Order of Preachers

As Master of the Order (2001-2010), friar Carlos Azpiroz Costa O.P., reminded the whole Order of Preachers in the following words: "The Order was born as a Family "thus, we belong to the Dominican family: friars (priest and brothers), nuns (contemplative), lay fraternities of St Dominic, priestly fraternities of St. Dominic, congregations of sisters of apostolic life, secular institutes and the Dominican youth movement" as if arising from a tree planted beside living fountains, the branches of the Dominican Family are numerous. Each one has its own character, its special status, its autonomy. However, since all participate in the charism of Saint Dominic, they share the very same vocation to be preachers in the Church." ~ Acts of the General Chapter of Friars (Mexico, 1992).

The Dominican Family's common purpose is to communicate the love of God to all people, as preachers of the Catholic tradition. Each branch of preachers determines how they shall preach the Good News of Christ in their time and place. So, all Dominican preachers are in mission together. Each of us joins the branch of the Dominican Family as one feels called.

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"Contemplari et contemplata aliis tradere”

The Dominican Family within the Province of St. Joseph the Worker, Nigeria and Ghana consist of all the groups mentioned. Together, we share in the wider Dominican Family on the continent of Africa; the Province of St Augustine (West Africa) and Province of St Charles Lwanga and Companion (Equatorial Africa), Vice Province of St Pius V, (D.R. of Congo), Vice Province of Southern Africa, Provincial Vicariate of Rwanda & Burundi of the Province of St Dominic in Canada, Provincial Vicariate of Eastern Africa of the Province of St Joseph in the U.S.A., Provincial Vicariate of Angola of the Province of Portugal, through collaboration, with the Dominican Contemplative Nuns, Dominican Apostolic Sisters, the Priestly Fraternities, the Dominican Laity, Dominican Youth Movement and other Associations; parishes, universities and institutes, primary and secondary schools, hospitals and clinics, and chaplaincies.

Dominican Family

Dominican Contemplative Nuns

Dominican laity

Dominican Priestly Fraternity of St. Dominic

Dominican Young Hearts Movement, Nigeria

Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Gusau Nigeria

Dominican Sisters of St Catherine of Siena Nigeria

Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii

MASTER GENERAL OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS

Gerard Francisco Parco Timoner III

The 88th Master of the Order and 87th successor of Saint Dominic

On July 13, 2019, the Order of Preachers welcomed friar Gerard Francisco Parco Timoner III, O.P., the 87th successor of St. Dominic de Guzman, a son of the Dominican Province of the Philippines during the Elective General Chapter the Capitular Friars elected him in Bien Hoa in Vietnam. The Master is elected for a nine-year term in an Elective General Chapter; like all the brothers he is subject to the General Chapter as the highest authority in the Order, and must obey its directions. The General Chapter of the Order comprises 127 delegates from all the continents. Prior Provincials are members of an Elective Chapter and also the Delegates elected by the friars themselves according to the democratic tradition of the Dominican Order.

The General Chapter, the sovereign governing body, gives the elected Master his mandate and provides the Order with some important guidelines on what is expected to be put into practice during his term of office until the next General Chapter. There are three distinctive General Chapters: the General Chapters of ‘diffinitors’ 2022, (Province of Mexico in Tultenango), General Chapters of ‘priors provincial’ 2025 in (Province of Poland in Krakow), and the General Chapters of ‘priors provincial' and 'diffinitors’ 2028 which is an Elective General Chapter for a new master general for the Order respectively. Today friars are present in 38 provinces and 5 vice provinces. Of these provinces 3 are in Africa, 5 in Asia-Pacific, 20 are in Europe (9 in Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Bohemia, Croatia, Malta, and Slovakia; 11 in Northwestern Europe, Canada, and Poland), 6 in Latin America and the Caribbean and 4 are in the United States of America. Of the six vice provinces, 1 are in Africa, 2 in Asia-Pacific, and 2 in Latin America and the Caribbean. Ten provinces have 16 provincial vicariates which are present in Africa (3), Asia-Pacific (4), Europe-Canada (6), and Latin America (4).

OUR PRIOR PROVINCIAL -
Rev. Father Modestus Ngwu, O.P.
PROVINCE OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

At the Seventh Elective Chapter of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph the Worker, Nigeria and Ghana held at the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas in Ibadan to decide the future direction of the Province and to elect its officials. On the 27th of July 2021, the friars elected Brother Modestus Ngwu, O.P., as Prior Provincial for a four-year term (2021-2025). He has been confirmed in office by the Master of the Order, Gerard Timoner III, O.P., Br. Modestus accepted the election and made the Profession of Faith.

Born on 18 July 1970 to Mr. Callistus Ngwu and Mrs. Roseline Ngwu, Br. Modestus entered the Order in 1994 and made his first religious profession in 1995. He completed his institutional studies at the Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Ibadan and was ordained to the priesthood on 11 September 2004.

He held the following offices in the Province and the Church: Associate Pastor of St. Paul Parish in Oyigbo, Nigeria, from 2004 to 2009; Parochial Vicar of St. Augustine Parish in Humboldt, Canada, from 2009 to 2010; Parish Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Watson, Canada, from 2010 to 2013; Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Fox Valley, from 2013 to 2016, and of Bishop Murray High School in Saskatoon, from 2013 to 2015; Chaplain of Holy Cross High School in Saskatoon, from 2013 to 2015; Chaplain of Bethlehem Catholic High School in Saskatoon, from 2015 to 2016, and the Regional Psychiatric Center in Saskatoon, from 2014 to 2016; Chaplain Residency, Clinical Pastoral Education, Hershey Medical Center, PA, USA, from 2017 to 2018; and Supervisory Chaplain for the Catholic Services at the Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, from 2016 until his election as Prior Provincial.

Brother Modestus loves to contemplate the beauty of God in nature. He believes that nature is constantly revealing a mystery beyond itself. His published work, “The Splendor of the Prairies”, received praises in Saskatoon, Canada. Presently in the diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he loves and enjoys his ministry at the hospital as a chaplain. Because of his encounters with patients, he sees Jesus in the life of every patient admitted to the hospital. He shares their fears, anxieties, pains, and brokenness. These experiences gave birth to his second book, “Grace in Horror”, which has five-star reviews on Amazon. This book is a recapitulation of his experiences – standing at the bedside of so many patients, listening to them and their family members. Though the experience of suffering is not pleasant, Br. Modestus finds the beauty and the indestructibility of God’s love and Presence in the life of every human being in that sacred time of vulnerability.

Brother Modestus will be guided in his service as Provincial by his love for the brotherhood, his friendliness, his simplicity and spontaneity in service, and his compassion for the weak and vulnerable. Trusting in God’s mercy and strength, we recommend to your prayers our brother Modestus’ service to the Order and the Church.

IN 1216 THE ORDER IS APPROVED

On December 22, 1216, Honorius, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to the beloved sons Dominic, prior of St. Romanus in Toulouse, and his brethren, both present and future, professed in the regular life. In perpetuum formally approved the new Order, and Dominic served as the Master or superior of the entire Order until his death in 1221. " Honorius addressed its members as "Christ's unconquered athletes, armed with the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. Fearing not those who can kill the body, you valiantly thrust the word of God which is keener than any two-edged sword, against the foes of the faith."