CHARLOTTE — During a Mass offered Sept. 30 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Mark Dorsett and Matthew Dimock of St. Ann Parish and Sylvia Haddar of St. Matthew Parish were received as candidates in the Fraternal Order of Lay Dominicans, advancing from an initial inquiry year to begin the second year of a five-year formation program.
Also, Vicki Baptista and Mitzi Fields of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and Steven J.R. Richardson of St. Ann Parish advanced from candidate status by making a three-year temporary promise in the order.
By making a perpetual promise, Sandra Coughlin of St. Luke Parish in Mint Hill marked her completion of the five-year program and initiated her lifetime commitment as the fifth perpetual member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Lay Dominican Group.
Father Matthew Kauth, spiritual advisor of the group and a member of the Dominican Priestly Fraternity, celebrated the Mass Sept. 30, the feast of St. Jerome. Group President Tom Mathis of St. Ann Parish and Vice President Dan Lucero of St. Matthew Parish welcomed the eight advancements.
The Charlotte Lay Dominican Group, founded in 2009 by Mary Snow and the late Dr. Jeanne Hicks, is affiliated with the Southern Province of St. Martin de Porres, one of four Dominican provinces in the United States. With five perpetual promised members, the group can now apply for advancement in the province to chapter status.
The Dominicans were founded in 1216 by St. Dominic Guzman. Today the Dominican family in the U.S. includes four provinces of friars, 18 monasteries of contemplative nuns, more than 30 congregations of sisters of apostolic life and approximately 6,000 Dominican laity (formerly called the Third Order).
Practicing Catholics over the age of 18 who wish to learn more about the Dominican family are welcome to attend inquiry classes, offered at 8 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte.
— Photo provided by Sandra W. Coughlin