"To praise, to bless, to preach."
Who We Are
The Bishop Fenwick Fraternity at St. Gertrude is a group of Lay Dominicans who are dedicated to Dominican spirituality and strive for the sanctification of themselves and those around them, reaching people the friars, nuns, and sisters cannot reach. We currently have 31 members of all ages and professions, including teachers, professors, business people, stay-at-home parents, artists, and published writers.
What We Do
The Dominican charism consists of four pillars: prayer, study, community, and apostolate. As Lay Dominicans, we commit to living out these four pillars by:
- Attending daily Mass (if possible) and praying a daily rosary and morning and evening Liturgy of the Hours
- Reading Scripture for at least 15 minutes per day, reading and discussing chapter materials (papal documents, writings of saints, etc.)
- Participating in either chapter or individual apostolate
- Taking part in chapter meetings and other occasional gatherings
When We Meet
We meet on the second Tuesday of the month, except during July. We typically begin in the St. Gertrude Church at 6:30 with Evening Prayer (Liturgy of the Hours), and then move to the Parish Center Lobby for social time, study, and our business meeting.
Join Us
Anyone is always welcome to join our monthly meetings. This is a great way to learn what being a Lay Dominican is all about, as there is no obligation or cost*, and to begin discerning if you have a vocation to the Dominican life.
If you feel called to become a Lay Dominican and join the Bishop Fenwick Fraternity, you will engage in a 6-month postulancy, followed by a yearlong novitiate and a 3-year Temporary Promise (Profession). This extensive formation period provides you with the opportunity to better understand the four pillars of the Dominican charism, to attend our regular monthly meetings, and to have monthly sessions with our novice instructor. At any point during this process, up until you make your Final Promise (Life Profession), you and the chapter may discern that you do not have a vocation to the Dominican life.
*Members of the Bishop Fenwick Fraternity pay $85 in dues annually.
If you feel called to become a Lay Dominican and join the Bishop Fenwick Fraternity, you will engage in a 6-month postulancy, followed by a yearlong novitiate and a 3-year Temporary Promise (Profession). This extensive formation period provides you with the opportunity to better understand the four pillars of the Dominican charism, to attend our regular monthly meetings, and to have monthly sessions with our novice instructor. At any point during this process, up until you make your Final Promise (Life Profession), you and the chapter may discern that you do not have a vocation to the Dominican life.
*Members of the Bishop Fenwick Fraternity pay $85 in dues annually.
Contact Us
For more information about the Bishop Fenwick Fraternity at St. Gertrude or to join the chapter, please contact Joan Ratajczak, O.P., at jsratajczak@gmail.com, or come to a meeting.
Additional Resources
To learn more about the Lay Dominicans of the Province of St. Joseph, sign up for the province's free e-Lumen newsletter, and access other resources, please visit laydominicans.org.
