Dominican Laity
From the earliest days of the order, there have been laymen and women who’ve felt drawn to the preaching mission. Perhaps the most well known lay Dominican is St. Catherine of Siena, who led an important reform movement in 13th century and is one of three women recognized as a doctor of the church. Dominican lay chapters have officially been under the jurisdiction of the Friars since 1285. Like other members of the order, the laity make a permanent 
commitment, in the form of canonically recognized promises, to fulfill their obligations of prayer and service as members of the Order of Preachers. They preach the gospel in a way that is consistent with their way of life as married or single baptized members of the Catholic Church. Chapters of Dominican Laity meet all over the world, including in Springfield, Ill., where the first recorded lay profession ceremony in took place in 1893, the year the sisters moved from Jacksonville, Ill.
Adapted from "Varieties of Dominican Life," Just WORDS, vol. 3, no. 4, Fall 2003.
