Our way of Life

The essence of Dominican life is Christ Himself. We draw our strength from the body and blood of our Saviour. We are nourished daily by the Sacraments. Our blessed Mother belongs to our daily prayers.  Our day to day life as Dominicans is reflected in the four pillars of our Order: prayer, study, preaching, community. Each of these play a crucial role in the Dominican mission we are called to live. Of course, our day begins with Lauds/Morning Prayer which we pray as a community, and the following prayer we have together as a community is Vespers/Evening prayer. Midday prayer and Night prayer are said privately. On Saturdays, we remain attentive to honour the blessed Virgin Mary whom we embrace as our Mother.

​Our community is engaged in a variety of ministries at St. Mary’s Parish on Joyce street in Vancouver, beside the Dominican residence on Austrey Avenue. The proximity of the Dominican residence facilitates an ongoing sacramemental presence for the parish community and ministry support.

Other apostolates include hearing confessions at Holy Rosary Cathedral and teaching philosophy and theology at Catholic Pacific College. Conversion of hearts and teaching young adults are an extension of Dominican preaching.

​Our free time during the day is spent studying, a crucial pillar of Dominican life. Study helps us deepen our knowledge of the Word of God as well as research other philosophical, theological, and social issues relevant to our mission. Reading on the Church Fathers and the Lives of the Saints reflect our ongoing deepening of our spiritual life. Spiritual reading favours contemplation, as St. Thomas Aquinas states, “to hand down to others the fruit of contemplation,” contemplata aliis tradere (ST 2-2, q. 188, art. 6). Dominican extends to praying for the dead: on designated days in November we pray for deceased Dominicans and deceased family members of Dominicans.

​And finally, during our meals we have our fraternal time together which provides the opportunity for us Dominicans to update each other on our activities, whether joy, sadness, or  dreams as we look ahead. On designated Saturday evenings, we have recreation together. St. Dominic emphasised the value of community life as brothers engaged in a common mission.

We are especially attentive to celebrate feasts and solemnities honouring the Apostles and Saints of the Church, Our blessed Mother, our Dominican family of Saints, and our Trinitarian faith.