Special to The Message
Coinciding with the Church’s celebration of the Jubilee for Priests, the International Assembly of the Priestly Fraternities of St. Dominic brought together 38 friars and diocesan clerics from all over the world June 22-25 at the Casa La Salle in Rome, Italy. Attending this event was delegate Dominican Deacon Bob Martin of the Evansville Diocese. Deacon Martin, who serves at St. Philip Parish in Posey County, is a member of the Evansville Dominican Priestly Fraternity, Mary Mediatrix, of the Central Province of St. Albert the Great.
One of the many highlights of this assembly was Holy Mass celebrated by the Master of the Dominican Order, Father Gerard Timoner in the Basilica of Santa Sabina. The conferences presented were on Dominican Spirituality for diocesan priests and deacons, as well as permanent formation in the Dominican Way. Dominican Brother Michael Monshau, Provincial Promoter of the Province of St. Albert the Great, USA, also provided further insights based on his long experience in leading fraternities and gave useful advice on fraternity development.
To date, there is a recorded global membership of 483, spanning 11 countries and 14 nationalities, including 17 bishops and three cardinals.