SEXUAL ABUSE

SPEAK OUT AGAINST CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

A Talk With Cardinal Frances George

IN THE YEAR OF THE PRIEST, MAY THE BISHOPS DISCOVER THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVING EVERYONE WITH KINDNESS AND CHARITY

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sep 21, 2009 / 10:43 am (CNA).- As he does every year, the Holy Father hosted a congress for all the bishops who were consecrated this past year. Noting that helping priests is an essential task for a bishop, Pope Benedict reminded the prelates to urge priests to seek "intimate and personal union with Christ."

Addressing the recently-consecrated bishops at Castel Gandolfo today, the Holy Father recalled the importance of "not forgetting that one of a bishop’s essential tasks is that of helping priests – by example and fraternal support – to follow their vocation faithfully and to work enthusiastically and lovingly in the Lord’s vineyard."

Priests, said the Pope, must "remain united to the Lord; this is the secret of the fruitfulness of their ministry." Increased workload, difficulties, and the new requirements of pastoral care "must never distract us from intimate and personal union with Christ. Our readiness and openness to people must never diminish or overshadow our readiness and openness towards the Lord."

"The time that priests and bishops consecrate to God in prayer is always time well spent," he emphasized. "This is because prayer is at the heart of pastoral work, it is the ‘lymph’ which gives it strength, it is a support in moments of uncertainty and discouragement, and an endless source of missionary fervor and of fraternal love towards everyone."

Fr. Carlos Azpiroz Costa, O.P., Master of the Order of Preachers

Study and Contemplation in the Dominican Order

DOMINICAN "ORDER OF PREACHERS" LOOK AND SEE LIST

DOMINICAN PEACE AND JUSTICE

DOMINICAN LIFE

DOMINICANS IN THE WEST

DOMINICANS IN THE CENTRAL STATES

DOMINICANS IN THE EAST

DOMINICANS IN THE SOUTH

DOMINICAN HEADQUARTERS

FEDERATION OF DOMINICAN SISTERS ~ USA

DOMINICAN SISTERS

BECOME A DOMINICAN VOLUNTEER

DOMINICANS WHO LIVE AT HOME

NASHVILLE DOMINICANS

SISTERS MOTHER MARY OF EUCHARIST

DOMINICAN NUNS OF MT
THABOR

CATERINA BENINCASA DOMINICAN MONASTERY

DOMINICAN LIFE ~ NEWS

DOMINICAN NETWORK

1 of 8 The Church in the 21st Century ~ Fr. Timothy Radcliffe

2 of 8 The Church in the 21st Century ~ Fr. Timothy Radcliffe,

The Church in the 21st Century ~ Fr. Timothy Radcliffe

The Church in the 21st Century ~ Fr. Timothy Radcliffe

The Church in the 21st Century ~ Fr. Timothy Radcliffe

The Church in the 21st Century ~ Fr. Timothy Radcliffe

The Church in the 21st Century ~ Fr. Timothy Radcliffe

The Church in the 21st Century ~ Fr. Timothy Radcliffe

SACRED CALLING FOR ORDINARY MEN

DOMINICAN VOCATION ~ IS GOD CALLING YOU?

DOMINICANS INVITE YOU

DOMINICANS INVITE YOU ~ 2

Dominican Order in Vietnam flourishes

Saigon, Vietnam, Nov 10, 2009 / 01:03 am (CNA).- In a celebratory event in Saigon on Saturday, Fr. Joseph Ngo Si Dinh announced to thunderous applause that the “number of friars, nuns, sisters, and lay Dominicans in our family in Vietnam has increased substantially and already reached to the population of a diocese!”

Fr. Joseph Ngo Si Dinh, Vietnam Dominican Provincial, spoke to attendants at the 2009 Dominicans’ Traditional Family Day held at St. Dominic Church on Nov.7. He reported that the Order now has 150 friars, and that the number of nuns and sisters has steadily increased at the rate of 200 annually.

Fr. J.B. An Dang told CNA that one of the main contributors to this rapid growth is the involvement of the Lay Dominicans, known as Third Order Dominicans, of which there are up to 103,000 professed in Vietnam. Lay Dominicans are reported to be actively involved in their parish activities and their Dominican formation is said to be well-supported by local parish priests and diocesan bishops.

Cooperation between the branches of the Dominican family and the diocesan structure in Vietnam is viewed by many as a primary reason for the steady growth of the order, despite the difficulties of living in a communist country.

The history of the Dominicans in Vietnam can be traced back to the 17th century, explained Fr. An Dang, with the arrival of missionary priests John of the Holy Cross and John de Arjona. Over the next several hundred years, the order continued to grow despite numerous violent persecutions against Christians.

In 1975, soon after the communist takeover of South Vietnam, all schools, social services centers, and formation houses of Vietnamese Dominicans were seized and all foreign Dominicans were expelled. The majority of native Dominicans survived by working on local farms and their religious lifestyle had to now accommodate harsher living conditions. Many lost their lives under the circumstances, while others returned to their families.

Despite this struggle, the order has continued to exist and flourish. Support for the Dominican Order in Vietnam has also come from overseas Dominican communities, including a regional vicariate based in Canada.

Making of a saint

Short Life of St Martin de Porres

A SHORT LIFE OF SAINT MARTIN DE PORRES


Saint Martin de Porres was born in 1579, in Lima Peru, the son of a black/mulatto freed slave and a Spanish nobleman. At first, because of the stigma of having dark skin in a culture dominated by Spanish aristocrats, Martin's father did not acknowledge Martin and his sister, and deserted Martin's mother leaving her to fend for herself and her children by bringing in laundry to her home in the slums of Lima.

By the time Martin was 10 or 12, however, his father had a change of heart for the better. He began to support the children, and aquired an apprenticeship for Martin as a barber/surgeon's assistant. Martin was overjoyed at this.

Having lived with discrimination of color and of lack of legal parentage all his life, he could have become bitter and troublesome, but instead he was blessed by God with a gentle spirit, a heart's understanding of humility, and a desire to serve God in prayer and charity, the positive fruits of this particular type of suffering.

Martin used his good fortune at his apprenticeship to further his opportunities to serve the suffering. Even this young, in his teens, his landlady (from whom Martin had begged used candles) spied him through the keyhole in ecstatic prayer.

At around the age of 15 he was received into the Dominican friary as a tertiary and servant, apparently quietly taking on the most menial of duties. After nine years of denying himself entrance into the order as a lay brother because of his self-held unworthiness, he finally relented and was made a Coadjutor Brother, and promoted to Almoner.

He is recorded as having begged and received $2000 per day, an amount many say was miraculous in origin, which he used to feed and care for the sick and poor of all races of Lima. He was also made head of the infirmary, caring for the sick of the Dominican order.

Life was not all joy for Martin at the friary. He was often in "trouble" with his superiors for what they perceived as overzealousness in his solicitude for the poor, hungry and sick. Hungry, dirty people in large numbers were forever "roaming" the friary in search of Martin's care as well as his prayers, creating quite an inconvenience for the other members of the community.

When upbraided for allowing a filthy man covered by sores to lie on his bed, his famous reply was, "Compassion, my dear Brother, is preferable to cleanliness. Reflect that with a little soap I can easily clean my bed covers, but even with a torrent of tears I would never wash from my soul the stain that my harshness toward the unfortunate would create."

The religious were also curious about Martin's gifts, and would sometimes play pranks on him to test him. But his spiritual gifts were witnessed by many, including his superiors, and there were many who experienced first hand his ability to pass through locked doors to care for the sick, to bilocate worldwide, and to heal with just a cup of water.

His love for creation did not end with man and woman, but was extended even to animals of home and field. While this is not so remarkable today, it was greatly so at his time and in this culture, where animals were mainly left to fend for themselves unless being a beast of burden needed for work. His started a shelter for cats and dogs at his sister's home, where he fed and cared for them in sickness and injury.

There is even a legend that he made a deal with the priory mice, warning them about the poison traps set for them and making a deal with them: if they left the priory, he would feed them at the back door. Having a gift of communication and mastery over all animals, including the mice and rats, they bought the deal, and left the priory, not to return. For these reasons, to exemplify his charity even to the beasts who were lower than even the slaves, Saint Martin is most often pictured with mice, birds a cat and a dog.

Saint Martin died in 1629 on November 3 of fever, and was venerated immediately at his passing. He was known as the "Brother of Charity" and the rich and poor mourned him and avidly sought relics of his habit. He was made Blessed by Pope Gregory, and in 1962 was canonized by Pope John XIII.

Military Prisoners Training Dogs to help the Wounded Vets

FAITH

AMAZING GRACE

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC ~ CLICK HERE

THE SPIRIT OF JONATHAN HEIDER

Watch CBS News Videos Online

I found Jonathan in an orphanage in Croatia where I knew that this was a very special child. Of all I have done in my life, finding Jonathan was one of the most special times of my life... and finding him a special family was even more special... and it is especially meaningful that Jonathan was honored today... October 2nd... The Feast of the Guarding Angels.

Sr Pauline Quinn

THE COURAGE TO NOT GIVE UP

Hi Sister Pauline,

I wanted to let you know about one of my pups who was slated to be a service dog/breeder. She had to be released due to prey drive, but this is what she's doing instead! She surfed with a 15 year old quadraplegic surfer, and completed the first ever tandem surfing ride between an adaptive surfer and a dog last Thursday!

PRISONERS BRINGING HOPE TO OTHERS~

Major Lori Kibler on left ~Warden Robert Shannon on right ~ trainers and pups

This is a NEW HORIZONS SERVICE DOG program in partnership with the Florida Department of Corrections where the inmates are doing a public service by helping to train future service dogs to help the disabled.

There are many disabled who waiting for a service dog to assist them and with the inmates help, more dogs are able to be ready to partner with someone who needs a dog to assist them.

Patty Armfield, an experienced dog trainer, comes twice a week to the prison to help the inmates learn dog training skills. She is teaching all aspects of dog care, which could lead further to employment once released. Her work is very much appreciated.

We need many items for this program: dog grooming supplies, crates, towels, dog toys, gift cards to buy dog food, plastic dog gates, leashes. A list of items can be obtained by contacting Janet Severt at New Horizons ~ 386 456-0408

JANET, PATTY AND THE TRAINERS

PATTY TEACHING THE MEN HOW TO CARE FOR THEIR DOG.

THEY ARE INTERESTED AND LEARN QUICKLY

LEARNING HOW TO GROOM THEIR PUPS

Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility ~ PRISON DOG PROGRAM

IN 1981 WHEN I STARTED THE FIRST PRISON DOG PROGRAM I HAD NO IDEA THAT SO MANY OTHER PROGRAMS WOULD START TO HELP THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND ADULT PRISONERS FIND MEANING TO THEIR LIFE. SOME I STARTED BUT MANY MORE WERE STARTED BY DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAD A VISION. TO ALL THOSE WHO MADE THE EFFORT TO HELP THESE YOUNG AND OLD MEN AND WOMEN FIND MEANING FOR THEIR LIFE ~ THANK YOU!



Friday, July 10, 2009

Prison program gives second chance for man and beast

'Another Chance for Love' pairs dogs with men incarcerated in Chino.
By SAMANTHA GOWEN

The Orange County Register
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CHINO – In the visitors' center at the Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility a young man sits with a small dog in his lap. He says hello in a high-pitched, sing-song voice most pet owners know well.

Squirt, a Yorkshire terrier mutt, wriggles happily and licks his face.

"If you stick around, you'll hear a lot of funny noises coming out of us," says Brandon Gilmore, laughing as he ducks another wet kiss from Squirt.

This is the beginning of a relationship that will rehabilitate both man and canine. For 10 weeks, Gilmore and Squirt will live together and learn from each other inside the walls of a facility that imprisons young men who ran afoul of the law.

Eight ill-fated dogs from the O.C. Animal Shelter in Orange arrived Friday at the correctional facility. The men, ages 19 to 23, waited anxiously for their new charges. It's been three weeks since a previous class of canines graduated from the popular program called Another Chance for Love.

Janette Thomas is the executive director of the program that pairs troubled and homeless dogs with men incarcerated with problems of their own.

"For many of these guys, it's the first time they have ever felt true love," Thomas says. The men echo her sentiments.

"I've never had this close a bond with anyone," says Josue Tellez as he strokes his assigned dog's head. Tellez of Santa Ana has been paired with Heidi, a skittish but friendly German shepherd who sticks close to his side.

It's hard to tell on arrival day who is having a better time, the men or the dogs. Smiles and happy chatter fill the yard outside the visitors' center. While beast and man get to know each other, Thomas gives these trainers – most of them veterans of program – some tips for the weekend.

"No training yet!" Thomas emphasizes. "Just get to know the dogs, and let them get to know you."

The dogs will live alongside the men 24-7 as they master behavior and training. After graduation, the dogs will be adopted to new families – minus the issues that likely sent them to the shelter in the first place.

Kevin Felan has trained six dogs with Another Chance for Love. The program veteran was given perhaps the toughest challenge: Spanky, a Cairn terrier, who struggles with control and basic dog manners.

"Love is a big part of a dog's life," Felan says. "Without the love, the dog isn't going to give love, and he's probably going to end up at a shelter."

The word love is used a lot here. Each of the eight men expresses a deep appreciation for a program that has taught them about affection, patience and parenting skills, all from four-legged fur balls.

Thomas avoids so-called bully breeds like pit bulls and Rottweilers to offset any past experiences of the men. She intentionally pairs these reformed tough guys with 3-pound terriers and petite poodles, which often require a more gentle approach.

Los Angeles native Eric Alvarado has renamed his dog "Dodger." The flat-coated black retriever doesn't seem to mind. While the dog barks and strains his leash, Alvarado calmly explains how the dogs have helped reform him.

"I had no patience before this program," says Alvarado, who is training his third dog. "As much as we teach them, they teach us twice as much."

Andre Griffin sums up the experience for most of the men: "We give them another chance," he says. "I like the rehabilitation work we do here to get these dogs to new families.

"And you get a lot of love from the dogs," he says with a shy smile.

Stay tuned. The Register plans to follow the eight dogs and their trainers as they progress through the training program. You can read more online at ocregister.com/pettales.

MENDICANT'S MEET

MENDICANT'S MEET
Wood Block by Sr Mary Grace op
CONTACT SR MARY GRACE
CATERINA BENINCASA DOMINICAN MONASTERY
CONTACT MONASTERY
St Dominic Guzman

St. Dominic was the founder of the Dominican Order. Domingo Guzman (1170-1221) was born in Castile. At an early age he became canon of Osma Cathedral and accompanied his bishop to Languedoc to join the Cistercians in their efforts to convert the heretical Albigenstans. At the death of the bishop in 1207, Dominic became prior of the mission, preaching ceaselessly, living a simple life among the laymen and surrounded by a few companions with whom he prayed, studied and made penance. Dominic's apostolate failed, but in 1215 he travelled to the Lateran Council in Rome and the following year obtained approval from Pope Innocent III to found an order of Friar preachers. St. Dominic is nearly always depicted wearing the white robes and black cope of Dominican habit.

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi was born into a wealthy family in Umbria, Italy, in 1182. His father was a prosperous merchant, and Francis planned to follow him in his trade, although he also dreamt of becoming a troubadour or a knight. In 1201 he took part in an attack on Perugia, was taken hostage, and remained a captive there for a year. As a result of his captivity and a severe illness his mind began to turn to religion, but around 1205 he enlisted in another military expedition, to Apulia. However, he had a dream in which God called him to His service, and he returned to Assisi and began to care for the sick. In 1206, he had a vision in which Christ called him to repair His Church. Francis resolved to become a hermit, and devoted himself to repairing the church. In fine art he is always depicted wearing a homespun robe, tied round his waist with a thrice-knotted cord, which evoke the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. He bears the stigmata on his hands and feet, his chest wound is often depicted visible though a gash in his habit.
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