Wednesday, May 30 – while our people celebrated the arrival of the first generation of Indian migrants to this beautiful land of the Trinity, members of the Dominican Laity gathered at St Joseph RC Church to welcome four new members and profess 46 members.

The ceremonies were held during a special Mass celebrated by Fr Ferdinand Warner, Regional Prior of the Dominican Friars and Spiritual Director of the Dominican Laity.

It was particularly touching to hear the voices raised in prayer and to witness as 21 existing members renewed their promises while another 24 made their commitment for their whole life. 

Krishna Ramessar, President of the Dominican Laity of T &T makes his final profession before Fr Ferdi and Sr Martin.

Dominican Laity light candles from Easter Candle during ceremony

Fr Ferdi delivers the sermon

During his homily, Fr Ferdi reminded the laity that it had been about 10 years since Sr Martin Joseph and himself had been given the responsibility for the Dominican Laity and he drew from the Gospel passage (Mark 10: 32-45) of the day to emphasise the essence of what was happening.

They were to take three watchwords from the gospel: commitment, sacrifice and service. He urged all not to be afraid of drinking from the cup as there can be no commitment without sacrifice which leads to true service.

He gently chided the gathering as he reminded them of the many times commitments had been made to meetings/special gatherings/ functions and they had failed in sacrificing the time to be there for each other.

At times personal agendas need to take a back seat when commitments are made as there is no easy way out of sacrifice – sacrifice of self/time in the effort to witness to the Gospel of Life.

He reminded that the growth of Dominican spirituality throughout the world was due to the personal witness of the lives of the early Dominicans – women and men who followed St Dominic.

St Dominic knew the value of education to the role the brethren would play in the community and sent his new recruits to the universities and learning centres of France.

Professors admired the brothers for their way of life and asked to join the order, the result of which, the order became known for their teaching and preaching abilities.

Dominican nuns had a different lifestyle for which they were admired and 800 years later, we are still seeing their love and faithfulness to God and His Church and their Dominican spirituality in the monasteries and convents.

Fr Ferdi reminded the laity that, as one brother had noted; they had taken their vows but had not lived them fully as yet. They needed to learn them as documented in the statutes, and build on their foundation.

“Go to the well daily and you will never be dry….accept the challenges as you face them….talk and plan…but ensure you follow up….pay attention to execution of the plan…..There is no problem with failure…..only where there is a lack of trying….rethink our motivation/enthusiasm….contemplate and share the fruits of our contemplation with the world……Be faithful to the Dominican basics – prayer, worship, study and dialogue.” He ended his sermon by quoting our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to Brazil, “Stay close to Jesus, who is our well, our refreshing drink and our salvation.”

Following the celebration of Mass, the members of the Laity enjoyed the sharing of a simple and tasty lunch together as they mingled and renewed friendships.