Our Story
- St Dominic -

Dominic Guzman was born in Calaruega, Northern Spain around 1170. He was educated for the priesthood and became a Canon of the Cathedral at Osma. He later became an itinerant preacher, and soon other men joined him in this ministry.

In 1206 at Prouilhe, near Toulouse in France, Dominic established a community of women who also shared his vision.

In 1215 The Order of Friars Preachers was approved under Pope Honorius III.

Since the time of St Dominic, more than 800 years ago, Dominicans have been living and sharing the message of the Gospel. Today thousands of nuns, sisters, priests, brothers, associates and laity serve in more than 100 countries around the globe.

This is the earliest known painting of Dominic.
It is in Bologna, Italy.

This, then, was Dominic, his signature
Barely visible on the scrolls of history;
A trace of a smile still lingers over the vineyards
Where they tried to kill him
But found death died in his eagerness to die.
He founded an Order, they say.
Say rather:  friended.
He was their friend, and so
At last, in spite of themselves, they came.
He gave them an Order to found.
Such a man was Dominic,
Messenger of God’s love, a carrier
Of God’s infinite pain and hope,
A hurricane and a haven,
Hurling torrents of peace through the civilized corridors
Of comfortable half truths
To dwellers in ancient darkness long familiar,
A disturbing possibility of day.
Pray, pray for us,
Bearer of the torch.
                                                     Simon Tugwell OP