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. Thomas Dominic Kraft, OP
Fr. Tom Kraft, O.P. was born and raised in Spokane, WA. He is the second of four children born to Gene and Julia Kraft. As a grade school boy, he was blessed to live across the street from the Poor Clare monastery, where he served Mass for many years. The nuns were and still are a powerful spiritual influence in his life. Just two blocks down the street from the Kraft residence is the parish of St. Francis of Assisi. There, Fr. Tom enjoyed going to grade school and participating in all the activities of the parish and school. He delighted in serving mass and meeting many Franciscans, who were a positive influence in his vocation.
Fr. Tom attended a Jesuit preparatory school followed by two years at Gonzaga University and three at Eastern Washington University. Since grade school, he felt the call to be a priest and seriously considered entering the Franciscans while at the University. After graduating from college, he was blessed to work in a volunteer program in the archdiocese of Seattle. By the grace of God, he lived close to the Dominican parish, Blessed Sacrament, where he attended Eucharist. After Mass one day, a Dominican asked him if he had ever considered becoming a Dominican priest. He did not know what it meant to be a Dominican. Over the course of the year in Seattle, he was drawn to the Dominicans and the priesthood. After being accepted, he entered the novitiate in 1977, made vows in 1978, and was ordained a priest at the Oakland Cathedral in 1986.
His first assignment was at the Arizona State University Newman Center. There he found a wonderful ministry to the college students; he loved working with young Catholics. He continued his service to students by serving six years at the University of Utah Newman Center.
One of his interests was the Spanish language; he studied the language as a hobby. Soon he desired to study full time and was given permission to study Spanish in Bogotá for seven months. After completing his studies, he was blessed to be assigned to the new Dominican mission parish in Mexicali, Mexico where he worked for eight and half years. He treasured the years of serving the poor and needy of Mexico.
After such a unique assignment, he decided to get back into Newman ministry and was assigned to the University of Washington Newman Center for three superb years.
During this time his mother died of cancer and his father's health began to fail. He decided to request a year to be close to his father so he is presently serving in University Ministry at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. There he is the coordinator of a retreat program and faith sharing groups among the students.
Fr. Tom loves the Dominican life and preaching. He lives the Dominican motto of contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere: to share with others the fruits of your contemplation.
Last updated: December 17, 2007
Donate in honor of Fr. Thomas Kraft, OP
Rest In Peace, Fr. Tom died at 10:00 am on January 22, 2009.
Obituary: SFGate
Obituary: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Obituary: SpokanAds
Fr. Tom Kraft Memories (http://frtomkraftop.wordpress.com), this is wordpress.com blog that allows you to write, link, or upload your memories in words, audio, or video. Thank you to Joe Cyr for organizing this project.
Please pray for Fr. Tom Kraft who has begun treatment for cancer.
Medical Updates
This page is updated periodically and also has links to additional items regarding Fr. Tom. It also contains contact information.
Blessed Sacrament Parish in Seattle has established a website for Fr. Tom in which everyone can receive updates on his progress, leave greetings and prayers, sign his guest book, and offer support, March 4, 2008.
Photos of Fr. Tom
2008 at his birthday party in December.
2008 undergoing tests at the hospital.
2008 all wrapped up to keep warm.
2008 finding a good chuckle.
2003 the general stock photo.
Dominican Mission Foundation, Newsletter April 2004
|
Date of Birth |
Date of Profession |
Date of Ordination |
Date of Death |
|
December 17, 1953 |
September 23, 1978 |
May 30, 1986 |
January 22, 2009 |
Archive Record: ___