The Monthly Note
April 2016
In March and April, we handle the large volume of mail that you send us for the lenten novena. Our team regrets not being able to respond more quickly to your letter.
In the Easter season, the Church invites us to pray for religious and priestly vocations. This year it is Sunday, April 17th.
Since the arrival of the Dominicans in Canada, in 1873 in Saint-Hyacinthe, men are asking to share the life and mission of the Dominicans or Friars Preachers. We welcome them for one year of novitiate, so they are comfortable for community life in an apostolic religious Order founded by St. Dominic 800 years ago (1216 - 2016).
Then the newly professed brothers live among the Dominican community in Ottawa; from 3 to 6 years after their first profession, they can pronounce their solemn vows. We provide them with training in Philosophy and Theology at the Dominican University College; according to the previous journey of each, it will be 5 to 8 years of studies, in French or English. Other men want to live the religious life as Lay Brothers; they contribute in the everyday life and the apostolic life of the Dominican convents, by clerical or manual work.
After priestly ordination and graduation, the Prior Provincial assigns us in one of the ministries that Dominicans of Canada have accepted. According to the abilities of each and the needs of the Dominican Province, it may be university teaching at the Dominican University College in Ottawa or at the Institut de pastorale des Dominicains in Montreal; parish ministry at St. Mary's in Vancouver, Sacré-Coeur in Toronto and Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Ottawa; missions in Japan, Rwanda and Burundi; preaching in parishes and religious communities. One or the other can serve in the ministries of our Dominican Province, whether the St. Jude's Apostolic Works, the Dominican Vocations' Works, the Dominican missions, the Internet ministry or other community services. Some Dominicans were granted permission to work individually in other places which we do not have the responsibility : in Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Gatineau, Quebec City, Saint-Hyacinthe and Montreal.
In August 2016, a novice should make his first profession for three years. Three men were allowed to enter the Novitiate 2016-2017, in Québec City : a lawyer, from Toronto; a meteorologist, from Montreal; a former owner of a residence for people with mental health problems, from Sherbrooke. In June 2016, a brother will be ordain priest; he holds a Doctorate in Physics, a Doctorate in Theology and he is teaching at the Dominican University College.
We are very grateful to those who care for Dominican vocations and help us financially; every week, we pray for you. Some help the Dominican vocations using Happy Birhtday, Get Well or Sympathy cards that we offer at $1 each; we have them in French and English. Mr Tony Cicci can answer your questions and mail them to you (514-845-0285); receptionists of the Dominican Priory in Montreal also have some to offer. The "profit" is used to provide financial assistance for the many years of religious and academic training of new Dominican friars.
Every Thursday to St. Jude, at the 2:30pm Mass, the Dominicans of Montreal pray for you and all your prayer intentions you send us by mail, email or drop near the statue of the Saint of Hope. Also, weekly I say Mass for all benefactors of the Dominican vocations Apostolic Works that have contributed financially to my religious and academic training, and that of my Dominican brothers.
To each one of you, the whole Team of the Apostolic Works offers its fraternal prayers in this preparation the feast of Pentecost. It is God himself who enjoins us to proclaim Jesus Christ and the Gospel to all in the XXIrst century.
Fr. Henri de Longchamp, Friar Preacher (O.P.)
Director of Saint-Jude’s Apostolic Works
