Dominican Seminar 2010

Like the three Magi who journeyed to the manger to find the Christ Child, thirty Dominicans journeyed to a snowy Yorkshire on Epiphany Sunday to contemplate divine Wisdom. Each year, the Dominican Seminar takes place in Hinsley Hall, Leeds, and Dominicans from almost every branch of the family - friars, sisters, laity, and members of the Dominican Secular Institute - come together to listen to talks on a given theme and to reflect upon and discuss the ideas presented. Study is interlaced with liturgical prayer, and time together for recreation.

This year, as the Church's cycle of Sunday Gospels is taken from St Luke, we decided to study the writings of St Luke, i.e., the Gospel attributed to him and the Acts of the Apostles. The Seminar began with Mass and Vespers of the Epiphany, followed by a session on 'St Luke the Storyteller', which introduced the theme and looked at the parables in Luke. Three Dominicans, led by Mr Patrick Doyle OP then gave their reflections on three different parables. fr Lawrence Lew OP presented his thoughts on the parable of the Prodigal Son, which will be posted on Godzdogz at a later date.

The second day began with Lauds and then there were talks by fr John Farrell OP on features of Luke-Acts, followed by a talk on the role of St Peter in Luke-Acts, and then a group study of the apostolic life as it is presented in Acts. In the afternoon, fr Richard Finn OP gave an account of St Luke's presentation of wealth and poverty, and how the rich and poor alike can participate in God's generosity through almsgiving. After Mass and Vespers, fr Richard Conrad OP gave one of his multimedia lectures on the Holy Spirit, with slides of Christian art and chants from the Dominican chant book. This evening ended with a gathering in the bar for informal chat, jokes, songs and good-natured revelry.

The final day opened with Lauds and then Sr Mary Cecily Boulding OP and Sr Ann Catherine Swailes OP gave an excellent appraisal of Our Lady, Obedience and the Joyful Mysteries. They drew on the richness of the theology of St Thomas and the Fathers of the Church to help us reflect on these themes and events in St Luke's gospel.

Although our group this year was smaller than usual, the Seminar was very enjoyable, enlightening and offered much food for thought. With its blend of study, liturgy, prayer, preaching and fraternity, it gave a fine witness of the Dominican charism shared by the different branches of the Order of Preachers, and was a good way for us to begin 2010 together as one Dominican family.

Below are more photos from the Seminar:

Bishop Malcolm McMahon OP in conversation with our novice, fr Andrew Brookes OP

fr Richard Finn OP, who is Regent of Studies, giving his talk

Meal times are convivial affairs at the seminar

Social evening on the last night in Leeds

Sr Alexia Dendere OP from Zimbabwe and Sr Ruth Chongo OP from Zambia, members of the general council of the Dominican Missionary Sisters (Crawley), are delighted at the sight of so much snow!