Vocation Discernment
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Vocation Office
Western Dominican Province
5890 Birch Court
Oakland, CA 94618-1626
(510)-596-1821
Our Vocations require a great deal of support, from the first moment they begin their novitiate until the last moments of their retirement. Please do conside visiting our donation page and helping form and sustain the priests and brothers who will serve you in the future, serve you now and have served you in the past.
Saints and Blesseds
The Order of Friars Preachers,
The Dominican Order,
has a beautiful history of learning, service and holiness manifested in its saints and blesseds of every age since its foundation by St. Dominic de Guzman. Do enjoy the periodic postings of such stories as are available from various sources, especially our own archives.
Religious Retirement
Our elderly and infirm friars receive the best care we have available to us, as in any family. We rely heavily on the donations of others for our own existence and thus when one of our own becomes incapable of further ministry due to age or infirmity, those same donations help us support the sometimes necessary special care required by such members of our communities.
We prefer to care for our elderly and infirm in our own houses so that the life of a religious community can be a part of a friars life as long as possible. This is also the most economical in many ways. We strive to use donations wisely. But sometimes a care facility is essential. As we, as a Province, do not benefit from the national collection for retired religious, we ask that you assist us in caring for these friars who have prayed, taught, served and ministered for so many years amomg the people of the Western United States and beyond.
Please, in your kindness, consider assisting us in this work of brotherly love.
Many thanks in advance.
Catholicism
It's just the right thing
Fr. Hyacinth Alfred Meagles, OP
Fr. Hyacinth grew-up in San Francisco, and first met the Dominicans through St. Dominic's Church in the city. He enjoyed serving as an altar boy in the church, and by the age of eighteen found his way to the formation program for the Western Dominican Province. He was eventually ordained a priest by Archbishop Riordan of San Francisco. His ministry brought him to places such as:
St. Dominic Church, Benicia, California
St. Raphael Church, San Rafael, California
Blessed Sacrament Church, Seattle, Washington
St. Vincent Ferrer Church, Vallejo, California
St. Rose Church, Crockett, California
He was one of the first to live in the priory of Blessed Sacrament in Seattle. Fr. Hyacinth will be remembered as a faithful pastor of souls. The many pictures that we have of him show him as a stone-mason in Benicia. Being the seventh son of a seventh son his nickname was "Doc." This name was familiar at the turn of the century as evidenced by "Doc" White, a famous baseball player, who was also the seventh son of a seventh son.
Unfortunately, he died at the young age of 39 while serving as the Pastor in Crockett, California. A strange turn of health took him from a healthy, vibrant preacher on one Sunday, through a very serious paralytic and fatal stroke. Within two and a half days, the stroke took its toll on his young life.
The stroke occurred one morning when another Dominican friar and a physician friend stopped by the parish rectory to visit. Upon their leaving, Fr. Hyacinth's pet dog caused a commotion near the front of the house. Miss Meagles, a nurse, employee, and sister of Fr. Hyacinth, heard the dog's whining and rushed to see what was happening. The dog led her to Fr. Hyacinth, where he was slouched over a chair. He was paralyzed from the stroke, and she quickly rushed out to gain the assistance of the friar and physician. Fr. Hyacinth was in a serious condition, and he never regained his strength. He died after two and half days. The schools closed so that teachers and students were able to attend his funeral Mass. Flags flew at half mast. He was beloved by many who knew him to be a man of great character and integrity. He was known as a great pastor, because he gave of himself overwhelmingly to the people. May his soul rest in peace.
|
Date of Birth |
Date of Profession |
Date of Ordination |
Date of Death |
|
June 14, 1882 |
November 1, 1901 |
June 24, 1907 |
January 5, 1922 |
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