The Dominican Way

           It has been a long time since I last posted in this blog of mine. A lot has happened. I already left the Third Order Carmelites last February of this month. I wrote them a letter saying I will not continue my formation and that I will not apply to the Postulancy. To be honest my heart is not 100% pure in joining the Carmelites, a part of me just thinks how lovely it would be if I am a part of a religious order. I also experienced stress in the Carmelite community because one of the head is insisting that I attend physically even if I already explained I cannot due to several factors. Plus, my husband does not approve me of joining because he said I should focus more on our family and with our toddler. I admit I already felt relieved when the The Third Order Carmelites sent me my letter of release from the order. 

Now, I am free. I am still restless. That's when started seeking other religious orders and I came back to the Franciscans, I emailed a few religious orders and only one replied, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA), I was accepted a few weeks ago even if I am outside the USA, and I emailed a lot of Dominican religious order that has an associate but I only got 1 reply and that is from the Adrian Dominicana. I submitted a letter of withdrawal to the FSPA today. I feel a bit bad because the director there, Michael Krueger was so kind to welcome me and accept even if I am from the overseas. This is my second time in joining the Franciscans, I don't but I just don't feel at home with them. 

While my application to the Adrian Dominican is not very clear. I was referred to a Dominican Sisters here in Pampanga whom the work closely. I have not heard any news from one of the Sisters whom I spoke with regarding my joining the associates. 

This month my husband accompanied me to the Sto. Domingo church in Quezon City, the same city where our office is located. It has been a long time since my last visit there. Such fond memories because eversince I was young we would hear mass here every fiesta and I would look at the different Dominican Saints and blessed on the canozzas at the church's hallways. The most saint that I am struck with or that has caught my attention is Bl. Margaret of Castello, now she is a saint. I want to add that I am familiar with Saint Martin de Porres. The number and month of St. Martin de Porres is similar to mine. 

I don't know what the future holds for me. I now entrust it to God and I pray for St. Dominic de Guzman to help me be a part of the Dominican order. I also thank the Holy Spirit for sending Bishop Napoleon Sipalay, Jr., O.P to help me and that Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, O.P will be my spiritual counsel if its God's will. 

Another interesting  event is that I was born at the University of Santo Tomas hospital. Firstly, I thank God for my late aunt who is an alumni of UST because of her my mom was sent to UST hospital and I also thank God for sending skilled doctor because I was a premature baby and according to the story that I heard I died already but I was just resuscitated. There are no accidents in life. Everything happened this or that way because it was meant to be. If God wants me to walk the Dominican way so be it!

Aquinas 101 - Thomistic Institute

      I have always been interested in studying things pertaining to God. I almost took up a Master's degree before at Maryhill School of Theology, but I did not pursue it. When I was still a student, I always look forward to our Religion class, not all students are very fond of it, I am an exception he!he!he!

Studying Distance Learning is expensive. I took two courses in English before, at Thompson Education Direct formerly known as International Correspondence School. Right now, I want to study Theology, apologetics, anything about the Roman Catholic faith. I asked a group online, Catholic Apologetics Geek, if they can recommend a free Distance learning course. They suggested a few, and one that caught my interest is the free course by the Dominicans from the Thomistic Institute. I enrolled within the same day, and I started my first course this week. I studied about the life of St. Thomas Aquinas. I also like the course offered by St. Paul website, the one by Dr. Scott Hahn, but it is not entirely free. 

I chose this Distance learning course because, I admire the Dominicans. As a teenager, and up to now I always listen to their 7 Last Words sermon, and my family is devotee of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. We also hear mass at Sto. Domingo church on feast days. 

I have two days off since the pandemic, and I like to partly spend it in studying. During these difficult times our mind can be polluted with negative thoughts, as St. Paul has mentioned in his letter to the Philippians chapter 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, think of all these things."