DOMINICAN LAITY Newsletter #11 May 2010 Dear members of the New Zealand Dominican family FIRST NATIONAL GATHERING OF LAY DOMINICANS On 1-2 May, nineteen lay Dominicans from all around New Zealand gathered at the Home of Compassion in Island Bay, Wellington to discuss establishing a lay branch of the Dominican family in New Zealand. With pleasure, we welcomed Srs Judith McGinley and Margaret Butler representing the sisters, and (on Sunday) Bros Peter Murnane and Kevin Toomey from the friars. It was a great venue for the occasion. What used to be the hospital is a most comfortable centre, the food (including the vegetables produced by the amazing 88-year-old Sister Loyola, New Zealand Gardener of the Year) superb, and the hospitality all you might expect from Sr Suzanne Aubert’s Sisters of Compassion. And we met knowing that we had the prayerful support of so many people, both in New Zealand and abroad, including a graceful letter from Fr David Kammler, Promoter General of the Dominican Laity, based in Rome. From the beginning, it was clear that there was a passion for the Dominican heritage and an enthusiasm for bringing the gifts of Dominic and Catherine to New Zealand. From born-and-bred Dominicans to newcomers captured by the potential offered by the Four Pillars, all showed a deep commitment to the concept of a lay branch of the family in New Zealand. Comments heard included: There are many vocations – let’s treasure our diversity We need to be grounded in prayer – contemplation
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