The Dominican Laity of Gensan

About two years ago, a year after I arrived in Gen. Santos City for my new assignment, we started to organize the Lay Dominican group. The Dominican Order, as a Dominican Family, has for its members the Friars, Nuns, Apostolic Sisters, Dominican Laity, Dominican Priestly Fraternities, Dominican Secular Institutes and the Dominican Youth.

From the beginning of the Order, men and women felt moved to help Dominic’s mission of preaching and join in as they could while still living with their families or continuing in their way of life. Already by the end of the thirteenth century, these friends of the Order and groups of lay people who resonated with Dominican spirituality were invited to become officially aggregated to the Order by adopting a Rule of Life approved by the Master of the Order and suited to their circumstances.

By adopting the Rule, lay Dominicans committed not only to living holy lives and doing works of charity, but also to being a part of the preaching mission of the Order.

The Lay Dominican group of Gensan started with a handful of Aspirants. Most of these Aspirants were daily mass goers at our chapel of Our Lady of Manaoag. After a few months, those who attended the monthly meetings and formation numbered to about 15. They were introduced to the Dominican way of life and mission. They were also asked to study the constitution and by-laws of the Dominican Laity.

After several months of formation as Aspirants, they moved on to the next stage which is the Postulancy. As Postulants, they were encouraged to attend mass and receive Holy Communion frequently, daily if possible; recite five mysteries of the rosary every day and pray the morning and evening prayers of the Liturgy of the Hours. They also had classes on basic Christian Doctrine and the Rule and constitution of the Dominican Laity.

After about a year of formation, last August 8, 2015, feast of our founder Holy Father Dominic, eleven postulants were admitted for incorporation to the Dominican Laity Fraternity in Gen. Santos City. In a ceremony where they were given the small scapular of the Dominican Laity, they were admitted as Novices. Some of them are married, and some are widows. Some are working and some are retired, and all of them are women. For a period of one year, the Novices will receive regular instruction on the Dominican Laity, Sacred Scriptures, Christology and Tradition of the Order. They will also have to continue the daily spiritual exercises of attending mass, praying the rosary and the liturgy of the hours.

Next month, September 8, 2015, on the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, about 10 aspirants will move on to become Postulants. Just like the Novices, the aspirants are all women, most of whom are married and working.

At present, the Lay Dominican group in Gen. Santos City has not yet been canonically erected as a chapter of the Dominican Laity. In order to become a chapter, it needs to have at least six perpetually professed members.

Occasionally, the members of the Dominican Laity in Gensan hold outreach projects like visiting the home for the aged, going to the orphanage and giving food to children in conflict with the law. Their regular meeting is held every second Saturday of the month.