Western Dominican Province Brochure

Dominican Friars Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

The worldwide Order of Preachers (Dominicans) is organized into provinces. Our province, the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (also known as the Western Dominican Province), is home to approximately 150 friars. Founded in 1850, we are headquartered in Oakland, California, and serve in a wide variety of apostolates.

Our vision is that every soul may come to know, love and serve Jesus Christ.

Western Dominican Province

A Medieval Order Founded to Boldly Preach the Gospel

In the 13th century, the Albigensian heresy was sweeping through France.

It denied the intrinsic goodness of the physical world and was driving souls from God. St. Dominic, moved with compassion for souls, responded with brilliant preaching and evangelization that revealed the beauty of God’s creation and helped eradicate the heresy.

When Pope Honorius III established the order in A.D. 1216, he lauded this Dominican zeal for souls, calling the friars “champions of the faith.” Today, Dominicans continue that tradition and are helping to lead the New Evangelization.

As one of the older religious orders of the Catholic Church, the Dominicans have been fighting attacks on the Catholic faith for eight centuries, preaching the Beauty of Truth rooted in Love, and addressing the spiritual and intellectual poverty of every generation.

The Problem: Souls Are Lost in a World of Spiritual and Intellectual Poverty

The world teaches people to be “comfortable,” to buy happiness and to seek one’s own pleasure. This has led to a great spiritual poverty in society—so much so that the percentage of religiously unaffiliated adults in the United States has risen to 23 percent.* These souls believe in nothing and do not know God. And if one does not know God, one cannot love God. That’s why Dominicans preach using both faith and reason, helping souls to know God and understand that He loves them and gives their life real purpose and meaning. We need your help to show people God calls us not to a life of comfort, but to a life of greatness as Saints!

* Pew Research

We, the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus—formed by our vowed life of community, prayer and study—preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the salvation of souls.

Dominicans have always preached near centers of influence and higher learning, bringing faith and reason together to win souls for Christ. Here, students and Dominicans from the Catholic Newman Center at the University of Washington pray the Stations of the Cross in the university’s iconic quad.

The Dominican Approach to Evangelization Is Unique and Effective St. Dominic de Guzman (1170–1221), Promoter of the Most Holy Rosary and Founder of the Order of Preachers

As Pope Francis once commented, the Church is “a Field Hospital after a battle,” tending to the wounded of the world. And in any hospital you need nurses, generalists and specialists. Dominicans are specialists— employing a unique gift for preaching with both faith and reason in order to combat heresy and address intellectual and spiritual poverty.

Dominican preaching has been honed over 800 years through a rigorous dedication to prayer, study and contemplation. This commitment has produced some of the greatest works and saints of the Catholic Church— works and saints who have brought countless souls to Christ and changed the world.

How We Preach the Truth in the West Today

In the 1850s, as people moved west for gold, Dominicans moved west for souls. Faithful and courageous friars founded missions, parishes and special apostolates to evangelize the Wild West.

Today, Dominicans continue their 800-year preaching tradition, serving tens of thousands throughout the Western United States. Friars serve in a wide range of missionary and apostolic work, such as: • Campus ministry

• Itinerant preaching missions

• Parish ministry

• Apologetics and evangelization ministries

• Teaching in Catholic primary and secondary schools • Teaching in seminaries, colleges and universities

13th Century: When the Albigensian heresy denied the goodness of the physical world, Dominicans defended the beauty of God’s creation and helped eradicate the heresy.

14th Century: When the bubonic plague devastated Europe, Dominicans cared for the sick and brought hope to the hopeless with inspired preaching.

• Service to the poor and the forgotten • Digital media evangelization

15th Century: With the advent of the Renaissance, Bl. Fra Angelico’s artwork stirred the faithful throughout Europe, revealing the unity between beauty and truth.

16th Century: When Europeans argued that the indigenous people of the Americas were lesser humans, Dominicans defended their inherent dignity.

Why You? Why Now? How many souls do you know who suffer with anger, greed, addiction, pain or loneliness? How many have left the Catholic faith or claim to have no religion at all? How many are desperate for love?

What if, together, we could help these souls find peace and fulfillment?

“ Dominicans are champions of the faith and true lights of the world!” —Pope Honorius III, A.D. 1216

If we truly want to mend our broken society and protect and advance our Catholic faith and values for the next generation, then we have to zealously and compassionately preach God’s mercy to the world. With your help, we can do just that.

We are only in this world for a brief time, and it’s our duty as Christians to do everything we can to help people know, love and serve God. In every age, there have been men and women like you who have stood with the Dominicans to fulfill this preaching mission. As mendicant friars—begging friars—God calls us to rely on the donations of others to sustain our religious life. Without you, our spiritual work isn’t possible.

17th Century: As imperialists in Japan tortured Catholics, Dominicans evangelized and kept the Church active by giving their lives as martyrs.

18th Century: When authorities in China attempted to brutally stamp out the Church, Dominican missionaries again gave their lives in defense of the Catholic faith.

19th Century: As people in the U.S. moved west for gold, Dominicans moved west for souls, founding the Western Dominican Province and establishing churches, missions and apostolates.

20th Century: As the world tore itself apart with war, Dominicans served as zealous chaplains on the battlefield. They faithfully preached peace and charity and served the needy with compassion.

Today: As our contemporary culture worships consumerism, comfort and selfishness, Dominicans preach the greatness that is a radical life in Christ rooted in love.

Dominicans Are Trusted and Make a Difference • Brought the world the Most Holy Rosary • Serve as the Theologian to the Papal Household • Founded the renowned Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) • Produced the Summa Theologiae, one of history’s greatest theological works • Produced to date: 103 Dominican Saints and 374 Blesseds … and counting • Faithfully served the Church for over 800 years

Dominicans are committed to advancing the New Evangelization around the world. Here, friars and members of the St. Dominic’s Young Adult Group spend an afternoon together near the Marina Green in San Francisco.

“ It is not for nothing that the Dominicans enjoy the nickname “God’s Hounds.” Their theological precision, liturgical reverence and pastoral solicitude, all informed and undergirded by a true love of Our Lady, have made them soul hunters of the best pedigree, even after 800 years. By the grace of God, may they have another 800!”

—Christopher Check President, Catholic Answers

Your Investment In Our Dominican Life

1 Vocations Discernment

Invest in expanding the Dominican Order and cultivating vocations Discerning a vocation to religious life is not easy. It takes time and a serious commitment. To help candidates, we offer vocation discernment weekends, online and print materials, spiritual direction, and outreach at national conventions.

Your support here helps inspire more men to consider religious life as a Dominican.

6 Elderly and Infirm Care

Help care for those who have dedicated their whole lives to Christ Dominicans never retire. Even after retirement age, elderly friars serve invaluable roles administering the Sacraments and serving as mentors to the younger friars. Many elderly friars are healthy, needing little advanced care. However, some friars suffer from multiple serious illnesses. Like your family, we’re committed to giving them the best care possible. Your support here helps us do just that.

“ The Dominican dedication to trut has inspired me throughout my li indispensable leaven in our cultu

5 Continuing Education and Formation

Help strengthen Dominican preaching and teaching A lifelong commitment to prayer and study means a Dominican’s education never ends. Thus, Dominicans continue their formation through sabbaticals, Ph.D. programs and other advanced degrees. Your support here helps the Dominicans remain one of the most intellectually robust religious orders of the Church, engaging secular scholars in defense of the faith and truth.

2 Novitiate

Invest in a friar’s critical first year of formation The first year of formation is an intense year of prayer, study and community. Men learn to live the Dominican life and continue discerning God’s call.

It’s a valuable time during which one’s vocation is confirmed or clarified. Your support here helps a Novice brother embrace his vocation.

3 Initial Education and Formation

Invest in training the next generation of Dominican priests and brothers

thfulness, lively preaching and fellowship ife. Dominicans continue to be an ure.” —Bishop Robert Barron

4 Active Ministry

Invest in projects that help us bring souls to Christ A Dominican is first a preacher, sharing the Gospel with people everywhere. When their formation is complete, Dominicans enter active ministry to fulfill that mission, serving in a range of apostolates such as campus ministries, education, media, parish ministries and itinerant preaching. Your support here funds the special projects, ministries and works of the friars in the Western Dominican Province.

After the novitiate year, a Novice becomes a Student Brother and makes his First Vows. For the next seven years, he will renew those vows while receiving a rigorous Thomistic education in philosophy and theology. He will also deepen his prayer and Dominican community life. Your support here prepares Student Brothers for ordination and active ministry, funding their room, board, education, health care and spiritual formation.

Our Team + You = More Souls for Christ The Western Dominican Province is blessed with a team of friars, professional staff and friends like you that make our ministry possible.

Together, we can be even more effective in bringing people to Christ.

Your Investment Makes

Parishes that radiate

the joy of the Gospel

Campus Ministries

that evangelize and protect the Catholic faith of college students

How You Can Make a Difference

Your passions and our mission align. We are grateful for your generous consideration in funding the work of the Dominicans. As mendicant friars—begging friars—we are called by Christ to trust in your financial support. Your kindness makes our spiritual mission possible.

So Much Possible

Digital Media work

that inspires a deeper faith in tens of thousands

Itinerant Preachers who proclaim the Gospel far and wide

International Missions that bring

Christ’s hope to the hopeless

Teaching Posts and Schools that

open hearts and minds to the truth of God

“ Go into the world and preach the Gospel in the whole creation.” —Mark 16:15

Fr. Mark Padrez, O.P., and Fr. Stephen Maria Lopez, O.P., walk the streets of Caleruega, Spain, the birthplace of St. Dominic. From these humble beginnings, St. Dominic would change the world. Today, the friars continue St. Dominic’s mission of preaching the Truth rooted in Love, one village at a time.

Ways to Make Your Gift The Western Dominican Province is a 501(c)3 taxexempt charity as recognized by the IRS and verified

by GuideStar. Gifts are tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. Visit opwest.org/donate to learn more about your giving options.

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One-Time Gifts Make an immediate impact by giving securely online at opwest.org/give or by mail (see below).

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Become a Monthly Donor (1216 Society)

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Monthly giving is easy for you to manage and provides the backbone of support that makes Dominican ministry possible. Visit opwest.org/1216 to enroll securely online.

Planned Gifts We can help you use your estate to leave a legacy of faith with the Dominicans. Call (510) 658-8722 or visit opwest.org/plannedgiving for more information.

• Real estate

• Life insurance

• Stock

• Wills and trusts

Endowments Are Forever Endowments offer perpetual support for the programs you care about most. They’re also a wonderful way to honor your family, friends and friars. Funds are professionally managed by JP Morgan Private Bank under Catholic guidelines for ethical and moral investing.

Named endowments may be established for gifts of $25,000 or more and can be directed toward: • Greatest Need of the Friars • Dominican Formation and Education • Elderly Friar Care

Elementary Schools Graduate School

Campus Ministries

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Specialized Apostolates International Missions Served

We Rely on Friends Like You

• St. Albert the Great Priory (House of Studies) • Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology • Other opportunities you’d like to discuss

How to Give Mail your gift to:

Western Dominican Province 5877 Birch Court Oakland, CA 94618-1626

Give by phone: (510) 658-8722

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Diocese

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Dominicans

Give online at: opwest.org/give

For More Giving Information: opwest.org/donate

The Dominicans do not receive support from the diocese or Bishops for the education of their Student Brothers or for the care of their elderly.

How We Honor You We take honoring your support and friendship seriously.

In gratitude to you and to God, we remember your generosity both on our print material and in our daily Masses and prayers for benefactors.

We always respect your privacy and requests for anonymity.

We never sell or share your information with third parties.

Ever.

An Important Reminder

We believe God has brought us together for a reason.

Regardless of your means, time or ability, we remember you in our prayers of gratitude as one who was open to responding generously to God’s will. Please remember us in your prayers as we remember you and your loved ones in ours.

Our mission is to bring you closer to Christ. If we can do anything to support you and your loved ones, please do not hesitate to call on us.

“For alms-giving saves from death, and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life.” —Tobit 12:9

Please contact our Development Office with any questions or ideas you may have.

Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus dba Western Dominican Province 5877 Birch Court Oakland, CA 94618-1626 (510) 658-8722 | opwest.org | development@opwest.org Federal Tax ID# 94-6081023

DOMINICAN FRIARS

Western Dominican Province opwest.org

Your gift allows us to bring more people to Christ. Contact us today to learn more.

Christopher Z. Hanzeli, CFRE Director of Advancement c: (206) 214-5613 | o: (206) 732-7343 | chris@opwest.org 5877 Birch Court, Oakland, CA 94618 5050 8th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98105 | opwest.org

5877 Birch Court, Oakland, CA 94618 | (510) 658-8722 | opwest.org