Dominican
College Preaching Program
The 4th National College Preaching Conference
During the week of May 23nd twenty seven students and
fifteen mentors from fifteen Dominican Colleges, or colleges
which have a Dominican presence, throughout the United
States gathered at Caldwell College in Caldwell, NJ for
the Fourth Annual “Preaching in Action” Conference.
They came together to learn about the Dominican charism
of preaching and how that charism can be incorporated
into their lives. They were taught how the Word of God
is so vital to the life of all Dominicans and ways in
which they can make that Word come alive so it can bring
life to themselves and others.
They were introduced to an array of speakers and presenters
representing the various congregations and provinces in
the Order and were given opportunity to experience themselves
as preachers using the mediums of art, dance, drama, and
music. Most importantly they were encouraged to fulfill
their own Christian mission of preaching the Good News
to all they come in contact with. It was a great week
and one that will hold wonderful memories for a long time.
Ann Willits, OP began the conference by making the connection
between the Dominican tradition of preaching and the participants
own call to preach. “We are all preachers, by virtue
of our baptism we are all called to spread the good news
every chance we get, especially with the way we live our
lives.” Nancy Murray, OP, Patrick Spedale (a lay
Dominican from Houston), and Joe Kilikevice, OP highlighted
the charism of preaching as it has been practiced from
the earliest days of the order.
This years conference participants had the opportunity
to visit the UN where Eileen Gannon, OP, our Dominican
NGO representative at the United Nations met the students
and spoke to them about their responsibility as citizens,
and Dominicans, to stay abreast of what is happening abroad
and within our own communities. JoAnn Timmerman, OP brought
the concept of preaching through the arts alive with her
musical talents and creativity.
During the week the students are given opportunity to
use their creativity, musical talents, and giftedness
of voice to prepare the prayer service and liturgies that
are a vital part of the conference schedule. This was
a very powerful experience for some of the students who
do not ordinarily have this opportunity either in their
parishes or their colleges. As a result, many expressed
the desire to become members of the planning committee
for their campus prayer services and liturgies. The creativity
was a wonderful thing to behold and the singing voices
were a welcomed sound throughout the entire campus.
At the closing liturgy each student is commissioned to
go forth and preach the “Good News” to their
fellow students. Each college group presents its action
plan for the upcoming school year. This plan is decided
upon by the student participants and is a vehicle for
bringing what they learned at the conference back to their
college campuses. They must continue the “Holy Preaching.”
So, with a song of joy on their lips and the Dominican
spirit firmly planted in their hearts, these young people
prepared to leave this conference. In this short period
of time they formed community which hopefully will continue
after this experience. But wherever they go, whether California,
Illinois, Ohio, Hawaii, Indiana, Texas, Florida, New Jersey,
Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin or New York, they are now
a part of our Dominican Family.
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