Studentate Archives - SAINT DOMINIC'S PRIORY

Vocation

Vocation is a gift. It is a gift from God. Everyone in this world has received a vocation, a call from God. There are a variety of vocations: vocation to married life, vocation to live a celibate life, or vocation to live a single life. There is also a vocation to be, for instance, a teacher, a doctor, a carpenter, a priest, a consecrated person, etc.

In all these vocations God calls us to live a happy life. No one is called to live a sorrowful life, or to live a bad or immoral life…
When we are happy with our lives and we find peace in our journey, we know then that it is God’s will, God’s plan for us.

Sometimes it happens that we do not understand God’s calling for us; at times we do not even like our job or our vocation. Sometimes other people do not understand our vocation, either. In any case, we need to understand that we did not choose to be born into this world, but it was God who created us; that He calls us and gives us different missions in life, all ordered in the end to our happiness: to praise Him and to serve our sisters and brothers.

Consecrated Life is one particular vocation, a gift from God. It is a call to offer ourselves totally to Him; to detach ourselves from the world and live for God alone, in the service of the Church and of mankind.

We could say that being totally consecrated to God is a call to figuratively open wide both our arms, lifting up our right hands high while keeping our left hand lower down: with our left hands we receive the supplications, tears, and joys of the world and offer them up to God in heaven; in turn, with our right hand, we receive the blessings, the graces and the healings from God and offer them down to mankind on earth.

In addition, as Dominican clerical brothers, which is a very special form of consecrated life, endowed with the priestly ministry, we are called to stand by the altar of God and act in the name of Christ the Head of the Church as mediators between God and humanity.

Author: Bro. Rolindo Tilman Moniz O.P

THESIS DEFENCE

It is mandatory that every graduating student of the University of St. Joseph in Macau go through a thesis defence. Without exception, our three graduating student brothers pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies had to encounter this. Bro. Cesar Lino de Sousa Ximenes, O.P., Bro. Agostinho Mendoca, O.P. and Bro. Innocent Han Zaw Htun, O.P. successfully defended their theses on 19, 20 and 21 June 2024, respectively. The thesis title of Bro. Cesar is ” RECONCILIATION AS A WAY OF MISSION.” Bro. Agostinho’s thesis is titled ” ARISTOTLE AND AQUINAS ON HAPPINESS: A COMPARISON OF NICOMACHEAN ETHICS I & X AND SUMMA THEOLOGIAE 1A2AE QUESTIONS 1-5″ and from Bro. Innocent, ” DEVELOPING A CATHOLIC THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING IN THE CONTEXT OF BURMESE THERAVADA BUDDHISM.” May God continue His blessing for their future ministry!

Renewing Religious Vows in Spain

On the memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, today, student brother, Bro. Orlando Lopes, O.P. renewed his religious vows at the Convento Del Santisimo Rosario in Madrid. Prior Provincial Fr. Ruben Martinez Ortega, O.P. received the profession. Bro. Orlando is from Timor-Leste. Let us continue praying for him to be faithful and persevere in his Dominican vocation!

Birthdays in June

The Priory celebrated the birthdays of the brothers who were born in June.

The celebrants were Br. Joseph Naing Ling Hung, O.P, Br. Xaverio, O.P, and Br. Ephream Nay Myo Thu, O.P. The community greeted them with the warmest wishes.

It was a joyous occasion that brought everyone together in celebration of community life and fraternity.

Renewing Religious Vows

Today, at the memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, thirteen student brothers renewed their religious vows in the Priory’s chapel of St. Dominic. Conventual Prior, Fr. Javier González Izquierdo, OP, presides over the solemn Eucharistic celebration and receives the professions of the brothers. In his homily, Fr. Javier reminds us that the renewing of vows should not be just a symbol but the renewing of persons. The thirteen brothers are from different countries: one from Korea, six from Myanmar, and six from Timor-Leste. Let us continue praying for them to be faithful and persevere in their Dominican vocation!

Thanksgiving Mass for Academic Year 2023-2024

On June 13, 2024, upon the memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, the University of St. Joseph gave thanks to God for the Academic Year 2023-2024. The solemn mass was offered inside the university chapel of the Holy Cross. Bishop Stephen Lee presided over as main celebrant and delivered the homily. The Student Brothers joined in choir, offertory, and intercession. After the Mass, the brothers enjoyed their lunch together with the other attendees.