Personal Note: My Rite of Perpetual Profession

As some of you may know, I’ve been a Lay Dominican for a while, striving to reach Final Profession.  On January 24^th, I made my Final Profession.

If you don’t know what a Lay Dominican is, I wrote a lengthy blog post several years ago, starting with explaining what are religious orders, the Dominican Order, and finally concluding with the Lay Dominicans, which is also referred to as the Dominican Third Order.  You may want to read that if you don’t have a concept of the various orders and how they pertain to the laity.

The Lay Dominicans also go through similar steps as the religious of the Dominican Order: postulate, novice, first profession, final profession.  For the record, here are the dates of my steps.

Postulancy: March 2018

Novice: May 25, 2019

First Promise: March 25, 2022

Final Promise: January 24, 2026

Novice is supposed to be only a one year process, but Covid delayed that two years.  Between first and final promises, which I believe is called the “Perpetual Profession,” is supposed to take about three years, but because the fraternity in Staten Island had to merge and relocate there was some delay in keeping up with the various learning modules.

So last Saturday I became fully professed!  My religious name chosen at first profession is Br. John Catherine of Siena.

Let me share a video clip and some pictures.  The ceremony was within a Mass and took place at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Manhattan (E68th St, just in from 1^st Ave).  St. Catherine of Siena Church is our new fraternity home and is run by Dominican friars. 

 

The ceremony occurs after the homily and consists of an examination of the candidate—which is just a formal asking of his intention—an invocation of divine grace, the perpetual profession, the blessing and clothing of the large scapular, and final prayers.  In the video clip of the ceremony you will see me, Jennifer our fraternity president, and Fr. Joseph Allen O.P. who is our religious assistant at St. Catherine’s.

 

The large scapular—as opposed to the small scapular which consists of two cloths connected with strings that go over the shoulders and under a shirt which we receive at First Profession—is the lay version of a much more distinct version that religious Dominicans receive at their professions.  The lay large scapular is reserved for ceremonies and occasions such as this.  Jennifer is wearing hers.  I also have the option of having it placed on me at my funeral.

 

Pictures

Afterwards with Jennifer and Fr. Joseph.

With my wife and son.

And with some members of the Fraternity.

Thanks be to God.  To praise, to bless, to preach!  May I be worthy of the honor.