From the Chaplain

From the Chaplain

This week, we held the annual Dominican Formation Week for staff at Blackfriars Priory School. Each year, the School gives about 40 staff the opportunity to take a day out of their busy schedules to dedicate some time to formation in the Dominican tradition of School. This year, the sessions took place over four days at The Monastery, a Passionist retreat house in Urrbrae, Adelaide (the above photograph is of part of The Monastery’s grounds). Over several years, the intention is that all staff have the opportunity to partake in this formative and reflective occasion.

This year, the presenters were two Dominican friars who currently reside in St Dominic’s Priory, Camberwell, Melbourne. Fr Robert Krishna, born in India, has had a life closely intertwined with universities. He did the bulk of his secular tertiary studies at the University of Sydney, culminating in his attainment of a doctoral degree in the History and Philosophy of Science. After he joined the Order, he studied at Catholic Theological College in East Melbourne, attaining a Master of Theological Studies. He is a solemnly professed friar, ordained a year ago, and is currently the chaplain of Monash University and Mannix College in Clayton, Melbourne.

Br Sebastian Condon grew up in Brisbane. He studied law, and practised as a lawyer, before joining the diocesan seminary of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. After a couple of years there, he discerned a calling to religious life, specifically to the Dominicans. He moved to Melbourne to continue his discernment, and entered the novitiate in mid-2016. After a year in the novitiate in Hong Kong, he was simply professed one year ago. He is continuing his studies for the priesthood at Catholic Theological College, East Melbourne.

The presentations this year focused on the Four Pillars of Dominican life: Prayer, Study, Community and Service. Br Sebastian set the scene with a stimulating talk on the history of the Order in the 13th century. After a brief reflection on the life of St Dominic and the context surrounding his founding of the Order, he detailed the rapid expansion of the Order in this century, including the achievements of such great members as St Albert the Great, patron of Blackfriars Priory School and known as the ‘universal doctor’ of the Church, and St Thomas Aquinas, known as the ‘common doctor’ of the Church. Following this, he gave the opening talk on the first of the pillars: Prayer. It is appropriate that this was the first pillar covered, since, as Br Sebastian emphasised, prayer is the foundation of the other pillars, and even of our life and existence.

These thought-provoking talks were followed by a keen exposition by Fr Robert on the pillar of Study. Due to his vast experience of the university and academic life, he was able to describe with great eloquence the importance of study in the Dominican tradition. He emphasised that it is not a selfish pursuit, advanced by envious competition and having as its goal domination of one’s opponents; on the contrary, it should be characterised by healthy competition in a spirit of charity and a mutual striving for the one truth as its goal.

Br Sebastian then spoke on the pillar of Community, emphasising that the beneficial effects of fraternal correction and collaboration found in a community characterised by the proper spirit foster the growth and maturation of the individual in a most healthy manner. Fr Robert then spoke on the last pillar, that of Service. He explained its foundation by referring to its formulation within the Dominican Order as the pillar of ‘preaching’. This pillar, as Fr Robert expounded with great erudition, is concerned with transmitting the truths discovered and fostered by Prayer, Study and Community to those who have yet to hear the Good News.

Fr Matthew Boland OP

CHAPLAIN