Master of the Order of Preachers celebrates Jubilee Mass at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church

The culmination of St. Dominic Catholic Church’s 150 year Jubilee celebration occurred on August 4 with a special parish-wide Mass celebrated by the Master of the Order of Preachers, Father Gerard Timoner, with Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone sitting in choir. Dominican Father Timone made a special trip from Rome for the event.

In addition to more than 1,000 parishioners, also attending were several orders of Dominican sisters serving in the Archdiocese along with members of the Dominican friars, including Dominican Father Christopher Fadok, prior provincial of the Western Dominican Province. Celebrating the parish’s patron, St. Dominic, the Mass included specially written sacred music for the occasion.

In his homily, Father Timoner spoke on the Dominican vocation that is at the heart of St. Dominic’s mission in San Francisco: to “radiate the joy of the Gospel in the heart of the city.” This vocation, according to Father Timoner, is a lunar ministry—comparing the moon’s reflection of light of the sun to the faithful’s call to reflect the light of Christ in a world so often in darkness. There are times in our lives that we fully reflect God’s light—like the full moon phase of the month—but there are times when the light is eclipsed or only partially in view. The Dominican vocation and spirit seeks to remove those obstacles to allow the faithful to continue reflecting God’s love and joy.

The Mass concludes the year-long celebration at the parish, which included the opening of a Holy Door with permission of the Vatican for the faithful to receive a plenary indulgence, Catholic speakers such as Scott Hahn and Chris Stefanick, and a Gala on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Photos: Elle Ornido