As friars belong to the Order of Preachers, we take our preaching seriously!  There are annual workshops in preaching and/or opportunities to attend summer institute programs.   There are also required and elective preaching courses offered at our graduate school, the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology.

Training for preaching is an essential part of the formation program.   Non-ordained students preach regularly at Vespers (evening prayer), while the ordained students who are deacons may preach at Mass.  The following policy statement governs the application of the Vatican document, "Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests (August 15, 1997)" to the practice of preaching by non-ordained students[1]:

Non-ordained students are not expected to preach during the time for the homily at Eucharistic liturgies (Instruction, Art.3, nr.1). Non-ordained students may be expected to speak in the following capacities:

1. to give a testimony or explication or instruction at a Eucharistic liturgy where the homily is preached by an ordained minister (Instruction, Art.3, nr.2)
2. to participate in a "dialog" homily at a Eucharistic liturgy (Instruction, Art.3, nr.3)
3. to preach at non-Eucharistic liturgies such as morning prayer, evening prayer, benediction, etc. (Instruction, Art.3, nr.4)

When the number of students in the Studentate is large, and at the discretion of the Student Master, theology students may be expected to give a post-communion reflection at the weekday Mass.  Students may also preach in other contexts considered appropriate by both the local superior and the student.

[1] Student Handbook, 2000.

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