The future is for those who dare to hope  

Archbishop Emeritus Robert Rivas OP reflects on the April 27-29 visit of Fr Gerard Francisco Timoner III OP, Master of the Order of Preachers

The visit of the Master of the Dominican Order to the brethren in Trinidad and Tobago was a whirlwind visit packed with excitement and expectation.

He came. He saw. He encouraged us, the Dominican family—priests, sisters, and laity—to march ahead with confidence and hope. His visit was very timely in a Jubilee Year of Hope.

When a Master, our elected leader, whose term of office lasts nine years, visits a Province, or a Mission, as it was in our case, his presence is like the presence of St Dominic, our holy founder, among us.

We revere him and hold him in highest esteem. Because of his role as leader, he has a global vision of the Order and is responsible for visiting all the Provinces, which are regional entities of the Friars Preachers, during his tenure.

In the Order there are 6,500 priests and brothers of which over 4,000 are priests. There are 2,500 contemplative nuns, over 21,000 Dominican Sisters of Apostolic Life and thousands of Dominican laity affiliated to the Order throughout the world. We are a big family and yet one of our major concerns today is a scarcity of vocations.

This has impacted us in Trinidad, leading to the closure of Rosary Monastery in St Ann’s, where the Monastery was unable to recruit women and sustain the need for vocations to the cloistered, contemplative life.

For the Master’s visit, the Mission in Trinidad, in collaboration with the Dominican Sisters and Laity, pulled out all the stops! We wanted his visit to be memorable and fruitful.

He had the cultural experience of playing a few notes on the tenor pan instructed by Johann Chuckaree, an outstanding pannist. He got a taste of our multiracial society, listened to the preaching of some of the brethren, experienced our parish liturgies and would certainly agree that Trinidad’s hospitality was second to none!

He was tickled by our concept of a light meal which he was promised on the day he arrived, and which turned out to be a banquet! So, every time he was invited to a meal during his stay he would smile and ask, “Is this going to be a light meal?”

He met family and friends of our Dominican friars, and the Dominican family was privileged to have quality time with him at Rosary Monastery, where he was the chief celebrant at a Mass of Thanksgiving followed by lunch (not a light meal!) on the grounds of the Monastery.

The unveiling of a poem, by your humble servant, titled DOMINIC and dedicated to Fr Gerard Francisco Timoner III OP, 88th Master of the Order and 87th successor of St Dominic, was one of the highlights of his visit.

After unveiling the epic poem, he called us to stand with him for a photo on the stairs at St Finbar’s, House of the Immaculate Conception. The Brothers and Sisters spontaneously began singing their song to St Dominic which became contagious, and to me, was the kairos moment of the visit: “O Father Dominic, fulfil your promises and help us, help us by your prayers… Increase the faith and fervour of all the preaching brothers, mercy implore on preaching family…”

We are young, we are few but we are men and women of faith daring to believe, hope and go where the Spirit beckons!

It was a powerful moment of grace when joy exploded, hope was splendid, the spirit of Dominic was alive and signalled a fruitful visit ahead for the Master. He was happy and we were even happier.

Dominic was in our midst, and he was embracing his sons and daughters, his family, with vitality and spirits were high. It was awesome. All those invited to the first evening with him shared our joy and were happy to be part of our family too. That was Sunday, April 27, the day before our National Elections.