Becoming a Lay Dominican
Dominican formation is not simply instruction — it is a lifelong transformation, conforming one’s life to the charism of St. Dominic through prayer, study, community, and apostolate.
The Province of St. Martin de Porres distinguishes between Initial Formation — the structured programmes for inquirers and candidates — and Ongoing Formation — the lifelong deepening required of all promised members. The approved formation programmes of the Province are designed to lighten the burden of finding and arranging formation materials. Formators have freedom to supplement or adjust them while ensuring all required topics are covered.
One must be a practicing Catholic for at least two years before beginning the inquiry period. The journey begins with a simple visit to a local fraternity, and for those who hear the call, continues through reception, promise, and a lifelong commitment to the Dominican family.
People interested in the Order meet once a month to learn about the history of the Order, the Four Pillars — prayer, study, community, apostolic activity — and what is required for membership. One must be a Catholic for at least two years before beginning.
Coming to a successful completion of this first year, inquirers are asked if they wish to be received and, if so, complete official paperwork for reception into the Order.
After the new candidate receives his or her Dominican cross or pin, he is officially welcomed as a member of the Dominican Order and begins this more formal period of formation. The candidacy begins with the Dominican Order recognizing the candidate as a member.
This period includes diverse activities covering all four dimensions of formation. At the close of candidacy, a decision is made whether to proceed to Temporary Promise.
After making the temporary promise, the lay Dominican has promised to live according to the Rule and begins ongoing formation, which continues through perpetual promise and lasts for the remainder of his or her life. The nature of ongoing formation is distinct from initial formation.
The first responsibility of the promised members is to form themselves to facilitate their own apostolic efforts. The Province and each chapter support this through common study, opportunities for preaching and reflection, and shared apostolates.
Healthy formation as a Lay Dominican is well-rounded, overlapping these four areas. It requires reflective reading, prayer, discernment, and spending time with Dominicans in community.
Each fraternity is a small community of faith where human formation takes place through growth in self-knowledge, discovering talents and limitations, learning to dialogue, working together respecting diversity, exercising evangelical compassion, and experiencing and spreading Christian joy.
Consists in caring for the personal and communal prayer of the Word of God — which challenges us to study it, contemplate it, and preach it (cf. Rule No. 10). Fidelity to mental prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Rosary helps one to grow in love of God, love of neighbor, and love of the Church.
To give reason for their hope as Christians, the Dominican laity must have solid theological formation, knowledge of the human sciences, and familiarity with documents of the Church and of the Dominican tradition. The study of a fundamental or spiritual theology course is recommended.
Preaching is exercised in the daily encounter with the person, within the fraternity and in the fields of life and action — listening, sharing, and practicing compassion and mercy (cf. Rule No. 12). Lay Dominicans are missionaries on the front lines of the New Evangelization, promoting Catholic Social Teaching and dialogue with non-believers.
Sacred Scripture and theological reflection on the Word of God that challenges us to study it, contemplate it, and preach it.
The Liturgy of the Hours, the Holy Rosary, and the Eucharist as the source and summit of Dominican prayer and community life.
The history and tradition of the Order of Preachers from its founding in 1216 to the present, and the witness of the Dominican saints.
More recent documents of the Church and the Order, including the Rule, the General Declarations, and the Particular Directory of the Province.
Awareness of the signs of our times — the needs of the Church and the world that call the Dominican to apostolic engagement and service.
Find the fraternity nearest to you and attend a meeting. The Formation Director will help you discern whether Dominican life is the path to which God is calling you.
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