Fr. Michael Hurley, OP

The Dominicans Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

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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. Michael Hurley is a native of Pacifica, California. He is the first born of the Hurley clan, and has two brothers and two sisters. He was raised in a loving Catholic home, and his family has been loyal parishioners of St. Peter's parish for over 30 years.

Fr. Michael went to high school at Alma Heights Christian Academy, in Pacifica, and graduated with a BA in liberal arts in 1999 from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula.

He discerned a call from Our Lord to enter the Dominicans with the help of Fr. Bart de la Torre, who is a chaplain at Thomas Aquinas College. Besides a general call to the priesthood and religious life, the strong intellectual and preaching tradition of the Dominican Order attracted Fr. Michael to enter the Novitiate on August 15, 1999.

Having completed eight years of formation at St. Albert’s Priory in Oakland, Fr. Michael was ordained to priesthood on June 2, 2007 at St. Dominic’s in San Francisco, the same parish where he is currently assigned as an associate pastor.

His other interests include, but are not limited to, a love for the Classics, Russian fiction, and backgammon.

"Thou Art A Priest Forever," Thomas Aquinas College Newsletter, Summer 2007

Presbyteral Ordination, June 2, 2007

Diaconate Ordination, January 21, 2006

Solemn Vows 2005 , May 28, 2005

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Michael Hurley, OP greets people before the ceremony outside St. Dominic Church, Benicia, CA.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Fr. Roberto Corral, OP (Provincial) and Br. Jerome Cudden, OP talk with family members before the Mass begins.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Members of the Dominican Laity also gathered for this event.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. John and Br. Boniface talk with the St. Albert choir director before the ceremony.

Solemn Vows - 2005

St. Dominic Church in Benicia, CA slowly fills before the ceremony.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. John Mellein, OP leads his family into the church.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Everyone is scurrying about making sure all is ready.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. John Mellein, OP points out other members of his family to a guest.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The procession begins with the thurifer and cross bearer.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Two acolytes with candles follow. Behind them the brothers to be professed enter and bow before the altar.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Priests from all over the Western Dominican Province gathered for this celebration.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The procession continues for some time.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Priests from our house of studies, St. Albert Priory, and from almost every one of our ministries from Alaska to Mexico and beyond are in attendance.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The Provincial, The Very Rev. Roberto Corral, OP, incenses the altar.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The altar is the locus of God's actions in the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, thus the reverence with which it is prepared.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The Book of the Gospels sits on the altar as a sign of the presence of the Word, Jesus Christ, whose gift of love is made present on this altar.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. David Seid, OP of the Southern Dominican Province, proclaims the first reading.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The families and friends, with those who are to make their solemn profession (Brs. Jerome Cudden and Michael Hurley), listen attentively.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The families and friends, with those who are to make their solemn profession (Brs. Vincent Kelber and John Mellein), listen attentively.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Ann Reagan, TOP, reads the second scripture selection.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Ann Reagan, TOP, reads the second scripture selection.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The incense is prepared for the proclamation of the Gospel.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Fr. Michael Dodds, OP, professor at DSPT, is blessed before proclaiming the Gospel.

Solemn Vows - 2005

"The Lord be with you ...."

Solemn Vows - 2005

The Book of the Gospels is incensed

Solemn Vows - 2005

Fr. Christopher Renz, OP, calls the names of those to make profession.

Solemn Vows - 2005

After their names have been called, they step into the aisle so that they might lie prostrate before the altar.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Michael Amabisco, OP (L.), Fr. Mark Padrez, OP (M.) and V. Rev. Roberto Corral, OP (R.) kneel for the prayers while the candidates lie prostrate.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The brothers in the choir loft lead the Litany of the Saints.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Prostration is a sign not only of submission to the will of God, but also a plea for God's tender mercy as they offer their lives until death.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Their prostration is a powerful witness for those who are in attendance.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Prostration continued

Solemn Vows - 2005

The Litany ends with a prayer and the people return to their seats.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The brothers return to their seats for the homily preached by Fr. Michael Dodds, OP.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The brothers are called forward to state their intentions. Is this what they want?

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Jerome Cudden, OP, makes profession in the hands of V. Rev. Roberto Corral, OP, Prior Provincial of the Western Dominican Province.

Solemn Vows - 2005

"I, Brother Jerome Cudden, promise obedience to God, to Blessed Mary, to Blessed Dominic, and to you Father ...."

Solemn Vows - 2005

"according to Constitutions and Ordinations of the Order of Friars Preachers ... I will be obedient to you and your successors ....until death."

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Michael Hurley, OP, makes profession in the hands of V. Rev. Roberto Corral, OP, Prior Provincial of the Western Dominican Province.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Michael Hurley, OP

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Michael Hurley, OP

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. John Mellein, OP, makes profession in the hands of V. Rev. Roberto Corral, OP, Prior Provincial of the Western Dominican Province.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. John Mellein, OP

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Vincent Kelber, OP, makes profession in the hands of V. Rev. Roberto Corral, OP, Prior Provincial of the Western Dominican Province.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Vincent Kelber, OP

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Vincent Kelber, OP

Solemn Vows - 2005

Br. Vincent Kelber, OP

Solemn Vows - 2005

The Provincial steps forward for the exchange of peace.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The Provincial embraces each solemnly professed brother.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The exchange of peace continues ...

Solemn Vows - 2005

The Rest of the Dominican friars present come forward to greet the solemnly professed.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The process starts with the superior of St. Albert and the Vocation Director.

Solemn Vows - 2005

All of the brothers then come forward.

Solemn Vows - 2005

It will take some time for all of them to greet and be greeted.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Members of the Dominican Laity join the line of well-wishers.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Each person seems to have something personal to say.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Joy is evident on the faces of those who were professed.

Solemn Vows - 2005

It is quite a sight seeing all those Dominicans in one place.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The brothers move back up the other side toward the altar.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Sometimes there is a pause as friend greets friend.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The church full of people wait patiently for the greetings to end and Mass to resume.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Pictures were taken in abundance, as if you could not tell already.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The brothers greet each other and return to their places.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The Mass resumes with the Prayers of the Faithful.

Solemn Vows - 2005

We pray in particular not only for the newly professed, but also for a continued growth in vocations.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Family members bring up the gifts of bread and wine to be used in the Mass.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Incense is prepared

Solemn Vows - 2005

The altar and gifts on the altar are incensed.

Solemn Vows - 2005

As the smoke rises to heaven, so we pray that the sacrifice to be offered will also rise to heaven.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The incense continues to rise

Solemn Vows - 2005

Not only the altar and gifts, but the cross, sign of our salvation and the core reality of this sacrificial offering, is also incensed.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The incense continues to rise.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The Incense continues to rise.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The people of God, the mystical Body of Christ, receive the incense.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The incense continues to rise.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The church is full of the smoke from the incense.

Solemn Vows - 2005

After communion the procession forms again for the exit.

Solemn Vows - 2005

All turn to face the altar as the closing hymn is intoned.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The thurifer leads the procession out of the church.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The acolytes follow behind the cross.

Solemn Vows - 2005

The many priests follow the newly professed.

Solemn Vows - 2005

Seen from right to left: V. Rev. Roberto Corral, OP, Fr. Christopher Renz, OP, Fr. Vincent Serpa, OP, Fr. Michael, Monshau, OP, and Fr. Michael Dodds, OP

Solemn Vows - 2005

The front of St. Dominic Church in Benicia, CA

Solemn Vows - 2005

St. Dominic Church in Benicia, CA was the site of our house of studies in the early days of the Province. It is one of five Dominican-owned institutions in the Western Dominican Province.