One of the rare good news stories from the Church in Ireland is the sustained growth in vocations to the Dominican Order. While many other areas of the Church’s life there are in decline, there has been a steady stream of vocations to the Dominicans, 800 years after their arrival in Ireland. Over the last 15 years, more than fifty men have tried their vocation with the Irish Province, leaving careers and worldly success for the sake of the Gospel. Currently, there are 17 students and novices being formed in Ireland. These friars deserve the best of formation precisely because the Church in Ireland needs good and effective preaching.

In Cork, the novitiate year is focused on the spiritual life and personal growth, with the guidance of the Novice Master and the community of older friars. You can learn more about the novitiate program in the video below. In Dublin, following philosophical studies in a local university, students are taught theology by experienced and well qualified professors, leading to a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology. Their pastoral, spiritual, and human formation is overseen by the Student Master, along with trusted advisors. Providing this formation is a long and expensive process. The Irish Dominicans need assistance to safeguard the training of their young men. For this reason, the Irish Dominican Aquinas Educational Trust has been established. This fund will be dedicated entirely to covering the costs of forming our novices in Cork, and our students in Dublin.

A donation to the Irish Dominican Aquinas Educational Trust is an investment in the future, helping to ensure that St Dominic’s Irish sons will continue to renew the life of the Church.