November 15, 2003

Each year, some of the novices from the Eastern Dominican Province travel to Oakland to live and study with the Western Dominican Province.  Vice versa, the Western Dominican Province sends some of their students to the East to live and study with the friars in Washington, D.C.  The two provinces share much in common, and through this type of exchange a greater appreciation and fondness has evolved.  We hope you enjoy this interview of Br. Aquinas Stoffel, OP by OPWest.org. 

The classes I am taking are Introduction to Sacraments, Principles of Christian Moral Life, Church History, Canon Law and the Nature and Method of Theology.  It is hard to say which class has been the most enjoyable because I have found all of them to be intellectually stimulating. However, one class does stand out in particular and that has been the Introduction to Sacraments with Fr. Giles Dimock, OP.  Basically, the class consists of going through the Summa Theologica question by question and discussing the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas regarding the sacraments. Fr. Giles also offers great pastoral advice (usually through stories) on the administration of the sacraments and so it ends up being a very practical class.

What similarities and differences do you find between studies in the Western Province and studies in the Eastern Province?

(L-R) Br. Thomas Joseph Martin, OP, Fr. Joseph Barranger, OP, Br. Aquinas Mary Stoffel, OP, and Br. Pius Pietrzyk, OP

Since I have not yet studied theology at our Dominican School in the West, I am unable to legitimately compare the theological studies of the two provinces. I have only studied philosophy in the Western Province. However, one noticeable difference is that at the DHS, much of the faculty consists of Dominican priests who also live at the priory. This creates an environment where the students are able to experience the witness of their professors applying the fruits of their study, and their living out the Dominican life. I have found this to be a positive experience because it instills in the students the understanding that being a theologian is not just teaching in a classroom and studying in your room. Being a theologian is something that extends into all the aspects of one’s life.

One of the similarities I have gladly witnessed is a common zeal that is present in both provinces for the life of study ordered to aiding the Church in her mission to bring souls to God.

DHS is located right across the street from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and Catholic University of America. What is your experience of these two places?

(L-R) Adam Cardinal Maida, Br. Aquinas Mary Stoffel, OP, Bishop Allen Vigneron, and Br. Martin Bui, OP

One will notice when visiting DHS that we are in an area with an abundance of Catholic organizations. This area of D.C. is rightly nicknamed, "Little Rome". Two of the most prominent Catholic establishments are the Catholic University of America and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, both of which are right across the street from the Dominican priory. It is a real blessing to be near these places, because of the opportunities they offer. Catholic University of America (CUA) often has lectures, prayer services and other religious or academic events that one may attend. Also, CUA has a large number of young and faithful Catholics who are often found at the DHS participating in our liturgies. The National Shrine is a beautiful place of worship and pilgrimage, which provides the general public, including the brethren, a place for prayer and growth in Marian devotion. Sometimes, when I have some spare time, I will go over to the Shrine and view and pray at the numerous side altars to Our Lady. There is also a Spanish Mass that I enjoy participating in on Sundays .

Speaking of experiencing the local sites, I imagine that you have gotten out and about the Nation's Capital. Where have you visited, and where do you want to visit while in D.C.?

DC has countless sights and monuments to visit and I am beginning to think that a year is not enough time to explore them all. I have had the pleasure to visit many of our nations treasures here in DC, including the Capitol, the White House, and the Vietnam Memorial. But there is still much to see. There are many museums here ranging from national history to modern art and I hope to visit them and take advantage of their low prices (they are all FREE!).

The semester break is approaching, what are your plans for the break?

During the break I will be traveling to Oakland and Portland to become the Godfather of 2 children, and then I will be going to Mt. Angel Abbey in Oregon for my annual retreat. The other two Western Province brothers [Brs. Augustine Hilander and James Moore] here at the DHS have plans to explore different parts of the East coast.

What is it like living with the Eastern Dominican friars at DHS?

Brs. John Hoang, OP, of the Vietnamese Vicariate and Br. Aquinas Mary Stoffel, OP, of the Western Province with religious guests in the refectory.

I have found the community here to be extremely charitable and they have gone out of their way to help the western brothers feel welcome and part of the family. Thus far, I have greatly enjoyed living here and getting to know the various members of the community. I have found the DHS environment to be very conducive to prayer and study.  The community is obviously very healthy.  There is a noted unity among these brethren, whom are devoted to living the Dominican life.