“And the two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus”

Happy 2012 from the Western Dominican contingent here in Washington DC!  After a restful Christmas holidays, we have all recommenced our studies here.

What is new here?  This last weekend, there was an installation ceremony for the 16 new acolytes, including one Western Brother. The Provincial for Province of St Joseph Fr. Mulcahy, O.P. presided over the ceremony, giving a homily which connected the Sunday reading from the Gospel of John with the office of Acolyte.

In the Gospel, John the Baptist told two of his disciples “Behold the Lamb of God.”  On hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus.  This verb “to follow” comes from the Greek ἀκολουθέω, and the source of the word acolyte, itself a derivative of the Greek word κέλευθος for a road, a way. On hearing the proclamation of John the Baptist, the disciples “acolyted” Jesus, which is to say, they got on the road, they accompanied him on the path, following wherever he went.  What an apt image, not just for the disciple of Christ, but for those disciples called to be Dominican preachers!

For the moment, God seems to be calling all three of us Western brothers here in DC to study hard (theology, philosophy and music) and to continue our ministries.

Pray that we might be worthy ministers of Him who calls!

---Br. Dennis, OP

Please do keep our student Brothers in your prayers.  If you feel called to religious life and the priesthood, the Dominican Order may have a place for you.  Check out our vocation pages and do consider contacting our vocation director with any questions you may have.

Fr. Steven Maekawa, OP
Vocation Director
Western Dominican Province
5890 Birch Court
Oakland, CA 94618-1626
(510)-596-1821

VATICAN CITY, 15 JAN 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI dedicated his remarks preceding the Angelus to the theme of vocation as it emerged in this Sunday's Gospel readings.

The first reading described the Prophet Samuel's response to God, following the advice of Eli, the Temple priest, while the second underscored the importance of St. John the Baptist who told his disciples that Jesus was the Messiah.

The Holy Father laid emphasis on "the decisive role spiritual guidance has for the journey of faith and, in particular, for responding to a vocation of special consecration to serve God and His people. Christian faith itself presupposes announcement and witness", he said, "and thus the call to follow Jesus more closely, renouncing the idea of forming a family of one's own to dedicate oneself to the great family of the Church, normally involves the witness and suggestion of an 'elder brother', often a priest. Nor must we forget the fundamental role of parents, who ... show their children that it is beautiful and possible to construct an entire life upon the love of God".

The Pope concluded by entrusting "all educators, especially priests and parents", to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, "that they may become fully aware of the importance of their spiritual role to foment, not only young people's human development but also their response to the call of God".

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