Preaching Commission Set to Meet; Calls for Recommendations

SANTA SABINA, Rome January 8, 2007—The newly formed International Preaching Commission of the Order will be meeting February 11-14, 2007 in Santa Sabina. Dominicans around the world are welcome to submit recommendations and suggestions.

According to Chrys McVey, OP (Pakistan) socius for Apostolic Life, the purposes of the commission include: “sharing new forms of preaching, encourage creativity; clarifying our understanding of what we are presently doing as an Order; exploring new forms that should be encouraged; clarifying what we mean by preaching. " Chrys added that the group wants to move away from pulpit preaching as the privileged position for realizing Dominican mission. Other elements include an exploration of the present theological and canonical concerns pertaining to preaching and to advance the present theological understanding.

During the meeting the group will use the responses from the questionnaire (Cf Collation of Materials Received in Response to Survey on the Dominican Charism of Preaching, by David Rocks) to explore their common understanding of what it means to preach and to pursue the question posed at the General Chapter at Krakow: How does profession in the Order of Preachers imply a commission to preach as a participation in the essential mission of the Order?

This last question is at the heart of much of the exploration of the meaning of the preaching mission for women in the Order in the USA.

The Commission will spend time engaging the question: What do you think the preaching commission of the Order can do to revitalize and further develop the mission of our Order?

These are the question readers may want to respond to and send their thoughts and reflection to the Preaching Commission.

Notably, US Dominicans Toni Harris, OP (Sinsinawa) and Ed Ruane, OP (St. Albert) will serve as facilitators for discussions.

Send your comments to: Chrys McVey, OP