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. Mark Francis Manzano, OP
One fond memory of mine is recalling a sermon I once heard about the saints on a bright Sunday morning. In our church, high above the pews, were several stained glass windows of various people – Francis of Assisi, Thérèse of Lisieux, Anthony of Padua, and others. These were holy men and women who served the Lord and the Church in both heroic and hidden ways. And as the priest spoke, you could see the sunlight passing through and illuminating the windows and casting light into the church. And then the words came: "A saint is someone whom the Son shines through." Those words have stayed with me and I have wanted to be a saint ever since; I want to spend my life serving God and His people as they have done.
I was born and raised in southern California. I enjoy playing piano, singing, strategy games, cards, and just about all things Star Trek. In college I studied mathematics and was active in my parish with music and youth ministry. My interest in religious life began in February of 2002 at a religious education congress. After reading a biography of St. Francis of Assisi, I was fascinated with his life and how he lived the Gospel in a radical, genuine way and how he inspired others to do the same. So I did some research and was surprised: "These guys are still around?!" I had never met any religious before. My pastors were diocesan priests and I went through the public school system. Little did I know that I would be wearing a habit a year-and-a-half later.
When I first discerned entering religious life, I looked into joining the Franciscans. They had a history of serving the poor and the forgotten, and were on the front lines of social justice issues. Some of them were also teachers. I then looked at the Benedictines and fell in love with the monastic life and sung choral office. When I looked at the Dominicans, I found they had a healthy balance of the active life and contemplative life. At the end of a year's discernment, I found myself drawn to the Dominicans who have a saying about themselves - one foot in the monastery, one foot in the world. I feel I can best serve the Lord, the Church, and His people with these men who have made it their mission for the last 800 years to praise, to bless, and to preach.
After initial formation, I plan to be involved in parish ministry and the education of the youth.
Please support and pray for us!
Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Ordination Prayer Card | Ordination to Priesthood
