The Dominican Family

As well as the friars, there are several other branches of the Order, which together with the friars are known as the Dominican Family. "All the groups composing the Dominican family share its common vocation and each in its own special way serves the mission of the Order in the world." (LCO 141)

• "The nuns of the Order, according to the plan of St. Dominic, dedicate themselves totally in their contemplative religious life to communion with God, whereby the apostolic life of the brethren as well as of the other groups of the Dominican family is nourished while the nuns provide a witness of prayer, silence, and penance. The close spiritual communion of the nuns with the friars is strengthened by a juridic bond by which the nuns are united with the Order in the manner prescribed in their own constitutions." (LCO 142-143)

• "Imbued with the spirit and zeal of Saint Dominic, the sisters give witness to the gospel in word and in work, joined with the brethren in close communion in building up the people of God." (LCO 144)

  The sisters are organised in autonomous congregations, of which three are based in Great Britain:

  • English Dominican Congregation of St Catherine of Siena (Generalate: St Dominic's Convent, Stone, Staffs, ST15 8EN)
  • Dominican Sisters of St Catherine of Siena, Bushey, United Kingdom and South Africa (Generalate: Rosary Priory, Elstree Road, Bushey, Herts, WD2 3RJ)
  • Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, St Dominic's Priory, Shirley Holms Road, Lymington, Hants, SO41 8NH

  The congregations of King Williams Town, Oakford, Harare, Malta and of the Presentation also have sisters in Great Britain.

• "The members of secular institutes, which are affiliated with the Order, embrace profession of the evangelical counsels in the world according to the spirit of St. Dominic." (LCO 147)

• "Lay fraternities of the Order are associations of lay people who, joined together by a special gift of God in the apostolic spirit of St. Dominic, 'aim to achieve their salvation and that of others' by profession of the evangelical life according to the form of living in the world adapted by the Order and formally approved for their state of life." (LCO 149.I)

• "There are also fraternities of priests who strive to develop their life and ministry in the spirit of St. Dominic." (LCO 149.II)

• "The associations attached to the Order, by fostering the renewal of Christian life in the people of God, serve the spiritual welfare of the faithful and, at the same time, provide the Order with collaboration in some particular apostolate." (LCO 152) The associations of the Order include those of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, and of the Most Holy Rosary.

Quotations are taken from the Book of Constitutions and Ordinations of the Friars of the Order of Preachers (LCO).