Our
Confraternities
The Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary
The Dominican Order has a long history of promoting the rosary as a path to growth in holiness. One of the ways that the Order promotes the rosary is through the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary, which is an association of Catholics committed to praying the rosary. The Confraternity was established in the 15th century. It is what is known in canon law as an “association of Christ’s faithful”. The Confraternity is governed by the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Leo XIII, Ubi Primum, given in 1898.
What does the Confraternity do?
Members of the Confraternity are obliged to pray the fifteen Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries of the Rosary once a week. This may be done all at the one time, or spread out through the week. The obligation to pray the fifteen mysteries does not bind under pain of sin. Whenever members fulfil their obligation to recite the Rosary, they should include in their intentions all of the members of the Confraternity. This intention may be fulfilled by praying the Confraternity prayer. Members are very welcome to pray the Luminous mysteries of the Rosary, however there is no obligation to do so. The rules of the Confraternity have not been amended since Pope John Paul II introduced the Luminous mysteries in 2000.
How do I join?
You can join the Confraternity by filling out the form below. You will then be formally enrolled by the Rosary Promoter, who will inform you when you have been enrolled.
What does it cost to join?
It is absolutely free to join the Confraternity. Pope Leo required that people should be permitted to join the Confraternity without the need for any subscription or payment.
Contact details
The promoter of the rosary for the Province of the Assumption is Fr Mannes Tellis. You can join the Confraternity by completing the form below. You will then be formally enrolled by the Rosary Promoter, who will inform you when you have been enrolled. Please note that more than one application from the same email address will not be accepted. Also please note that we are unable to accept applications from outside the Province of the Assumption (Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea). Hard copy applications are available from the Rosary Promoter.
Angelic Warfare Confraternity
The Angelic Warfare Confraternity is a spiritual association of Christ’s faithful for the pursuit and promotion of the virtue of chastity. Its members are enrolled to receive assistance from God in the chaste life through the prayers of heavenly saints and earthly pilgrims. These prayers help the members of the Confraternity in the spiritual warfare they undertake while seeking to grow in the virtue of chastity. The Confraternity counts the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Thomas Aquinas as its principal patrons. The Confraternity is an apostolate of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), and is directed by the friars of the Order. It has existed in various forms from the fifteenth century, and was officially established in 1727 by Pope Benedict XIII, who placed it under the care of the Master of the Order.
What is involved?
There are three essential practices for those who seek membership of the Confraternity:
-
Enrolment and registration by a Dominican priest (or any priest delegated by the Dominican promoter of the Confraternity).
-
Wearing either the blessed knotted cord or blessed medal of St Thomas.
-
Daily prayers for purity for oneself and the other members of the Confraternity.
What is “angelic” about the Confraternity?
The Angelic Warfare Confraternity arose from devotion to St Thomas Aquinas. According to testimonies at his canonisation, he was aided in the virtue of chastity by two angels who tied a cord around his waist, saying, “On God’s behalf we gird you with the girdle of chastity, a girdle which no attack will ever destroy.” The cord itself (now located in a Dominican church in Chieri, Italy) has become a revered relic, which many visit to venerate and to pray for the grace of purity.
Who can join?
Membership is open to all people who are ready to seek healing and growth in chastity in their own lives and to foster the virtue in all circumstances.
How do I enrol?
For more information and to receive a membership pack, contact the promoter of the Angelic Warfare Confraternity for the Province of the Assumption, Fr James Baxter, by completing the form below. Please note that we are unable to accept applications from outside the Province of the Assumption (Australia, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea).
The Priestly Confraternity
The Priestly Fraternities of St Dominic consist of diocesan priests who are formally affiliated with the Order of Preachers. They share in the grace and mission of the Dominican Order, but remain under the jurisdiction of their bishop and are free for the complete service of the local Church.
History of the Priestly Fraternities
In the history of the Order, diocesan priests who belonged to the Order comprised, along with lay members of the Order, the Third Order of Dominicans, and were known as Dominican Tertiaries. Prominent Dominican Tertiaries included Pope Benedict XV and Pope Pius XII. At the General Chapter of 1968, the designations of first, second, and third Orders ceased to be used to refer to the different branches of the Order, and the Lay Fraternities and Priestly Fraternities came to develop their own, separate Rules.
Why join the Priestly Fraternities?
Priests who seek membership of the Priestly Fraternities invariably are seeking a deepening of their priestly consecration. They are inspired by the example of St Dominic and the mission of the Order he founded. Members of the Priestly Fraternities are encouraged to model their priesthood on that of St Dominic, and to imitate him in his prayer, his study of the Sacred Scriptures, and his zeal for preaching. Their manner of living the priesthood is shaped by the Rule for the Priestly Fraternities.
Involvement with the Dominican Order
Members receive all of the spiritual aids of the Order. They are encouraged to develop a devotion to St Dominic, St Catherine of Siena – the Patroness of the Priestly Fraternities – and to all the saints and blesseds of the Order. They receive the faculty to use the Dominican Calendar, so that they may have a fuller share in the graces and merits of the order. Members are encouraged where possible to visit their local Dominican community regularly.
How to join
The process of joining the Priestly Fraternities begins by contacting the local promoter of the Priestly Fraternities. If admitted, the priest is received into the Order by a special rite of vestition. The priest then enters a preparatory period of 1-2 years, during which time he deepens his knowledge and understanding of the spirit of the Order. The priest is then able to apply to make his profession, in which he makes a solemn promise to live according to the Rule of the Priestly Fraternities of St Dominic until death.