Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare
To Praise, To Bless, To Preach
Order of Preachers
The Order of Preachers was founded by Saint Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221) and officially established as a religious institute in the Roman Catholic Church in 1216. The particular charism and mission of the Order is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dominic’s love of God and compassion for a suffering world compelled him to dedicate his life, as a mendicant itinerant preacher, to seeking truth by contemplating and studying the Word of God and sharing the fruits of his contemplation with everyone he encountered. Dominic’s zeal for the Word of God and the joyful example of his own life attracted and transformed others who sought to follow his example and join with him in proclaiming the Good News. Among those called to the Dominican life are Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Rose of Lima, Martin de Porres, and Bartolome de las Casas.
What began as one man’s response to the needs of the people of God in a 13th century world hungering for truth, is now an international Order with Dominicans serving the Gospel, preaching in word and action, in over 100 countries.
Dominic drew strength to embrace the struggles and the joys of his call to be a faithful preacher of the Gospel from God and his companions, women and men, lay and ordained. This relationship was so significant that the community itself became known as the “holy preaching”.
Today, all who partake in the charism of Saint Dominic share a single vocation to be preachers in the Church and in the world. This one vocation, embracing prayer, study, community, and the preaching mission, is expressed through multiple paths within the Dominican Family.
Parable Conference invites all, who by baptism, desire, or conviction, share the call to proclaim the teachings of Jesus Christ, to join their energies with the worldwide mission of the Order of Preachers, to praise, to bless, to preach for the transformation of the world.
Dominican Volunteers USA (women and men, 21 years and older with 2 years of college or work experience): The volunteer program was established in 2001 and provides opportunities for a one year Dominican centered mission experience.
Dominican Youth and Young Adults:
High School Preaching Conference: A week long immersion experience in the Dominican tradition for junior and senior high school students.
College Preaching Conference: A week long immersion experience in the Dominican tradition for sophomore and junior college students.
Dominican Lay Scholars Community: (women & men, single & married): An ecumenical Christian society in the US for professional scholars at the university faculty level, oriented in the Dominican tradition of study in the pursuit of truth.
Vowed Dominican Contemplative Nuns: The first Dominican monastery was founded by Saint Dominic in Prouilhe, France, in 1206. There are 234 monasteries worldwide with 19 in the US.
Vowed Dominican Friars (brothers and priests): The first community of friars was established by Saint Dominic in Toulouse, France, 1215. There are 90 provinces worldwide with 4 in the US.
Vowed Dominican Laity (women & men, single & married): Laypersons served with Saint Dominic from his earliest days and were officially established as a branch of the Order in 1285. Lay chapters are organized worldwide with 154 in the US.
Vowed Dominican Apostolic Sisters: Apostolic congregations grew out of the church’s need for vowed women religious to serve the ministerial needs of the people of God. There are over 150 Dominican apostolic congregations worldwide with 29 in the US.
Dominican Associates (women & men, single & married): A new form of Dominican relationship between apostolic congregations and laity begun in the US in the 1980s for mutual sharing in the preaching mission. Twenty congregations support associate programs.
Contemplari et contemplata aliis tradere
"Contemplate and give to others the fruit of your contemplation"
-St. Thomas Aquinas
