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Saint Albert Priory |
Dominican Friars |
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February 2004 |
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February Activities with the Friars
In February, life takes on a more predictable pace at the Priory. The Brothers in studies are back at their desks. Father Hilary Martin has arrived from Australia for his second semester of teaching duties here. Our preachers are on the road again and the rest of us have resumed our regular tasks. Lent is around the corner. We were very proud lately to learn that our former Prior, Father Paul ScanIon, placed second in the Best Essay General Interest Category of the 2003 Press Awards presented by the Catholic Press Association, for his essay, “Not a Sparrow Falls,” which was published in the November 2002 issue of Liguorian. Father Paul reports that he is doing well at his mission in Unalaska, Alaska. Your generosity continues to overwhelm us and warm our hearts at the same time! Just recently, a friend of the community made a memorial gift of $50,000 toward our kitchen renovation project; we’re now halfway toward our huge $100,000 goal! We also have smaller needs; we would still be very grateful to anyone willing to help us send one Brother on retreat this year for about $250; the total for annual retreats for the whole community usually costs about $6,000. Even more importantly, your prayers are a treasure to us. Please keep them coming; and we promise you a place in ours! God bless you! Father Michael, O.P. In Support of the Dignity of Human Life
From 7:15 until 9:30 on evening of the 9th, Night Prayer, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction will be held in the Chapel at Saint Albert Priory. At 9:30, participants will car pool to San Quentin Prison, where they will pray the Rosary. At 12:01 A.M., the scheduled time of the execution, the group will sing the Salve Regina, the Marian hymn Dominicans sing together at the end of every day and also at the deathbed of each of our friars. With the conclusion of that hymn, the group will depart in silent procession. Those participating in this time of prayer and witness are advised to wear warm clothing and to bring a flashlight and a wind protected candle. This kind of public demonstration for gospel values is yet another of the many ways Dominican preaching occurs. For more information, please consult the Priory website. |
The Public is Welcome! |
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The Newest Western Dominicans at the Priory
In the Fall of 2002 , for the first time in many years, no new novices arrived at Saint Albert Priory, because the novitiate had been moved to Saint Dominic Priory in San Francisco. Last Fall, a very warm welcome was extended to the Brothers of that first class to make its novitiate at Saint Dominic’s, when they completed their canonical year, professed simple vows, and joined our ranks at Saint Albert’s. Now as newly professed Dominican friars, the eight of them—seven clerics and one cooperator brother—are all studying at our Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley and enriching our brotherhood at the Priory. They are extremely talented and generous, and are a genuine blessing to us. Since they are still rather new to the Priory, we thought the readers of this bulletin might enjoy being able to match their names to their faces. Brother Michael Augustine Amabisco is a professional geologist from Santa Ana; his ministerial goals center around pastoral work with families. Formerly an accountant from San Diego, Brother Stephen Maria Lopez hopes to serve in a parish or Newman Center; he is also interested in the missionary and teaching apostolates. Brother Christopher Fadok, a Byzantine-Ukrainian Catholic from Phoenix, Arizona, would like to teach philosophy and work toward Catholic and Orthodox unity after ordination. Brother Giovanni Dahl, a former elementary school principal originally from Wisconsin, would someday like to minister in a parish serving the Spanish speaking population, either at home or on the missions. Brother John Marie Bingham, from Augusta, Georgia, would like to teach systematic theology at the graduate level. Brother Sadoc Maria Glau, a student of philosophy, Judaism and the Old Testament, would like to teach philosophy and Jewish studies at the university level. Brother Isaiah Mary Molano, the only member of his class who is in the Cooperator Brothers’ program, entered the Order from our Newman Center at the University of California, Riverside; he aspires to campus ministry and work in the mass media. Brother Lupe Gonzalez acknowledges the significant support given him by the Young Adult Group at our Saint Dominic Parish in San Francisco, as he discerned his vocation to the Order and to the priesthood. His future ministerial goals include interests in campus ministry and missionary service. These Brothers are in the beginning years of the somewhat lengthy initial formation program required by our Order. The encouragement and support they will receive from their families and friends as well as from the friends of our Priory will be very significant for them as they proceed on this challenging journey. Please support them frequently through your prayers. Later This Month: Ash Wednesday and Lent
Our Province participates in eScrip. The group name is “Western Dominican Province” and the group ID number is I 54804935. Can you support this endeavor? It’s free! |
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Get ready! Even though
there are still a few poinsettias around, Lent will arrive before this
month ends. Ash Wednesday falls on February 25. Friars are already
planning to make our liturgical events as well as our chapel environment
suitable and supportive of the inner conversion to which Our Lord
beckons us during this season. On Ash Wednesday, ashes will be
distributed at our regular 5:00 P.M. Mass. Other Lenten programs at the
Priory will be announced as they develop. In addition to our regular
schedule of Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, friends and neighbors are
also warmly invited to join the friars each evening, Sundays through
Thursdays, for our Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. On Sunday
evenings this is scheduled at 8:15 P.M., and concludes with
Benediction, followed by Night Prayer. On weekdays, Adoration follows
our 7:15 P.M. Night Prayer. Perhaps joining the friars for Adoration
could be a valuable Lenten observance this year!