The Constitutions of the Order of Friars Preachers remind us that “Saint Dominic and his brothers imitated the apostles who, without gold, silver or money, proclaimed the kingdom of God. Conscious of the demands of the apostolate of their time, they decided not to have any possessions, neither income nor money, but to beg their daily bread while preaching the gospel. This was the apostolic poverty at the beginning of the Order, the spirit of which should animate us, in forms adapted to different times and places” (LCO, 30).

From the very beginning, then, Dominican friars were mendicants, that is, beggars. 800 years later, Dominican friars are still mendicants. We beg not just for Truth through assiduous prayer and study, but we beg too for the practical things we need to survive - food, shelter, clothes - and we rely on the goodness and generosity of our benefactors. We also rely on benefactions to help us with the development of our apostolic work, for preaching and the salvation of souls.

Many of our brothers earn money through teaching, writing, giving talks and retreat and chaplaincy jobs. Nevertheless, we still depend on the donations that we receive from all people of goodwill for the continuation and growth of our life and mission.

Our mendicancy is a reminder that our life as religious is in God’s care; we rely on His providence and we “put our treasure in the kingdom of God’s justice, with a lively trust in the Lord” (LCO, 31 § 2). Our poverty also places us in solidarity with the poor, and we strive to live a simple and frugal life, founded on the Gospel. Our dependence on the people of God also places us in a vital symbiotic relationship with those whom we serve. As we labour to give them the fruit of our contemplation, their support enables them to collaborate in our work and to share in the mission of the Order. Thus, we come to appreciate that everything we have comes from God; nothing we have is our own but is received as a gift from others.

Therefore, everything we have is to be given back to God in thanksgiving. Our response to God’s providence, to the benefactions, donations and prayers that we receive, is to praise, to bless and to preach Jesus Christ, who is our treasure.

So, will you help us to do this with and for you?

If you prefer to make a donation by cheque, please make cheques payable to ‘The Dominican Council’, and post it to: The Provincial Bursar, Blackfriars, St Giles’, Oxford OX1 3LY, U.K.

Following the information in the box on the right, you may wish to indicate which purpose your cheque donation is for, and whether you would like us to treat your cheque donation as Gift Aid.

View our Report to the Charity Commission