THE Cabra Congregation of Dominicans is one group in the larger Dominican Family which consists of Friars, Sisters, Nuns and Lay Dominicans. There are 118,000 members throughout the world. The Order had its beginnings in Prouilhe in the South of France when, on 27 December 1206, St Dominic formed the first community of Dominican women. This year Dominicans celebrate the 800th anniversary of their foundation and this began on the first Sunday of Advent 2006 and will continue until 6 January 2008.

Dominican sisters have had a presence in Ireland since 1644 when the foundation in Galway was approved by Rome and in 1819 Cabra, Dublin was founded. There are 240 sisters living in 29 communities in Dublin, Galway, Belfast and Wicklow.

The sisters take vows and live in community where common prayer, contemplation, study and friendship are part of the daily routine. This is in preparation for the mission they share with all Dominicans of preaching the Word of God in whatever ministry they find themselves engaged in. Time for an intimate relationship with Christ, for reflection, prayer and pondering the Word of God is the raison d'etre and at the very heart of a Dominican vocation. Dominican life is centred on the Eucharist and the official prayer of the Church, the Divine Office, as well as personal reflection and study. Everyone is called to holiness but the Dominican charism calls some women to do this in a particular way, the Dominican calling. This way provides a lifestyle which supports and keeps the challenge, of what is seemingly a paradox, constantly to the fore, i. e. the active and contemplative expression of life in balance. Just like we all know how important the 'biting point' between the clutch and the gears of a car is, it is also this 'biting point' between the contemplative and active aspects of our life which are all important. It is always a case of 'fides quaerens ratio' of our faith seeking reason and expressing itself in a meaningful way in life. It was John Paul II who said 'Faith and reason are like the two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth'.

Since all are made in the image of God, there are truths which are part of the 'hard wiring' of all humanity . . .

desires which are as deeply rooted in human nature as the instincts in migratory salmons or birds which compel them to do such extraordinary things each year. This was recently very well portrayed in the film The March of the Penguins. Likewise, if we are made for God we will not find true happiness unless we are consciously seeking God in our lives. Dominicans take a proactive role in nudging or gently reminding others of the importance of bringing their lives into accordance with God's plan for them. In a world where noise, activity, stress and even a hedonistic approach to life can drown out the whispers of God and the mystery of life there is always a place for those who seek the silence of contemplation in order to bring a more challenging Christian message to society.

There is a place for Dominican life in Ireland in the 21st century as there has been for the past four centuries, and for the past eight centuries over the world. The Celtic Tiger may be loping graciously across the whole country but this brings its own challenges. Monetary reward alone never brings absolute happiness. Ireland is now a very multicultural society. However, it has a greater division between the rich and the poor, it has more family fragmentation, it has more crime, it has more drug addiction, and like other developed countries it suffers from the 'tyranny of choice' which consumerism has brought with it. Dominican sisters have become involved in all these areas as part of their ministry in the church. We are not outside or above our culture, we are very much part of it and it is in this context that we preach the good news of salvation. There are sisters working in family therapy, visiting prisons, working with drug addiction, the homeless, the travell- ing communities, the elderly, teaching English to foreigners as well as in the more traditional ministries of education, retreat giving, writing and chaplaincy.