God.” Within each Dominican Laity’s spiritual home lies the potential for participating in When you became man to set us free prayer services, rosaries, communion services, reconciliation services, Advent You did not spurn the Virgin’s womb. or Lenten service. The list is longer. You overcame the sting of death, And opened the kingdom of heaven to This Year of Faith challenges the “real” people of God to actively all believers. engage and seek occasion to live out their charism of preaching. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. And, as Dominicans, our Lay brothers and sisters, volunteering to We believe that you will come, and be our judge. lead liturgical services open up any number of “preaching mo- Come then, Lord, and help your people, ments.” But they have to be sought out, being pro-active, visiting Bought with the price of your own blood, with pastors, or parish administrators, or deacons, offering to par- And bring us with your saints to glory everlasting. ticipate, plan and execute services- the possibilities are boundless. V: Save your people, Lord, and bless By the way, Canon Law does offer: your inheritance. R: Govern and uphold them now and always. Canon 766- - Lay persons can be permitted to preach in a church or V: Day by day we bless you. oratory, if necessity requires it in certain circumstances or it seems R: We praise your name forever. advantageous in particular cases, according to the prescripts of the V: Keep us today, Lord, from all sin. conference of bishops and without prejudice to ⇒ can. 767, §1. R: Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. V: Lord, show us your love and mercy; So my brothers and sisters in Dominic, respond to the challenges of R: For we put our trust in you. Fathers Francis and Dominic. Preach with your lives, preach with V: In you, Lord, is our hope: your voices, live out the call to be followers of Christ- -preach. R: And we shall never hope in vain. 2 Chapter highlight: Vietnamese lay Dominican chapter, Wheat ridge, colorado Located at Queen of the Vietnamese Martyrs Parish near Denver, CO, this flourishing chapter boasts 18 Lay Dominicans of life profession, and 9 more of temporary profession. The chapter meets every single Sunday for Morning Prayer and Mass, and every Sunday after Mass, they go to one of the chapter member’s homes for lunch and the recitation of the Rosary. Every 1st Sunday, they have an extended business meeting to talk about what they’ve done the past month, and what they can do in the coming month. During the weekdays, all members are encouraged leave of absence to care for his young children, he to recite the Liturgy of the Hours daily, plans to return soon as his children mature. attend daily Mass, and to diligently read the Bible. Along with another chapter member, Mr. Nguyen was able to visit the Holy Land in November of In March of 2012, several members took part in 2011, and shared his experiences with his the Archdiocese of Denver’s 40 Days for Life, chapter upon their return. He also serves as praying at local abortion clinics. the parish secretary every Saturday and Sunday (his only days off from his other job). On March 30th, 2012, the Vietnamese Lay Dominican Chapter joined the St. Dominic There are over 100,000 professed Lay Dominicans Chapter (Denver) and Fr. Charles Bouchard, O.P., in Vietnam. When preparing to celebrate the feast Provincial of the Central Province, for Evening of the Vietnamese Dominican martyrs on Prayer, and enjoyed the “potluck” afterwards November 24th, let us remember that the blood of at St. Dominic Parish Center, Denver. the martyrs was the seed of the Church in the first few centuries after Christ, and is still today.