The Order of Preachers
Our Founder - St. Dominic Guzmán
Into this world stepped Dominic Guzmán, a Spanish priest moved by compassion and clarity of purpose. After witnessing the spiritual crisis in southern France, he envisioned a new kind of preacher: poor, learned, prayerful, and mobile. With Church support, he gathered companions committed to preaching the Gospel wherever needed. In 1216, the Order of Preachers was officially approved by Pope Honorius III.
A year later, Dominic sent his small group across Europe, declaring, “Seed that is hoarded rots.” By the time of his death in 1221, the Order had already spread to England, Hungary, and beyond.
The mission of the Dominicans had begun.
What is a Dominican?
A Dominican is a member of the Order of Preachers (O.P.), a Catholic religious family founded by St. Dominic in 1216. Dominicans—whether friars, nuns, sisters, or lay members—are united by a shared mission: to preach the Gospel for the salvation of souls.
The Dominican Family
There are different branches within the Dominican family:
- Friars (priests and brothers)
- Nuns (cloistered, contemplative)
- Apostolic Sisters (active in various ministries)
- Lay Dominicans (non-ordained men and women living in the world, following the Dominican way)
To be a Dominican is to seek truth, live the Gospel, and share it with others—through whatever vocation or path God has given.
What is a lay Dominican?
From the very beginning of our Order, we as lay men and women have been an integral part of the Dominican Family. We are gathered together—whether married or single, in all walks of life—to share in the mission and spirit of St. Dominic. In our everyday lives, we strive to embody the Dominican love for Truth, prayer, study, and apostolic zeal.
We have a direct role in the preaching mission of the Church. Some of us pursue formal studies in theology, Scripture, or liturgy; others serve in justice ministries or parish leadership. We preach with our lives, by our witness and example, and when the opportunity arises, with our voices. In the spirit of St. Dominic, we seek to contemplate and to share the fruits of our contemplation.
As Lay Dominicans, we make promises to live according to the Rule of the Lay Chapters of St. Dominic and the Particular Directory of our Province. We meet regularly in community for study, prayer, and support. Together with the friars, nuns, sisters, and the wider Church, we pray the Liturgy of the Hours and engage in apostolic works that reflect the Gospel: writing on issues of peace and justice, serving the poor, teaching, spiritual direction, and ministry in our parishes and communities. We seek to live lives marked by simplicity, generosity, and joy.
Our identity as Lay Dominicans connects us directly to the wider Order. We are mentored by Dominican friars and sisters, and we in turn, support and encourage one another in our chapters. This collaboration strengthens the unity of the Dominican Family and deepens our shared commitment to preaching the Gospel in every corner of the world.
Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare
To Praise, To Bless, To Preach.
First, the Church speaks of the Divine Office as a “sacrifice of praise,” sanctifying time through worship, with the Eucharist at its center. As Pope Paul VI described, the liturgy draws all moments of life into a unified offering to God.
Second, benedicere—to “speak well”—evokes the role of study, which seeks to understand and articulate truth. Study prepares Dominicans to preach with clarity and fidelity.
Third, preaching is the fruit of contemplation. God the Father preaches the Word; Christ reveals the Father; the apostles and their successors preach through word and witness. Dominican apostolates like teaching are extensions of this mission, transmitting the faith through generations.
These three elements—prayer, study, and preaching—are not isolated tasks, but deeply interwoven. The Dominican vocation calls for a balance between the contemplative life (communal prayer, study, regular observance) and active ministry.
The Pillars of Dominican Spirituality
Prayer
Prayer
Prayer
"One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world." - St. Dominic
Prayer is the foundation of our relationship with God and the source of all Dominican life. Lay Dominicans cultivate a deep spiritual life through the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Mass when possible, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especial
"One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world." - St. Dominic
Prayer is the foundation of our relationship with God and the source of all Dominican life. Lay Dominicans cultivate a deep spiritual life through the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Mass when possible, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially through the Rosary, which St. Dominic entrusted to the Order. Personal prayer, meditation on Sacred Scripture, and moments of silent contemplation help us stay rooted in God’s presence and discern how to bring His truth to the world.
Study
Prayer
Prayer
"Do you desire to study to your advantage? Let devotion accompany all your studies, and study less to make yourself learned than to become a saint. Consult God more than your books, and ask him, with humility, to make you understand what you read." - St. Vincent Ferrer, OP
Inspired by St. Dominic’s love for truth (veritas), Lay Dominicans
"Do you desire to study to your advantage? Let devotion accompany all your studies, and study less to make yourself learned than to become a saint. Consult God more than your books, and ask him, with humility, to make you understand what you read." - St. Vincent Ferrer, OP
Inspired by St. Dominic’s love for truth (veritas), Lay Dominicans commit to regular study of the faith. Through Scripture, theology, Church teaching, and the works of Dominican saints—especially St. Thomas Aquinas—we seek to deepen our understanding of the truth so that we may proclaim it effectively. Study is not just intellectual—it is a path to deeper union with Christ and a preparation for our apostolic work.
Community
Apostolate
Apostolate
Dominican community is more than shared space—it is a communion of persons rooted in Christ. Through the common life, Dominicans share meals, pray the Divine Office, celebrate the Eucharist, and support one another in their apostolic work. This life together fosters humility, accountability, joy, mutual charity, and thus grows in holiness
Dominican community is more than shared space—it is a communion of persons rooted in Christ. Through the common life, Dominicans share meals, pray the Divine Office, celebrate the Eucharist, and support one another in their apostolic work. This life together fosters humility, accountability, joy, mutual charity, and thus grows in holiness.
Though we live in the world, Lay Dominicans are not alone. We are part of a local fraternity where we find spiritual support, friendship, and accountability. This fraternity reflects the Dominican spirit helping us live out our vocation with joy and perseverance.
Apostolate
Apostolate
Apostolate
God’s words in The Dialogue to St. Catherine of Siena warn against self-centered spirituality: true prayer leads to love of neighbor. Dominican life, then, integrates a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal mission to others.
The fruits of our prayer and study are meant to be shared. As Lay Dominicans, we bring the light of
God’s words in The Dialogue to St. Catherine of Siena warn against self-centered spirituality: true prayer leads to love of neighbor. Dominican life, then, integrates a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal mission to others.
The fruits of our prayer and study are meant to be shared. As Lay Dominicans, we bring the light of the Gospel into our families, workplaces, parishes, and society. Our apostolate may take many forms—teaching, writing, catechesis, works of mercy—but always with the aim of preaching the truth with love. In doing so, we live out the Dominican mission: to praise, to bless, and to preach.
Our Fraternity's History
Our Humble Beginnings
Though the Third Order of Preachers has a rich history spanning over 800 years, it wasn’t until 2020 that the Lay Dominicans were officially founded here in the Prairies.
After years of dedication—and despite the challenges of a global pandemic—we were finally able to profess our promises. Together with the St. Pius V Fraternity in Edmonton, our own Fraternity was officially established, marking a new chapter in the Dominican family’s mission in this region.