Dominican House of Studies – Washington, DC (Sunday @ 7:30pm)

February 26th: The Way toward Weeping – Bro. John Baptist Hoang, O.P.
March 4th: The Scourging at the Pillar – Bro. John Sica, O.P.
March 11th: Two Crownings – Bro. Bonaventure Chapman, O.P.
March 18th: The Mystery of Sacrifice – Bro. Dominic Mary Verner, O.P.
March 25th: The Power of the Cross – Bro. Peter Martyr Joseph Yungwirth, O.P.

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St. Dominic’s Parish – Washington, DC (Friday @ 7 pm)

February 24th: The Agony in the Garden – Bro. Clement Dickie, O.P.
March 2nd: And Having Scourged Jesus… – Bro. Thomas Davenport, O.P.
March 9th: Behold the Man, Behold our King – Bro. Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P.
March 16th: The Carrying of the Cross – Bro. Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P.
March 23rd: Crossroads at Calvary – Bro. Philip Neri Reese, O.P.

Download the full schedule

The Way toward Weeping
The Agony in the Garden

Bro. John Baptist Hoang, O.P.

What is sorrow? Is there more to sadness than the shedding of tears? We will explore the essence of agony by meditating on the First Sorrowful Mystery.

The Scourging at the Pillar

Bro. John Sica, O.P.

An image of this mystery prompted St. Teresa of Avila’s conversion. What about the scourging at the pillar made her encounter Christ? And what power does it have to transform us?

Two Crownings
The Crowning with Thorns

Bro. Bonaventure Chapman, O.P.

“Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” Normally applied to Church-State matters, this conference will examine the relationship between Jesus’ Crowning with Thorns and Julius Caesar’s refusal of the crown as told by Shakespeare. The paradox of grace and glory reveals itself in the process of a dramatic re-telling of the two stories and what they mean today.

The Mystery of Sacrifice
Carrying of the Cross

Bro. Dominic Mary Verner, O.P.

Because Christ, our high priest, has offered his perfect sacrifice on Mount Calvary, we are now free from the obligation to offer bloody sacrifices of doves, goats, and bullocks at his altar. One might be tempted to think that the time of sacrifice is now over, when in fact by virtue of our baptism Christ has finally given us the ability to offer a worthy sacrifice and fitting oblation to the God to whom we owe worship.

The Power of the Cross
The Crucifixion

Bro. Peter Martyr Joseph Yungwirth, O.P.

Fasting is supposed to help us live virtuously amidst temptations. Yet, we often find ourselves struggling to persevere in virtue toward the end of Lenten fast. This presentation will present a remedy for this struggle as we look to the Cross and our place beside it.

The Agony in the Garden

Bro. Clement Dickie, O.P.

What is the agony in Gethsemane? Christ three times prays, “Let this cup pass from me,” showing the strength of the human will to live; yet, he accepts in his human nature the divine plan. Through the acceptance, not only does Christ become our savior, but he also shows us how to face suffering for the sake of the Kingdom. We will reflect on this mystery, and use it as our guide for Lent and the whole of the Christian life.

And Having Scourged Jesus…
The Scourging at the Pillar

Bro. Thomas Davenport, O.P.

The scourging at the pillar is one of the more gruesome and seemingly gratuitous scenes in Christ’s Passion. How should we understand the brutal physical torture that Christ underwent, and what particular insight does this mystery offer for our growing closer to Him?

Behold the Man, Behold our King
The Crowning With Thorns

Bro. Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P.

The coronation of Jesus Christ by a jeering crowd of Roman soldiers exposes the mystery, even the scandal of his kingship. Adorned by a crown of thorns, having donned the threadbare cloak of an infantryman and bearing naught but a reed as his scepter, Christ reveals once and for all that he is a different sort of king.

The Carrying of the Cross

Bro. Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P.

The carrying of the cross is addressed briefly in the synoptics as well as in the Gospel of John. There is much to be seen in these short descriptions of the actions of Christ as well as in those of Simon of Cyrene. This talk will also address the connection between the Blessed Virgin Mary and the passion of her Son.

Crossroads at Calvary
The Crucifixion

Bro. Philip Neri Reese, O.P.

No moment is more critical. No decision is more crucial. Here at the foot of the cross, we must make a choice. Is this the Son of God?

The Priory will host another vocations weekend at the end of March; to learn more about Dominican vocations to the priesthood and cooperator brotherhood, visit our Provincial vocations page or the Vocation Director’s Blog.

Saturday, January 21 — 7 pm: Holy Hour for Life (with Night Prayer)

Sunday, January 22 — Night Prayer (in DHS Chapel, 15 minutes after the end of the Shrine’s Vigil for Life)

Monday, January 23 — 6 am (at the Shrine): Holy Hour, including Morning Prayer and Preaching

Monday, January 23 — 7:30 am (DHS Chapel) Morning Prayer, 8:00 am Mass

This Advent, join the Dominican communities at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish (Charlottesville, VA), St. Dominic’s Parish (Washington, DC), and the Dominican House of Studies (Washington, DC) to hear conferences given by student brothers of the province in preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas.

Each week during the season of Advent, each location will feature one of the talks described below:

Faith and the Birth of Truth

Br. Peter Martyr Joseph Yungwirth, O.P.

In a culture of skepticism and rationalism, the truth of Christ’s existence is not only being challenged with regard to its historicity, but also its significance is being challenged spiritually. However, the Church continues to proclaim the Truth who became incarnate. This presentation seeks to bring out the relevance of faith in God who was born among us.

Life is Worth Living: Our Hope in Jesus

Br. Vincent Ferrer Bagan, O.P.

St. Peter tells us, “Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). God, our hope, has come to save us; he was born as a little child in Bethlehem in order to become the Savior of the World on Calvary. With the help of the Holy Scriptures, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Servant of God Fulton Sheen, we will examine the relationship between the Birth of Christ and our hope in him as our Savior, so that we might be ready to give an account of that hope to the world as instruments of his saving message.

Love of the Flesh

Br. John Baptist Hoang, O.P.

The “spirit of Christmas” is about giving and good cheer. Why do we have to have a special celebration once a year? Why do people stress about Christmas shopping? What is the spirit of Christmas? This presentation will offer answers for the modern person from a “bodily” perspective.

Schedules for the Conferences

Schedule for Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC

Life is Worth Living: Our Hope in Jesus – December 4, 7:15 pm

Love of the Flesh – December 11, 7:15 pm

Faith and the Birth of Truth – December 18, 7:15 pm

PDF of schedule

Schedule for St. Dominic’s Parish in Washington, DC

Faith and the Birth of Truth – December 4, 3:00 pm

Life is Worth Living: Our Hope in Jesus- December 11, 3:00 pm

Love of the Flesh – December 18, 3:00 pm

PDF of schedule

Schedule for St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlottesville, VA

Love of the Flesh – December 4, 10:15 am

Faith and the Birth of Truth – December 11, 10:15 am

Life is Worth Living: Our Hope in Jesus – December 18, 10:15 am

PDF of schedule