 You may read the current Mission West Newsletter in its entirety by clicking here. Sign-up to be notified by email when the next edition is published and available to read online. Excerpt from the Newsletter: From the Provincial...
Those in our ministry sites from Alaska to Mexico will see many assignment changes among the Dominican friars, more this year than is usual because of four Prioral elections that occurred within our Province. Such changes are often difficult for many of the people we serve. They have become very attached to certain friars and find it hard to see them go. Likewise, it is very difficult for the friars when their assignments change as they too, have made friends in their communities. When a diocesan priest receives a new assignment, he remains in the same diocese making it less difficult for both the congregation and for the priests. A Dominican, on the other hand, may move from Arizona to Alaska or even relocate to a foreign mission. Our Dominican form of government is quite different from that of the Jesuits, for example, who were founded by a military man, Ignatius of Loyola, and thus have a rather hierarchal structure to their Order. Jesuit assignments are made by their Superior General in consultation with his advisors whereas we Dominicans have a very democratic form of government and elect our priors. A Dominican Provincial, for example, is not appointed from Rome but is elected by delegates to the Provincial Chapter. The delegates who elect the Provincial are themselves elected Priors or regionally elected delegates. In February, the Priory of St. Albert`s in Oakland elected a new Prior. The Dominicans of that community chose Fr. Reginald Martin, who was serving as Prior at Holy Rosary in Portland, Oregon. As a result, Holy Rosary needed a new Prior. That community elected Fr. Albert Buckley. Our Priory in Los Angeles, that same month, elected Fr. Peter Rogers from St. Catherine of Siena Newman Center in Salt Lake. And St. Dominicīs in San Francisco elected Fr. Patrick LaBelle as its Prior. This calls for many changes because each person had to be replaced at their ministry sites. I mention these changes because one of the purposes of this newsletter is to keep you informed of the locations and activities of Dominican friars who have touched your life. Our friars keep the memories of the faithful they serve in much the same way you keep memories of near and distant friends and relatives. Any gathering of Dominicans is replete with stories of people and occasions that have affected their lives in ministry. As paths cross over the years, these stories become retold and spread like a richly woven tapestry across our Province. This is what makes the Dominicans and the faithful a large family serving God in faith. Every year new changes are made, as various friars complete their terms as superiors or pastors, or new friars are ordained and go out on their first assignments. This year five newly ordained priests will be undertaking this exciting challenge. More will be written about them in a special edition of Mission West this summer after their ordinations. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this edition of Mission West. In His love, Sign-up to be notified by email when the next edition is published and available to read online.
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