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. Paul Aquinas Duffner, OP
Born in Jackonsville, Illinois, in 1915, the future Fr. Duffner studied at Routt High School in Jacksonville, IL and Quincy College in Quincy, IL. He excelled at sports, and showed early promise as an artist. A teacher encouraged him to explore the latter field, but Paul was convinced God had other plans for him.
In addition to serving as the Dominicans' novice master for 15 years, Fr. Duffner established the Rosary Center (Portland, Oregon) in 1945, and directed activities of the Center, including editing "Light and Life" for nearly two decades.
Fr. Duffner continues to spend his days at the Rosary Center, helping to fill the many orders the Center receives for books, CDs and other media. He has put the finishing touches on the second volume of "To Know Him," an edited collection of the reflections he wrote for "Light and Life" while he directed the ministry of the Rosary Center. At the time of the writing of this short biography, Fr. Duffner celebrates his 93 birthday.
adapted from
The Rosary Light & Life, Vol. 61, No. 3, May-June 2008
Article: Healing and Reconciliation Must Be Sought From God, Catholic Sentinel, 11/10/2006.
Article: Priest to Celebrate Golden Jubilee, Catholic Sentinel, 12/14/1990.
Photo 1999