Lay Dominican Congress 2012
The annual Congress was held in 2012 at Boars Hill, Oxford.
If you are interested, you can download a copy of the Congress Report in any of the following formats:
Veritas
The Lay Dominican Newsletter
For many years, the Lay Dominicans of this Province have used a quarterly newsletter to pass information between them. It is called Veritas. It carries reports from our Fraternities, as well as articles from members and advertisements for forthcoming events. These keep us all informed of what is happening in the Dominican Family, and can be inspirational to those who read them. Also included, with permission, are articles originally published elsewhere by or about Dominicans.
Veritas is funded by subscription, currently £6.00 per annum, issued in March, June, September and December. Payment is due on the 1st September each year. To subscribe, request a sample copy, or for any other information, please contact the editor/compiler:
| Name | Miss Elizabeth M. Howe |
|---|---|
| Telephone | 01485 535 423 |
| Post | Top Flat, 20 Austin Street, HUNSTANTON. PE36 6AL. |
Sylvia Ross
London Lay Dominican Fraternity
Sylvia was recently awarded the prestigious Dominican medal, “Bene merenti”, for her lifelong services to the Order of Preachers as a Lay Dominican. The following is based on her own “Testimonial”.
Sylvia Ross was baptised and educated in a practising Anglican family. While she was an undergraduate at Oxford University after World War II, she became convinced that the fullness of truth was to be found in the Catholic Church. The University Chaplain handed her over to the Dominicans at Blackfriars for instruction – her first contact with the Order of Preachers. Fr Conrad Pepler OP instructed her and received her into the Church in 1950; she would have liked to become a Dominican nun, but sadly her health was not considered good enough. However, she still felt called to become a member of the Order, and joined the Lay Dominicans (then known as the Third Order of St Dominic, or “Tertiaries”). She was finally professed as a member on 25th June 1957, at the same time making a life-long vow of chastity.
Since then, her service has taken many forms, always in response to requests which, to her, indicated God’s call. Initially she worked in her parish, and then studied for a Diploma in Catechetics at Corpus Christi College, London in 1970–71. After this, she was invited to join the Westminster Religious Education Centre, where she served as an Adviser to Catholic schools for 12 years. After a sabbatical year at Heythrop College for the Master of Theology degree, she taught at the Missionary Institute, London, for the next 10 years, helping to train future missionary priests and Sisters.
Sylvia served in her parish for many years as a Eucharistic Minister, until arthritis in her hands made it unwise to continue this ministry. However, she is still a Reader, and leads a little Scripture Study Group. Scripture is one of her lifelong interests, and she regularly attended the Hebrew Weekends and Summer Schools organised by Dominican Conferences, where, as she says, she “had the privilege of being taught by the late Fr Gareth Moore OP.”
As a Lay Dominican, she served for several years on the Lay Dominican Provincial Council, for one term as Provincial Secretary, and also on the Formation Sub-Committee, where she contributed to the Formation Documents. She was one of the speakers at the 2001 European Assembly at Fognano. In the London Fraternity, she has also held office as President and Vice-President, and is currently on the council and Study Coordinator.
Priestly Fraternity
Fr Simon Gaine OP is now responsible for this, and would be very glad to hear from anyone ordained (excluding deacons), not already a friar in the Order of Preachers, who is interested in a possible revival of this ancient Dominican confraternity. Please contact him at simon.gaine@english.op.org.
Emerging Groups
In addition to the new Lay Dominican Groups in Bristol, Exeter and Cornwall, an Aquinas Study Group is starting up in York, as well as a Discussion Group in Hull. If you would like to find out more, please contact Patrick Doyle, janandpatdoyle@yahoo.co.uk.
Lay Dominican Congress 2011
In 2011, the annual Congress moved to the Endsleigh Mercy Centre, Hull – a very comfortable and welcoming venue, which we have previously used several times – following our plan of alternating between the north and south of England, which is intended to help those living furthest away to attend at least every other year. It was held from the 21st to the 24th of July. We had a full house of 28 participants, not counting the Dominican brethren.
If you are interested, you can download a copy of the Congress Report in any of the following formats:
Lay Dominican Congress 2010
This year, the annual Congress moved back to its old venue at the Carmelite Priory, Boar’s Hill, just south of Oxford; at its former earlier date, the 29th July to the 1st August. We had a full house of 31 resident participants, including the Prior Provincial, Fr John Farrell OP, and 9 full-time non-residents, as well as some members of the Oxford Fraternity and a few guests, including our Bishop, Malcolm McMahon OP, as a delightful last-minute surprise.
If you are interested, you can download a copy of the Congress Report in any of the following formats: