REQUIREMENTS
& ENTRANCE PROCEDURE

If you think you may have a Dominican vocation, the next step is to contact the Promotor of Vocations who will interview you and tell you the requirements which must be fulfilled before applying to the Order.

Requirements

Candidates must be active Catholics, sincere in their religious convictions and have good moral habits. Their intention must spring from a whole-hearted intention of devoting their lives and labours to God's service as priests or brothers. And they must be physically and intellectually capable.

The Dominican Order welcomes university degrees and other qualifications, especially from older applicants. The minimum academic requirements for entrance into the novitiate are the same as those required for University entrance, i.e. 5 credits including English. Good credits obtained at an early age without many resits is an asset that will be considered. A good command of English is essential. The interview includes an English test.

Steps on the way

To be admitted, an applicant must pass through the following steps: (1) application, (2) submission of documents and autobiography, (3) visit by a designated Dominican, (4) interview, (5) acceptance by the Provincial. An evaluation and selection is made at each step.

The Dominican formation programme

After admission, the candidate begins a 6 month pre-novitiate programme. There is a break after that and, if approved, the candidate returns for a year-long novitiate. Under the direction of the Novice Master, the novices are introduced to the Dominican way of life as they try to live it and study it. This is a year of prayer, study and discernment of one's vocation.

At the end of the novitiate the novice may be approved for temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The Dominicans students now begin the B.A. philosophy programme at the Dominican Institute (in affiliation with the University of Ibadan). After five years in temporary vows the student may be approved for solemn (final) vows. In the meantime they would have begun four more years' study of theology (culminating with an M.A. from Duquesne University). Usually ordination follows upon completion of this time of study. From entrance to the novitiate until ordination at least nine years pass.

A self-test

  1. If you think you have a Dominican vocation, pray about it and seek the direction of a Dominican priest or brother. As a simple test, ask yourself the following questions, answering "yes" or "no".
  2. I desire to live my Christian life in a community of brothers who share all things in common.
  3. I desire to live the vow of poverty and renounce all personal possessions (house, car, radio etc.) and endeavour to live simple life-style, identifying more with the poor in society than the rich.
  4. With the help of God's grace, I have been living a chaste life, abstaining from sex, and believe I can live a life of consecrated celibacy.
  5. I desire a regular and disciplined prayer life where I pray with my brothers at appointed times during the day. I also desire to spend time alone in quiet prayer.
  6. I have a great desire to study —especially God's Word. I am the kind of person who enjoys reading and learning .
  7. I am attracted to the ministry of preaching, of sharing the Word of God with others. I am anxious to bring others to a fuller knowledge of Christ.
  8. I am able to live easily with all kinds of people in an international community (different tribal groups, from different countries etc.), and can accept those who hold different opinions than myself.
  9. I am willing. to let my life be governed by a religious superior, and would move to a new place for my ministry if he so decided.
  10. I am willing to live away from my family in another part of Nigeria, or even in a foreign country as a missionary.
  11. I am willing and able to undergo the required nine years of basic formation for Dominicans.

If you have answered "yes" to all these questions, then perhaps you should click HERE to apply on-line, or write to:
The Promotor of Vocations
Dominicans
St. Dominic's Priory
P.O. Box 44
Yaba, Lagos State
Nigeria
vocations@nig.op.org 		The Promotor of Vocations
Dominicans
St. Albert the Great House
24 Enugu-Ozalla St., Odime Layout
Obosi, Onitsha
Anambra State
Nigeria 		The Promotor of vocations
Dominicans
St. Martin de Porres House
St. Anthony Catholic Church
P.O. Box SE 772, Bremang
Suame-Kumasi
Ashanti Region
Ghana
mosesop@yahoo.co.uk

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AN OLD DOMINICAN BLESSING

May God the Father bless us.
May God the Son heal us.
May God the Holy Spirit enlighten us, and give us
eyes to see with,
ears to hear with,
hands to do the work of God with,
feet to walk with,
a mouth to preach the word of salvation with,
and the angel of peace to watch over us
and lead us at last, by our Lord's gift,
to the Kingdom. Amen

(13th Century)