liturgy – Irish Dominicans

O Spem Miram, an album of hymns and chant from the Dominican tradition, recorded and launched last year, is now available free of charge here.

Featuring the voices of Dominican friars from around Ireland, and recorded under the baton of Dr John O’Keefe, the album includes traditional chants in honour of St Dominic, such as the ‘O Spem Miram’ and the ‘In Caelesti Hierarchia’, as well as some newer compositions, such as a setting of the Creed by John O’Keefe, and Fr Peter O’Kane’s ‘Ubi Caritas’. The album was recorded in honour of the 800th anniversary of the death of St Dominic, who often encouraged the friars of his time to sing God’s praises ‘fortiter’ (‘loudly’).

On Saturday 5 March in St Saviour’s Church, Dublin, Archbishop Dermot Farrell ordained two Dominican friars, Br Anthony Kavanagh OP and Br Kellan Scott OP, to the order of diaconate.

A large congregation was present to participate in this celebration, along with Dominican friars, sisters, and laity from throughout Ireland. In a sermon rich in references to Dominican authors, the Archbishop outlined the ministry of deacons: they are ‘heralds of the Gospel of Jesus Christ’, their preaching ought to draw on profound prayer, and in carrying out their ministry of service they should ‘live life in response to the needs of others’.

Quoting Pope Francis, Archbishop Farrell called on Brs Anthony and Kellan to be ‘contemplatives, whose closeness to people enables them to proclaim before the wounds of our world the power of the Resurrection at work even now’.

As these brothers advance towards priestly ordination, we invite you to pray for them, that they might live out their diaconal ministry in imitation of ‘the Son of Man, [who] came not to be served but to serve’ (Mt 20:8).

We invite you too to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially to the Dominican Order. Our vocations director, Fr Colm Mannion OP, can be contacted at colm.mannion@dominicans.ie and 086-0864420.

(Photos courtesy of Br Sean Blackwell OP).