September 1, 2006

Dominican novice professes simple vows

Dominican Brother Shane Bryan Fitzgerald, who is from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in New Albany, recently professed simple vows in the Dominican Order.

Brother Shane officially entered the order when he professed his simple vows during evening prayer on Aug. 13 at St. Dominic Church in Denver.

Five other men also joined the order during the profession ceremony. In making these vows, they formally ended their first year of formation in Denver under the direction of Dominican Father Louis Morrone, novice master for the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great.

They are now assigned to St. Dominic Priory in St. Louis, where they will begin their formal studies for the priesthood with 13 other student brothers in various stages of studies at the Aquinas Institute of Theology.

Brother Shane, who is 24, formerly worked as a bank branch manager at Community Bank in New Albany.

He is the son of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parishioners Jim and Judy Fitzgerald of New Albany.

He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany and Our Lady of Providence Jr./Sr. High School in Clarksville. He graduated from Indiana University Southeast in New Albany in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in business finance and economics.

He also served as a soccer coach.

During the profession ceremony, as is the tradition of the Dominican Order, each brother kneels and places his hands in the hands of the provincial and promises obedience to him, to God, to the Blessed Mother and to St. Dominic.

After the ceremony, as a welcoming gesture, each newly professed brother is embraced by members of the order.

The Dominican Order was founded by St. Dominic de Guzman in 1216 as an order of preachers.

Dominicans embrace the four pillars that mark the mission of the Order: common prayer, community life, study and a ministry of preaching and teaching. †

 

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