 Br. David Seid,
OP
Br. David Keong Seid is from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Being first generation
Chinese, he has a strong interest in Chinese language, culture, and religion. He
feels deeply indebted to the Confucian upbringing his parents provided and the Buddhist
virtues his paternal grandmother modeled. He is also grateful to the Baptists for
introducing him to the Word of God and leading him to personal faith in Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior. Br. David embraced the Catholic faith as a senior in high school
but, even before then, knew that he wanted to become a Dominican priest. He has long
been inspired by St. Dominic's ardent love for Christ and his Church. For him, the
most attractive Dominican charism is balance: contemplation AND action, truth AND
charity, faith AND reason, unity AND diversity.Br. David earned a B.A. in psychology at
Mississippi State University and the M.A. in counseling psychology at the University of
Notre Dame. Before entering the Order, he worked in the human services field in a
variety of positions. He has experience as a child protective services caseworker,
probation officer, and psychotherapist.
For 11 years prior to entering the Order, Br. David was a member of an ecumenical
Christian covenant community, the People of Praise. This formative experience of a
vibrant, visionary Christian community with largely lay leadership has been a major
influence on his ministerial plans to help foster and promote a collaborative but
predominantly lay Dominican movement committed to the mission of evangelism, catechesis,
and formation. He would like to see the Dominican Order take the lead in making
adult religious education normative among Catholics and in providing quality Christian
discipleship to assist families and individuals in living out a virtuous, healthy,
growth-oriented, faith-filled and joyful witness to our broken and confused world.
"A world is dying; Christ, its only hope; the Church, his sacrament (of
forgiveness, healing, restoration, and redemption)."
Currently a dual M.Div./M.A. (theology) student, Br. David hopes to pursue doctoral
studies in theology and eventually teach at the university or seminary level.
Consistent with his pastoral interests, he would like to specialize in ecclesiology
(theology of church/Christian community) and soteriology (theology of salvation). He
is also very interested in interfaith dialog and, as a preacher, understands that dialog
must never lose sight of its ultimate service to VERITAS (truth) and its decisive
proclamation in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Br. David is a solemnly professed friar from the Southern Dominican Province (Province
of St. Martin de Porres). He is residing at the Priory of St. Albert the Great while
attending classes as the Berkeley Graduate Theological Union. He is deeply impressed
by the seriousness of religious observance here, the sincere devotion of the brothers,
their friendliness and kindness, and by the beauty of the liturgy. In fact,
every time the TE DEUM is sung he is brought to the verge of tears. Feeling close to
God comes easily in a place like St. Albert's.
Br. David's extracurricular interests include the martial
arts (brown belt in karate), hiking, rafting, science fiction, historical fiction,
and just gazing at mountains and oceans. He also enjoys cooking and going out
to try different ethnic cuisine.
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