OP? What is that?

When I was a teenager, there was a popular surfing wear brand called 'Ocean Pacific' or OP. In the Philippines, we joke that OP means 'Order of Pogi' or 'Order of the Handsome ones'; my students told me that OP means 'Original Priest'! A few years ago, when I mentioned the Order to some parishioners in Skipton, they asked me if it was a new order... only 800+ years old, I said!!

In fact, O.P. means 'Ordinis Praedicatorum' or Order of Preachers. More commonly, the members of this Order are called Dominicans, after their founder, St Dominic de Guzman. The picture above is a popular symbol of the Order based on a dream that St Dominic's mother, Blessed Jane de Aza had and also a pun on the Latin phrase "Domini canes" which means 'The Dogs of the Lord'.

In just 5 hours I shall be boarding a plane in Singapore and flying 6000 miles to England to undergo interviews and ask for admission as a Novice in the Order of Preachers in England.
I know some of you may be wondering about the Dominicans and these people I want to join in their work of praising, blessing and preaching. The BBC link given below is a good place to start.

In January 2005, the BBC produced an excellent little webpage that explained more about the Dominicans and their life. They are called 'Blackfriars' in England and to find out why, click on the link! Also view the video which is quite evocative and has scenes from Blackfriars, the Oxford hall where Dominicans are trained and study. God willing I shall find a home there too.

Please again, may I ask you all to pray for me in the months ahead. Thank you.

Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic, pray for us all, seekers for Truth.