Nagpur: The Dominicans on October 13 celebrated their eight centuries of existence with a variety of programs in Nagpur, a central Indian city.
Cardinal Telesphore P Toppo, archbishop of Ranchi, led the concluding Mass along with 13 bishops and hundreds of priests, many of them past students of St Charles Seminary, managed by the Dominicans.
In his message on the occasion, Dominicans’ newly appointed India provincial Fr Naveen Almeida said, “The celebration has less to do with commemorating a particular date than enthusiastically launching ourselves toward the future of our charism.”
“We believe that the ministry of evangelization will remain central for the Church that is at the service of humanity and the world. It is our belief that God has a splendid plan for the human community, and that, despite our weakness, God has chosen us to be joyful witnesses to this,” added the priest who taught at Dominican formation houses until his appointment.
The Moral Theology professor at St Charles Seminary reminded his confreres and others that the cries of the people for a liberating word continue to challenge them.
Fr Jose Thomas Thekkel, superior of the Nagpur community, said they staged a play on October 11 and 12 to drive home St Dominic’s message for today’s world.
“He asked the brethren to live in firm humility, have the treasure of poverty, by which the kingdom of heaven be gained and asked to have fraternal charity. This charity makes the preacher to hear the cry of the poor and the needy and it doesn’t leave the preacher in peace. It awakens him and makes one understand the compassion Jesus had for people,” added Fr Thekkel, a retreat preacher.
Bro Ivan Rodrigues, a deacon, said the centenary is an occasion to remind “remind us of the foundational moment when St. Dominic sent our first brothers away from their home, their family and nation, to gain the joy and freedom of constantly being ready to move. As preachers of the Word and preachers of grace we are asked constantly to be on our move to preach the Gospel.”
Fr Thekkel told Matters India that St Dominic began his congregation when only bishops and cardinals were allowed to preach homilies in churches. The monks then had little academic qualifications and led a simple life.
St Dominic discovered that the heretics were preaching wrong message on Christ and his teachings. The saint informed his bishop about this and the prelate encouraged him to preach homilies. “He realized the importance of intellectual preparation to counteract the heretics. He sent his followers for intellectual preparation in order to counteract the heretics. Thus the Church has today St Thomas Aquinas one of the great saints,” the Dominican priest explained.
Some 5,000 Dominican priests and 6,000 trainees are in 88 countries across the globe. About 2,000 contemplative nuns, 45,000 religious sisters and Dominican laity help them in this mission. The order has generated 21 saints, 200 blessed and four popes.
They manage universities, colleges, schools, and other centers of learning all over the world.
Many Indian members are engaged in teaching, especially in St. Charles’ Seminary. They are also visiting professors to many other seminaries and institutes.
The Indian Mission of Dominicans began in 1959 when four friars of the Irish province arrived in Nagpur to take charge of the St Charles’ diocesan seminary at the invitation of late Archbishop Eugene D’Souza.
In 1967, they opened a novitiate in Pachmarhi, about 260 km northwest of Nagpur.
The Indian unit was made a province in 1997. In 2001 a house of philosophy in Orlim, Salcette, Goa.
Today, India has 138 Dominicans, including 71 priests, in 13 communities. They manage seven parishes in India.
The province has sent two members to work in South Africa, one in Trinidad & Tobago. They also plan to send men to Zambia.