“I am more convinced than ever that the four priorities of the Order as enunciated at the General Chapter held at Quezon City [1977] and reiterated at subsequent Chapters have a deep and unfolding significance for us. […] Rooted in our heritage, these reflect the whole tradition of the Order. They are not just something conjured up at Quezon City.”

-fr. Damian Byrne, O.P.

¶ Theology

The philosophical and theological investigation of cultures, intellectual systems, and non-Christian religious traditions. To evangelize the world’s cultures.

 

¶ Evangelization

A cathechesis directed to a de-Christianized culture and environment, a secularized Christianity. To catechize a de-Christianized world.

The General Chapter of Avila (1986) defined five frontiers of evangelization for the Order:

 

1. The frontier between life and death, or the challenge of justice and peace in the world;
2. The frontier between humanity and inhumanity, or the challenge of the marginalised;
3. The frontier of Christian experience, or the challenge of the great world religions;
4. The frontier of religious experience, or the challenge of secular ideologies;
5. The frontier of the Church, or the challenge of non-Catholic Christians and the sects.

 

¶ Justice and Peace

Justice in the world — a critical analysis of the origins, forms and structures of injustice in contemporary society, and evangelical activities for the integral liberation of humankind. To back up works of justice and peace.

Justice and Peace has been an apostolic priority of Dominican preaching for centuries. In a famous dispute in Valladolid (1550) fr. Bartolomé de Las Casas (1474-1566) stood up to defend the Indians encountered in the New World, arguing that they were persons of full human dignity, not some inferior species. Fr. Francisco de Vitoria (1486-1546) drew up the first charter of human rights and is considered the founder of international law; his statue stands outside the United Nations building in New York. In later times, two Dominicans have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize: Carlos Saavedra Lamas in 1936 (a tertiary) and fr. Henri-Dominique Pire in 1958 (a friar). To witness some of our efforts today, visit the Franciscans International & Dominicans for human rights at the United Nations in Geneva.

¶ Communication

The integration of the means of social communication in the preaching of the word of God. To engage in the mass media.