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. Gerald Albert Buckley, OP
Born in Los Angeles, June 28, 1931, son of Los Angeles pioneers, grandson of Irish immigrants, last of three siblings, all brothers. Attended Catholic elementary schools in Los Angeles and San Mateo, Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, and Santa Clara University. Entered Order in 1951, philosophy at St. Albert's, theology at Walberberg, Germany, and the Angelicum, Rome. Ordained in 1957 in the Cologne Cathedral. Returned to the Province in 1959.
Assistant clerical novice master at Kentfield and instructor in theology at Dominican College, San Rafael, 1959 to 1961. First Dominican chaplain at University or Oregon, then instructor of theology at St. Mary's College, Moraga, until return to teach at Dominican College. Again at Eugene until 1969 when appointed first Dominican chaplain at Arizona State in Tempe. Assigned to St. Dominic's in San Francisco, later at Siena House, as member, then director, of Western Dominican Preaching, save for stint as pastor of Holy Rosary in Portland and later as vicar of same. Appointed the last Dominican pastor of Ashland, after which assigned to St. Dominic's in Eagle Rock as prior of community.
Personal Note: St. Dominic's dream is as pertinent today as it was in his own time. Throughout the centuries his Order has carried out this dream and has molded a glorious tradition in the service of the Gospel, the Church and the world. After over fifty years wearing the black and white habit of the Order and a participant in Dominic's dream, I am grateful and proud to be a friar. [updated 11/21/04]
The Dominican Year
A listing of days liturgically special to the Order of Preachers as composed by Albert Buckley, O.P. and Bartholomew de la Torre, O.P.
