THE DOMINICAN VOCATION

The 7-year process of becoming a Dominican priest or brother (known as “friars”) is called “formation”. The first step of formation in the Central Province is to live and study at the Novitiate in Denver, Colorado for one year as a “novice” under the supervision of a Dominican priest known as the Novice Master. During this first year of study and discernment, the novice experiences the Dominican way of life by living in community with the Dominican friars at St. Dominic Priory. Novices engage in prayer, study, and various ministries in Denver.

Dominican novices touch the lives of many people in Denver through their ministry work in the community. Since the Novitiate was established in Denver in 1977, novices have served the elderly, the sick, and the impoverished by serving the residents at facilities such as Mullen Home, Hospice of St. John, Samaritan House, and Seton House. Novices also inspire our youth by teaching at St. Vincent de Paul School and Escuela de Guadalupe.

The Dominican formation process is both rigorous and balanced to ensure that candidates are well-adjusted and suited to this special calling. By offering a unique combination of tradition and contemplative life (wearing a “habit”, engaging in common daily prayer) balanced against preaching, teaching, and ministry in the greater community, the Order seeks to produce well-rounded, spiritually mature men who will provide outstanding leadership and genuine pastoral care to the People of God.

The second step of formation occurs after the novice completes his year-long process of study, discernment and ministry in Denver. After taking first vows at St. Dominic Church in a ceremony called “Profession of Vows,” the novice becomes a professed student brother and moves to St. Louis, Missouri. The student brother engages in philosophical and theological graduate studies at Aquinas Institute of Theology for approximately six more years before his ordination to the diaconate and priesthood. In the last four years alone, the Central Province has educated and trained 22 novices, and 82% of them are now student brothers who are continuing their graduate studies and are expected to be ordained.