800 YEARS OF PREACHING FOR THE
SALVATION OF SOULS
By Fr. William Garrott, O.P.
As a papal “Missionary of Mercy” during
the Jubilee Year, I’ve seen up close how
our Lord transforms lives through the
preaching of the Gospel. One woman
recently wrote: “I was quite distant
from God. You reined me in with your
preaching. You changed my life at a very
critical time. I never heard Him before
but I have many times since!” The truth
is: only God changes lives. There is only
one Preacher! We friars are Christ’s
instruments together with those who
sustain us by prayer and financial
support.
DONOR BRIAN AND FRAN DAVENPORT
PROFILE By George Cervantes, Assistant Director for Advancement
The Davenports have been faithful
supporters of the PFIC and the
Province of St. Joseph ever since
their son, Br. Thomas Davenport,
O.P., entered the Dominican
Order. We extend our blessings
and gratitude to them and all
our supporters. Your contribution
enables us to form priests capable
of bringing the wisdom of
St. Thomas Aquinas to bear on a
disoriented culture.
Why do you support the PFIC?
When our son, Br. Thomas, decided to
enter the Dominican Order, we knew very
little about the Dominicans. We began
reading about the Order and we were
delighted in meeting many Dominican
priests and brothers during Br. Thomas’s
novice year and later at the PFIC. There
is a fundamental joy and remarkable
charism that all Dominicans have about
their faith and their shared community.
We support the PFIC because it provides
the intellectual, academic, and spiritual
foundations that all the brothers in
formation need to carry out their
ministries as Dominicans.
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How is the education your son is receiving
here preparing him to be a priest?
Understanding the teachings of the
Catholic Church and being able to put
those teachings in context by preaching
and writing are key elements of a PFIC
education. The PFIC academic curriculum
combines the classroom coursework
with practical experience as they
prepare for life after the seminary.
There are opportunities for brothers
to deliver spiritual talks and to
contribute essays on a variety of
faith-related topics to Dominicana
(www.dominicanajournal.org). They are
also assigned to an external ministry each
school term and are sent out in pairs each
summer for ministry experience.
What has been your experience of
Br. Thomas’ teachers and fellow students
at the PFIC?
We enjoy meeting the other student
friars and faculty and seeing the joy that
they have in their lives. Asking, “How did
you meet the Dominicans?” is the best way
to learn of their vocation stories and open
a conversation.
From left: PFIC President Fr. John Langlois, O.P.;
Fran Davenport; Br. Thomas Davenport, O.P.;
Brian Davenport
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Fr. William Garrott, O.P., preaching at Prince of
Peace Parish, Lewiston, Maine
“How beautiful upon the mountains are
the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
announcing peace, bearing good news
(Isaiah 52:7).” St. Dominic made this
verse a living reality at a time when
preaching was rare not only among
unbelievers but among the baptized. He
designed a way of living religious life
that combined living in community with
an active apostolate of preaching for the
salvation of souls. His vision has stood
the test of time—800 years! Wherever
a people lives in darkness, whether in
1216 or 2016, there is need for a preacher
of grace. My own ministry of itinerant
preaching is not done by foot as it was in
the middle ages. I crisscross the United
States in a van with all my musical
equipment and boxes of literature!
Faith & Reason - Volume III, Issue II
My education at the PFIC, which
emphasized Thomistic themes of grace
and providence, remains the foundation
of my preaching and an anchor for
my spiritual life. May the Lord of the
Harvest raise up more preachers with
“feet shod in readiness for the gospel
of peace (Eph 6:15).” May He also bless
those who support us in bringing glad
tidings to new generations!
“My education at the
PFIC, which emphasized
Thomistic themes of grace
and providence, remains
the foundation of my
preaching and an anchor
for my spiritual life.”
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