Thursday evening, August 30, 2001, was a historic day for the Western Dominican Province and for the Vietnamese Vicariate in Western Canada. At 7:30 PM, during the singing of Compline (Night Prayer), eleven young men received the Dominican Habit and began their novitiate as Dominican Friars. Eight of the new novices belong to the Western Dominican Province while three of the novices belong to the Vietnamese Vicariate in Western Canada. For the next year they will study Dominican History and the traditions of the both the whole Order and our own Western Province and that of the Vietnamese Vicariate in Canada. They will also study prayer and spirituality, the Liturgy and the Constitutions of the Order, and later in the late Winter and early Spring, they will visit most of the Province on the "Province Tour." A year from now, they will make their First Profession of Vows and begin their academic studies leading to ordination as priests or some other ministry as Cooperator Brothers. Our prayers are with these fine young men on the journey they have begun!

This special event is not one that directly touches the life of Holy Rosary Parish. However, at some point in the future these young friars may be assigned to our parish as a priest or a brother. One of them might even become the pastor of Holy Rosary! Therefore, your prayers for God's blessing on their Dominican Life will be appreciated.

We also welcome to our Virtual Parish's Parish Photo Albums Dominican Friars of the Western Province who were not able to be present for this Vestition Ceremony but want to be a part of this historic event. You are most welcome and we hope that you will visit us often!