Friars

Friars

Dominican Friars are the backbone of the Order.  These men, both clergy and lay, are the primary operatives in our apostolate of preaching.  While preaching in the traditional sense of homiletics in the course of public worship, is one of our activities it is not the entirety of our preaching apostolate. 

For us, preaching encompasses many diverse activities.  We may write books and articles, teach the faith (convert classes, adult religious education, theology, religion, etc), develop audio and video resources for the church, Chaplaincies (hospitals, prisons, etc), develop and staff Anglican Student Centers at universities and colleges.  Develop and staff schools that meet needs of the church (parochial schools, colleges and seminaries), develop alternative education delivery systems such as audio/video or correspondence courses that will support the educational needs of the church (adult Christian education programs), development of children's educational programs and materials (Sunday School Curriculum's, Catechisms, audio and video resources for parish use).  The apostolate is only limited by the needs of the Church and the abilities of the members of the Order.

One of the peculiarities of the Anglican Dominicans is the fact that we have both married and celibate friars.  The fact that both married and celibate men are called to religious vocation is a fact and one that, historically, has been met by Oblates and Tertiaries.  At one time Oblates and Tertiaries were habited and lived the rule slightly modified for their status.  Today the vocation of a tertiary is not the same as that of a friar but they wear only a small scapular and they have their own rule.  Married men with a religious vocation have, more recently, been limited to oblate or tertiary status.

We believe that these are separate vocations and that a man with a vocation as a Dominican friar should not be excluded solely by marital status.