 Br. Gregory
Schnakenberg, OP
Br. Gregory is a student brother of the Province of St. Joseph (Easter Dominican
Province) headquartered in New York. However, he is presently residing at St. Albert's Priory in Oakland, CA. Through a
long-standing exchange program between the Provinces, he is undertaking his first year of
studies under the auspices of the Western Province, before eventually returning to
Washington, DC to complete his formation. Prior to traveling to Oakland, Br. Gregory
made his simple profession of vows, along with his classmates, on August 15, 2003 at St.
Gertrude's Parish in Cincinnati, OH. He entered the novitiate a year earlier on the
Solemnity of Our Holy Father Dominic, August 8, 2002.
Br. Gregory met the Dominicans principally through our House of Studies in Washington,
DC. However, a bit earlier, he had seen Dominicans from afar while living abroad in
Bologna, Italy (where St. Dominic's relics are enshrined).
Among the main points that attracted Br. Gregory to the Dominicans was their devotion
to the liturgy, especially the chanting of the Divine Office, as well as their balancing
of a contemplative and active life. The Dominican charism of study and preaching
were also very appealing, and he looks forward to responding to Pope John Paul II's call
for a new evangelization.
Before entering the Order, Gregory had completed a Bachelors degree at Johns Hopkins
University. He also worked for approximately two years while inquiring and
eventually applied to the Order.
[Updated 9/10/03]
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