VATICAN CITY, AUG. 17, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II sent his encouragement to the Dominican religious at the close of the general chapter of the definers of their order, held for the first time in Poland.
Presided over by the master of the Order of Preachers, Father Carlos Azpíroz Acosta, the meeting was held in Krakow at the Convent of the Most Holy Trinity, which houses the tomb of St. Jacinto, first Polish Dominican. The meeting opened July 27 and ended today.
In a message signed by Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute of the Vatican Secretariat of State, the Pope encouraged the continuation of the Dominicans’ apostolic activity, always «intimately linked to the ‘ministry of thought’ that is expressed in profound study of the different realms of science and in dialogue with the latter in the field of philosophy and theology.»
This will allow the generations of our century to «drink from the sources of authentic wisdom and knowledge,» as well as "to assume the responsibility to struggle for the dignity of the human person in the aspects of his individual or social life,» the Pope added.
The definers’ chapter, which differs from the general chapter and the provincials’ chapter, brought together some 80 religious.
Each of the order’s entities — 38 provinces, two subprovinces and nine general vicariates — elected a delegate, to whom were added delegates elected by some regional and provincial vicariates and envoys of the master. These latter comprised lay Dominicans, nuns, apostolic women religious and curial assistants.
The working sessions consisted of study groups that addressed issues such as preaching in relation to the new technologies and languages; intellectual life; communal life; and vocation and formation.
For more information, see www.krakow2004.dominikanie.pl.
