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. Stephen Thomas Connelly, OP
Fr. Stephen entered the Order at the young age of 19 and served the Western Dominican Province until his death in 1965. A son of St. Dominic's Church in San Francisco, he was baptized there and attended high school at St. Dominic's in Benicia, California. Once in the Order, he completed his studies in Washington, D.C., and in his early years of ministry, he taught Latin in Ross, CA.
Fr. Thomas bore the cross of many physical ailments throughout his adult years, but was not prevented from serving the Province in numerous capacities. Most notably, he was a socius to the diffinitor at the General Chapter of 1941, and held the position of prior in Seattle from 1944 to 1946. He was elected Provincial after Fr. Benedict Blank, but only served for one day. The Master-General cassated his election, and installed Fr. Benedict Blank for another term. The bulk of his efforts were given to pastoral service, and to assisting his communities in the role of procurator.
Photos:
Mass at the High Altar at St. Dominic's in San Francisco
|
Date of Birth |
Date of Profession |
Date of Ordination |
Date of Death |
|
December 17, 1892 |
September 18, 1913 |
May 10, 1918 |
December 6, 1965 |
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