How Do I Become a Lay Dominican?
Called by the Holy Spirit, many seek to become a Lay Dominican, so that they can follow the examples of Saint Dominic, Saint Catherine of Sienna, and many other Dominican saints. Many seek to live lives of contemplation and mission, informed by the spiritual tradition of the Dominican Order. Still more seek out the Dominican Laity for community, accountability, and obedience to a Rule that orients you toward virtue, the proclamation of truth, the defense of justice and freedom, and the proclamation of the Gospel for the salvation of souls. The process to become a Lay Dominican takes years to complete. Here's the typical process:
Initial Steps:
Contact a local Dominican Lay Fraternity.
Attend a few meetings and events to learn about Dominican spirituality and charism.
Meet with current members and/or the religious assistant (usually a Dominican friar).
Once you have completed these initial steps, you will be invited to Formation.
Formation Period: The formation typically involves several stages over 4-5 years:
Inquiry Formation - A six month period of formation in preparation for Reception that includes learning about St Dominic and the Four Pillars of Dominican Life. At Reception, you formally and publicly enter into the Order and Fraternity, receive the White Scapular, and assume a Dominican patron saint. At this point, you are only making a commitment to participating in formation. You can discern out at any time.
Candidacy Formation - A one year period of formation in preparation for making First Profession, including learning about the Rule, Dominican history, spirituality, and practices. At First Profession, also called Temporary Profession, you formally and publicly make a promise to follow the Rule of the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic for three years.
Temporary Profession Formation - A three year period of formation where you undertake a deeper study of Dominican saints, theology, and Dominican Spirituality in preparation for making Perpetual Profession. At Perpetual Profession, sometimes called Final Profession, you formally and publicly make a promise to follow the Rule of the Lay Fraternities of Saint Dominic for the rest of your life.