Every year, young men and women prove again and again that the idea of a vocation to life in a religious community is very far from being past its 'sell-by date'. Every year, several men make enquiries to discuss their sense of being called to serve God in the Order of Preachers, and some of these will end up in the Novitiate in the coming September.

Someone who expresses an interest will be invited to visit various Dominican communities, first of all to get some sense of what our community's life actually looks like and to talk to the community about what it is that attracts him (her) to Dominican life. Interested people will be invited to read a little about our tradition, and finally to apply - if that is what they want to do.

If a man is accepted he will be clothed in the habit of our Order and begin the novitiate in our priory in Cambridge. (The sisters have their own noviates.) During his year as a novice the most important thing is probably that he should hear the stories of this Dominican province, and that really requires little more than openness and receptivity. But there is some study too: biblical studies and spirituality, Latin, Dominican history, cooking and driving (if necessary) and liturgy. Following the novitiate, brothers who continue are sent to Oxford for the first three years of formal study (mostly of philosophy) and then they may either stay in Oxford to do a theology degree or go to another university - London, Cambridge or Edinburgh.

If this sounds as if it might be the beginning of a life worth living, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Promoter of Vocations. The minimum age for admission is 21 years, and novices are almost always older than that, but even if you are younger it will do no harm to get in touch anyway. There's plenty of time.

You can find out more details and contact addresses at the Province's Vocations Page.

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