About us • How we live

Dominican Life

We, Oakford Dominican Sisters, are an international Congregation founded in 1889 in South Africa. We belong to the large Dominican Family of Friars (Priests, Brothers), Sisters, Nuns, Women and Men of Lay Communities and the International Dominican Youth. Worldwide and in many ways, we continue to live and to hand on the Dominican way of life "Contemplari et contemplata aliis tradere", that is, "Passing on to others the fruits of our contemplation".

Our official name is: “Dominican Congregation of St Catherine of Siena of Oakford, Natal”. Rooted in the mission of Jesus, we are formed in the spirit of St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena. Our spirituality is profoundly biblical and ecclesiastical. We recognize our special mission in our approach to life:

On the way with those who are seeking, standing up for those who are suffering, praising God with those who believe.
Open to the world, committed to justice and peace, living unity in diversity.
Becoming fully human, a woman, who gives herself completely to God in the freedom of the vows.

Our daily lives are based on the four pillars of Dominican life:

Prayer: Common and private prayer (e.g. the Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours, private contemplation)
Study: Study of the Bible and those sciences that are of service to us in our ministry
Community Life
Ministry: Preaching the Word and in service to the people

St. Dominic

Dominic Guzmán was born in 1170 in Caleruega, Spain. He studied theology and philosophy in Valencia. Deeply moved by a famine, he sold his own books during his studies in order to use the proceeds to help those in need. In 1195, he became a member of the regular cathedral chapter of Osma. In 1203, he travelled with Diego de Acebo, Bishop of Osma, to Denmark to arrange a marriage for the prince. During this journey, he encountered many Albigensians, a group of people who believed that all material things were evil. Inspired by his lively debates and his desire to lead those who had strayed from the faith back to it, he began to gather others around him. They helped him travel from town to town, preaching against false teachings and helping people rediscover the true and joy-giving faith. In this way, the later Order of Preachers gradually came into being. St. Dominic was known as a joyful, compassionate and humble man who devoted himself to deep contemplation, a simple and austere way of life, and continuous study.

The Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order, was founded by St. Dominic in 1216. The Dominican Order is a worldwide community within the Catholic Church. It is also known as an itinerant and mendicant order. St. Dominic was convinced that it was important for his followers to live simply. Rooted in prayer and free from attachment, they were to go wherever the need was greatest. To live as a Dominican means to seek the truth of the Gospel and to proclaim it in love — to preach it.

In the Dominican understanding, preaching does not only mean the spoken word of proclamation. Above all, it also means the witness of one’s life, which seeks to make the Good News visible. Therefore, every individual member is a preacher, as is the community as a whole.

St. Catherine of Siena

was born on 25 March 1347 in Siena. At the age of 16, she became a Dominican tertiary. She lived a mystical life closely united with God, while at the same time being very active in caring for the poor, the sick, the dying and prisoners. She took the suffering of her fellow human beings deeply to heart. A large number of women and men joined her, inspired by her charisma and her mission. She mediated in conflicts between hostile political parties and called for peace and reconciliation in moving words, in order to promote peace among the states, cities and rulers of Italy. She became an adviser to many people.

The Church of her time suffered from many abuses and shortcomings. She reminded priests of their duties. Tirelessly, she called for the reform of the Church and urged Christians of all walks of life to conversion. She undertook many journeys in order to encourage the inner reform of the Church and to persuade the Pope to return from Avignon to Rome. She suffered for the Church, yet she did not become its opponent or a revolutionary. Instead, she offered herself for it. Everything she did arose from her union with God, especially from her love of Christ, as well as from her loyalty to the Church and her love for people.

Catherine died on 29 April 1380 in Rome. She was buried in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where she is still venerated today. She was canonized in 1461. In 1970, Pope Paul VI declared her a Doctor of the Church. In 1999, Pope John Paul II proclaimed her a co-patroness of Europe.