Dominicans Interactive - Irish Dominicans

This year the Dominican Order celebrates their 800th Jubilee of the foundation of the order.

This short video gives some history of the Irish Province since the Dominicans arrived in Ireland almost 800 years ago in 1224.

On the occasion of the Jubilee 800, and on the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, there was a ‘Jubilee Aquinas Lecture’.

The lecture was delivered by Dr. Rik Van Nieuwenove, Lecturer in Theology at the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick.

The lecture, entitled “Contemplation, Learning and the University in Aquinas”, was followed by the celebration of Solemn Vespers in the church with the community of St. Saviour’s.

This is the audio recording of the lecture.

Brs Pat Desmond and Kevin O’Reilly were ordained by the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, on the Feast of the Epiphany. The Provincial, Fr. Gregory Carroll OP mentioned at the end of the mass that the Irish Province had not had this many deacons since the early 70’s. Please keep the new (and old) deacons in your prayers as they prepare for their priestly ordination in the summer.

This short video gives an impression of the celebration of the start of the 800 years Jubilee of the Dominican Order.

Many of the brethren came from all over Ireland to share in the celebration which included two talks, one on the history of the Irish Province, and a second on the Theology of Jubilee in the Old Testament.

After the two talks there were was Solemn Vespers and a festive dinner.

We are delighted to welcome our four new novices to the Province. During the 11am mass in St. Mary's, Cork, the Provincial, Fr. Gregory Carroll OP, clothed the new novices in the habit of the Dominican Order.

The new novices were joined by their family and friends as well as many of the brethren from around the country. The Novice Master, Fr. Stephen Hutchinson OP, now takes charge of the novices for the coming year. The novices begin to live the life of a Dominican, praying with the community, having classes in the history and traditions of the Order, studying the Constitutions and spending time in personal prayer before the Lord.

The Irish province typically clothes new novices in the habit of the Order on the 14th of September, the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Thus, not only is this day a day of celebration due to the reception of new novices, it is also a day of celebration for the wider province as the brethren remember their own reception of the habit.

Please keep the novices in your prayers during the coming year as they follow St. Dominic towards the Lord Jesus Christ.

This video is a recording of the homily given by Fr. John Harris OP, the Regent of Studies for the Irish province, at the Mass for the closing of the Academic Year 2015. The Mass was celebtrated in our Studium in Dublin by Fr. Harris who was joined by the community and the teaching staff of the Studium.

The Irish Province of the Dominicans rejoiced today at the ordination to the Diaconate of six of its student brothers. Br's David McGovern, Damian Polly, Ronan Connolly, Daragh McNally, Conor McDonough and Eoin Casey were ordained this afternoon by His Grace, Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin. Many of the brothers from the wider province were present to witness the largest ordination in the province since the early 1970's.

The six brothers ordained have been studying philosophy and theology at St. Saviours for the past six years and will continue their studies until their ordination to the priesthood next year, coinciding with the celebrations of the Order for the 800th anniversary of its foundation.

The newly ordained will begin their ministry of service in St. Saviours before venturing out into the wider province to preach and gain experience of different communities and pastoral situations. Please keep these newly ordained deacons in your prayers as they enter their final year of studies and preparation for priesthood.

This a video of the mass celebrated in St Saviours church, Dublin on the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas by the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown and members of the Dominican community.

This month at the St Saviour's Symposium, Dr Susan Hegarty (St Patrick's College, Drumcondra) spoke about what's happening in Higher Education in Ireland, and proposed some practices Catholics in education can establish in order to help re-focus education on the higher things.

On the 5th of July brothers Colm Mannion OP and Luuk Dominiek Jansen OP were ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Dairmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. It was a very prayer and joyful day.

Please see this short video for an impression of the Mass and Ordination ceremony.