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. José William Pimentel, OP
Chaplain Jose Pimentel comes from the Azores Portugal immigrating to the US with his family when he was 13 years old. He joined the United States Air Force (USAF) after High School and served for thirteen and half years before entering religious life as a Dominican Friar. Fr. Pimentel is a member of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, European Campus, while serving in the USAF in England.
He attended graduate school and received a Masters in Divinity from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA.
Fr. Pimentel has worked in Campus Ministry as pastor and associate pastor at the University of Arizona, the University of Oregon, the University of Utah and the University of San Diego. He was elected by his Dominican brothers to serve as the Prior of the Dominican House of Studies in Oakland Ca.
In 2001 Fr. Pimentel received a commission as Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve. He has served as a Catholic Chaplain with the 4th Marine Air Wing, MED MAG 46, at MCAS Miramar. He was mobilized and deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, serving with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in Kuwait and Iraq. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his service.
Before being assigned to the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Chaplain Pimentel was assigned to the NR1 MEFREL 220, NMCRC Alameda.
United States Navy Chaplain (non-combatant)
Photos: 2005 A (thumbnail) | 2005 B (thunbnail) | 2000 (thumbnail) | 1993 (thumbnail)
