STAGES OF LAY DOMINICAN FORMATION

Getting to know one another: Above all else, this first step allows one to get to know the Order of Preachers better. This step is conducted through our regular monthly meetings in June and/or July. We will help them discern whether or not he or she is made for Dominican life. This guest visit doesn’t count as meetings attended if they do begin Inquiry.

If there is a positive response at the end of this step, they will be invited to proceed to the Inquiry application process. They should have their application, references, and interviews done before the end of August. From there, the Chapter’s Executive Council will vote on who to accept into Inquiry for the upcoming formation year. This vote will be conducted at the regular Executive Council meeting on the first Monday of September, which gives the new Inquirers enough time to be notified and get prepared to join the first meeting of the formation year in October.

Any applicants who miss this deadline will have to wait until the following formation year to start Inquiry or be referred to the Our Lady of the Rosary Group that meets at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC.

Inquiry: One must be Catholic for at least two years before beginning the Inquiry period. Through a series of classes over the course of one year, our group presents an overview of what it means to be a Dominican. As this period of formation ends, the Inquirer may decide to request admission to the Order.

Candidacy: The duration of the Candidacy is one year. The Candidate begins with the Dominican Order recognizing them as a member of the Order. This is a more formal formation period in the life of a fraternity member. This period includes diverse activities: the study of the life of St. Dominic and other great Dominican figures; the study of the Constitutions, the history of the Order, and the Rule of the Fraternities of St. Dominic; and the general practice of the commitments of a Lay Dominican (e.g., daily Mass, Morning and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Rosary, etc.)

Temporary Promise: As the Candidacy year ends, Candidates and the Order make a decision as to whether they should make a commitment as a Lay Dominican. Temporary Promise is a commitment to live according to the Rule of the Fraternities of St. Dominic for a period of three years. Formation in Dominican life and spirituality continues during this time. At the end of this period, the Temporary Promise member and the Order decide if they are prepared to make Perpetual Promises.

Perpetual Promise: When the decision is reached to move ahead and make their Perpetual Promise profession, the individual makes a commitment to live according to the Rule of the Fraternities of St. Dominic for the rest of their life.

On-going Formation: Dominicans are particularly committed to on-going formation both in the Chapter and individually. Even though one has made a permanent commitment to be a Dominican, on-going study continues in the area of Dominican spirituality, the Scriptures, the teachings of the Church, etc. Dominicans are always concerned about growing in understanding of both their faith and their Dominican vocation.

INQUIRY FORMATION (Year 1)

Class 1: Introduction to the the Dominican Order
Class 2: The Life of St. Dominic de Guzman
Class 3: The History and Purpose of the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours)
Class 4: Introduction to The Four Dominican Pillars: Prayer and Study
Class 5: Introduction to The Four Dominican Pillars: Community and Apostolate
Class 6: The Vocation and Role of the Dominican Laity
Class 7: The Charisms of the Dominican Order
Class 8: The Dominican Way of Life
Class 9: Traditions and Symbols of the Dominican Order

CANDIDACY FORMATION (Year 2)

Class 1: History of the Dominican Order
Class 2: The Dominican Approach to Prayer
Class 3: The Dominican Approach to Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition
Class 4: The Dominican Approach to Study and Preaching
Class 5: The Dominican Approach to Community and Apostolate
Class 6: Means of Growth in the Spiritual Life
Class 7: Three Stages of the Spiritual Life
Class 8: The Spirituality of St. Catherine of Siena
Class 9: The Lives of Major Dominican Saints & Study of Rule for Laity

TEMPORARY PROMISE FORMATION (Year 3-5)

Aquinas 101 by the The Thomistic Institute.

ON-GOING CHAPTER FORMATION

We are currently studying the Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena with Fr. Matthew Kauth.