Formation Programme Aug 2007 – Aug 2008 (as of 21 Dec ‘07)


16 Sep 07


Fraternity: Rule (Part 3)

Liturgy I – Sacrosanctum concilium (2)

7 Oct 07

21 Oct 07

The Nine Ways of Prayer of St Dominic, Sermon on Prayer by William Peraldus (EDSW) (3)

Acts of the Apostles chap 1 (1)

Session on signs of the times, relevant paragraphs from Gaudium et Spes (4)

Liturgy II – General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Sacramentum caritatis (2)

4 Nov 07

18 Nov 07

The Life of St Dominic by Jean de Mailly, A Sermon on St Dominic by Thomas Agni of Lentini, The Canonisation Process of St Dominic 1233 (EDSW) (3)

Acts chap 2 (1)

Radcliffe – Letter to our brothers and sisters in initial formation (5)

Liturgy III – General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, Divine Office tutorial (2)

2 Dec 07

16 Dec 07

Fraternity: Plan for Day of Recollection

EDSW – Dominican Laity (3)

Acts chap 3 (1)

Radcliffe – Letter... initial formation (5)

Liturgy IV – Participation in the Liturgy (to invite Fr Ignatius Yeo) (2)

6 Jan 08

20 Jan 08

Epiphany party and presentation on the Order for newcomers

(Day of Recollection on Preaching was held on Dec 20)

Fraternity: changes to directory

Signs of the Times (4) Lydia

Summa Theologiae session 1 (2) Jude

Tues Jan 15: St Francisco de Capillas

Mon Jan 28: St Thomas Aquinas

3 Feb 08

17 Feb 08

CSTD – Introduction to the Dialogue, Prologue (pp. 25-27), The Way of Perfection (pp. 28-47), Dialogue (pp. 48-63) (3). Francis

Acts chap 4 (1) Lydia

Paul Murray – Recovering the Contemplative Dimension (5) Helen

Summa session 2 (2) Fr David

2 Mar 08

16 Mar 08

CSTD – The Bridge (pp. 64-105) (3) Francis

Acts chap 6 (1) Peter

Fraternity: Planning for Retreat

Paul Murray – Recovering the Contemplative Dimension (5) Helen

Summa session 3 (2) Fr David

6 Apr 08

20 Apr 08

EDSW – The Nuns (3) Estella

Acts chap 5 (1) Priscilla

Retreat (April 18-20)

Tues April 29: St Catherine of Siena

4 May 08

18 May 08

CSTD – The Bridge (pp. 106-161) (3) Francis

Acts chap 7 (1) Anna

Fraternity: planning for project

Session on signs of the times

Summa session 4 (2) Fr David

1 Jun 08

15 Jun 08

CSTD – Tears (pp. 161-183) (3) Francis

Acts chap 8 (1) Christina

New document of Church or Order (4)

Summa session 5 (2) Fr David

5 or 6 Jul 08

20 Jul 08

Project : Preaching as a Community



New document of Church or Order (4)

Summa session 6 (2) Fr David

Tues July 22: St Mary Magdalene

3 Aug 08

8 Aug 08 (Friday)

Fraternity: Plan following year’s formation programme, preparation for Feast of St Dominic

Acts chap 9 (1)


Feast of St Dominic


The Rule of the Lay Fraternities of St Dominic lists as the principal sources to accomplish Dominican formation:


Key for areas of study:

  1. the Word of God

  2. Theology

  3. History and tradition of the Order

  4. Recent documents of the Church and the Order and awareness of the signs of the times

  5. Letters of the Masters of the Order and four pillars of Dominican life (additional formation area)

NB : liturgical prayer is part of all meetings as we pray Vespers and Compline


Structure of formation meetings, which start at 7pm

1st week: (1) and (3)

3rd week: (2) and (4) or (5)


Division of duties:

Acts of the Apostles: novices take turns to facilitate, in alphabetical order. Anna takes chap 1, then Christina, Estella, Francis, Lydia, Peter, Priscilla and Sebastian.

Theology of the Liturgy: Francis and Estella are in charge

Dogmatic theology (Summa) : Fr David

New things and letters of Masters (4 and 5) : Lydia

History and tradition of Order: 1st week of Oct on Prayer (Lydia), 1st week of Nov on St Dominic (Peter), Dec on Dominican Laity (Priscilla), Feb on the Nuns (Estella).

NB: fraternity meetings are for novices and start at 6pm. They will be convened when there is a need to discuss directory matters or plan retreats, projects, formation etc.


Key for books :

EDSW: Early Dominicans: Selected Writings

CSTD: Catherine of Siena: The Dialogue

For the sessions on St Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae, the recommended text is Summa Theologiae: A Concise Translation, edited by Timothy McDermott