About Lay Dominicans
Lay Dominicans (formally the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic, also historically called the Third Order of St. Dominic or Dominican Laity) are the lay branch of the Order of Preachers (OP), the Catholic religious order founded by St. Dominic de Guzmán in 1216 and approved by Pope Honorius III. Lay Dominicans are baptized, confirmed Catholics in full communion with the Church who are called by a special vocation to follow St. Dominic's charism of preaching for the salvation of souls while living ordinary lives in the world. They are incorporated into the Order of Preachers through a formal Promise and are organized internationally into local fraternities subject to the Master of the Order and other major superiors of the Dominicans. Today they number over 128,000 members across roughly 2,200 fraternities in 75 countries, making them one of the largest lay religious vocations in the Catholic Church.
Mission
Animated by the Dominican charism, Lay Dominicans seek to preach the Gospel — through word and deed — for the salvation of souls, guided by the four pillars of prayer, study, community, and apostolate. As the General Declarations of 2019 state: the laity of St. Dominic are 'called by a special vocation to progress on the path of Christian life and to animate temporal things through the charism of St. Dominic.'
- Founded
- 1285 (first Rule) / 1286 (papal recognition)
- Founder
- St. Dominic de Guzmán (Order of Preachers); fr. Munio de Zamora, OP (first Rule for lay members)
- Leader
- fr. Cristóbal Torres Iglesias, OP — General Promoter for the Laity, Order of Preachers; Sébastien Milazzo, OP — ICLDF Coordinator & ECLDF President (Europe); John Keenan, OP — DLIPC Representative to ICLDF and President, Lay Provincial Council of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Western Province); Jonathan Stahl, OP — DLIPC Delegate; Gwen Weinberger, OP — President, Central Province (St. Albert the Great)
- Reach
- Approximately 128,287 members in 2,209 fraternities across 75 countries (as of February 2023), organized into five regions: Asia-Pacific (117,749 members in 1,491 fraternities across 12 countries), Europe (5,377 members in 369 fraternities across 25 countries), United States & Canada / DLIPC (2,790 members in 168 fraternities across 2 countries), Latin America & Caribbean / COFALC (1,821 members in 152 fraternities across 23 countries), and Africa / ACLDF (550 members in 29 fraternities across 13 countries). In the United States the laity is spread across four Dominican provinces: Province of St. Albert the Great (Central), Province of St. Martin de Porres (Southern), Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Western), and Province of St. Joseph (Eastern). The Western Province alone has roughly 36 local chapters.
- Serves
- Lay Dominicans serve the Catholic Church and the wider world through the Dominican charism of preaching. They preach first within their own families, workplaces, and among friends; they also serve their parishes, dioceses, and local communities through teaching, catechesis, charity, advocacy for justice and peace, and other apostolates. As an Order, Lay Dominicans have a special devotion to the salvation of souls and the defense of the Faith.
What Are the Lay Dominicans?
Lay Dominicans — formally the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic — are the lay branch of the Order of Preachers (OP). They are baptized, confirmed Catholics in full communion with the Church who, by a special vocation, seek to follow St. Dominic de Guzmán's charism of preaching for the salvation of souls while remaining in their ordinary lay state of life. They are incorporated into the Order through a formal Promise and are subject to the Master of the Order and the other major superiors of the Dominicans. The General Declarations of 2019 describe them as 'faithful called by a special vocation to progress on the path of Christian life and to animate temporal things through the charism of St. Dominic.' Members may use the post-nominal initials 'OP' after their names.
- Officially: Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic
- Historical names: Third Order of St. Dominic, Dominican Laity, Brothers and Sisters of Penance of St. Dominic
- Post-nominal initials permitted: OP
- Governed by the Master of the Order and major superiors of the Order of Preachers
History of the Lay Dominicans
Lay Dominicans trace their origins to the lay men and women who attached themselves to the new Order of Preachers in the early 13th century. By 1285, so many people had joined informally that the seventh Master General, Munio de Zamora, composed the first Rule of the Penitents of St. Dominic, which Pope Honorius IV officially recognized on January 28, 1286 with the bull Congruum existimantes. The fraternity flourished especially in Siena, where St. Catherine of Siena joined a particular group known as the 'Mantellate.' Over the centuries the order received updated rules in 1923, 1969, 1987, and 2019, with each revision reflecting changes in canon law, Vatican II, and the signs of the times. International congresses have been held in Montreal (1985), Buenos Aires (2007), and Fatima, Portugal (2018).
- 1216 — Pope Honorius III approves the Order of Preachers (Dec. 22)
- 1285 — Munio de Zamora promulgates the first Rule for lay members
- 1286 — Pope Honorius IV grants official Church recognition (Jan. 28)
- 1923 — Master Luis Theissling promulgates a new Rule in the spirit of the 1917 Code of Canon Law
- 1969 — Master Aniceto Fernandez promulgates a new Rule ad experimentum after Vatican II
- 1987 — Definitive approval of the Rule by the Congregation for Religious
- 1988 — Master Damian Byrne promulgates the General Declarations
- 2002 — International Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities (ICLDF) created
- 2019 — Master Bruno Cadoré promulgates updated Rule and General Declarations (May)
- 2021 — Master approves use of post-nominal 'OP' by lay members
The Four Pillars of Dominican Life
Dominican life is marked by four 'pillars' that work together to support the Lay Dominican vocation: prayer, study, community, and apostolate. Though distinct, all four are rooted in Christ's Gospel message so that they may endure and flourish. Study is the most distinctive element of Dominican life — Dominicans are called lifelong learners who put their thirst for Truth at the service of preaching.
- Prayer — daily Liturgy of the Hours (Lauds, Vespers, Compline), Rosary, De Profundis, Mass, meditation
- Study — Scripture, Church teaching, contemporary issues; five-year formation plan of study; lifelong learner
- Community — regular meetings in local fraternities; mutual support and democratic governance
- Apostolate — preaching by word and deed; works of mercy; teaching, writing, catechesis, justice and peace
Prayer Life
The Lay Dominican day typically begins with Morning Prayer (Lauds) and ends with Evening Prayer (Vespers) of the Liturgy of the Hours, with Compline also encouraged. The Rosary and De Profundis (for the dead) are daily devotions, along with Mass when possible. Lay Dominicans mark major Dominican saints with fasting on their vigils and feasting on their feasts. Each member pursues his or her own prayer life, particularly through meditation.
- Liturgy of the Hours — Lauds, Vespers, Compline
- Daily Rosary (traditionally worn on the left side of the habit)
- De Profundis and prayers for the dead
- Daily Mass when possible
- Meditation and personal prayer
- Fasting on vigils of major Dominican saints
Study
Study forms both the mind and the soul and is the necessary foundation of the apostolate. For Lay Dominicans, study is itself a form of prayer — coming to know Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, through constant search for and discovery of created and revealed truth. The five years of formation include a structured plan of study, and professed members are called to ongoing formation through personal study and shared study at fraternity meetings.
- Five-year Lay Dominican formation plan of study
- Ongoing personal study (Scripture, Church documents, contemporary issues)
- Shared study at every fraternity meeting
- Lifelong commitment to learning
Community (Fraternity)
Lay Dominicans come together regularly in groups called fraternities, where they pray, study, and encourage one another in their vocation. Fraternities are governed democratically and meet locally — often monthly. Each fraternity pursues a shared apostolate in addition to the individual apostolates of its members.
- Local fraternity meetings (typically monthly)
- Democratically governed
- Shared prayer, study, and encouragement
- Fraternity-level shared apostolate
Apostolate: The Holy Preaching
The whole Lay Dominican vocation centers on the proclamation of the Gospel — 'The Holy Preaching.' While preaching from the pulpit and in the context of Mass is reserved to priests, Lay Dominicans bring the Holy Preaching into the world: first within their own families, workplaces, and among friends. Each member discerns an individual apostolate (teaching, writing, speaking, catechizing, acts of charity, spiritual and corporal works of mercy), and each fraternity pursues a shared apostolate.
- Preaching within family, workplace, and friendships
- Teaching, writing, speaking, catechesis
- Corporal and spiritual works of mercy
- Justice and peace advocacy (two lay members integrated into the International Commission for Justice and Peace in 2015)
- Fraternity-shared apostolate
International Organization and the ICLDF
At the international level, the Lay Dominican Fraternities are coordinated by the International Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities (ICLDF), created in 2002. The ICLDF represents each of the five regions — Africa (ACLDF), Latin America and the Caribbean (COFALC), Asia-Pacific (APCLDF), Europe (ECLDF), and the United States–Canada (DLIPC). The ICLDF promotes communication between Lay Dominican Fraternities worldwide for a more effective preaching of the Gospel in accordance with the signs of the times. The Order's General Promoter for the Laity, fr. Cristóbal Torres Iglesias, OP, sits on the ICLDF along with the regional presidents and delegates.
- ICLDF — International Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities (est. 2002)
- Sébastien Milazzo, OP — ICLDF Coordinator & ECLDF President (Europe)
- Nsah Frederick Wansah — President, ACLDF (Africa)
- Margareth Velasquez — President, COFALC (Latin America & Caribbean)
- Theophilus Atmadi — Delegate, APCLDF (Asia–Pacific)
- Kathy Kendrek, OP — Delegate, DLIPC (United States & Canada, until 2026)
- fr. Cristóbal Torres Iglesias, OP — General Promoter for the Laity
Lay Dominicans in the United States and Canada
In the United States the Dominican Laity is spread across four Dominican provinces, each with its own lay provincial council. The Dominican Lay Inter-Provincial Council (DLIPC) brings together the leaders of the laity from the U.S. and Canada approximately every 18 months for conferences on growth, formation, mission, and collaboration. The most recent DLIPC Conference was held April 24–26, 2026 at Aquinas Hall, Holy Rosary Parish in Portland, Oregon, and addressed the rapid growth of Lay Fraternities across the region.
- Province of St. Albert the Great — Central (headquartered with the Dominican central province)
- Province of St. Martin de Porres — Southern (11 states: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX)
- Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus — Western (~36 local chapters)
- Province of St. Joseph — Eastern
- Province of Canada (fr. Daniel Cadrin, OP, Promoter for the Laity)
Central Province (St. Albert the Great) Leadership
The Central Province lay leadership includes a Provincial Promoter for the Laity (Br. John Steilberg, OP) who hosts a Zoom meeting every other month for all Lay Dominicans of the province for information, training, encouragement, and dialogue. The laity is led by a president, vice-president, secretary, and DLIPC delegate.
- President — Gwen Weinberger, OP
- Vice President — Renee Valenzuela, OP
- Secretary — Barbara Ferris-Kelly, OP
- Provincial Promoter — Br. John Steilberg, OP
- DLIPC Delegate — Jonathan Stahl, OP
Western Province (Most Holy Name of Jesus) Leadership
The Western Province Lay Provincial Council is led by Mr. John Keenan, OP, who was appointed in 2026 as the new DLIPC representative to the International Council of Lay Dominican Fraternities (ICLDF), succeeding Mrs. Kathy Kendrek, OP who served 2023–2026. The provincial website is opwestlaity.org and the webmaster is Alejandra Barajas (also LPC Secretary). The Western Province hosts roughly 36 local chapters.
- President — John Keenan, OP
- DLIPC Representative to ICLDF — John Keenan, OP
- Webmaster & LPC Secretary — Alejandra Barajas
- Provincial Promoter — fr. Augustine Hilander, OP
- Approx. 36 local chapters
Southern Province (St. Martin de Porres) Chapters
Founded December 8, 1979 as a response to the rapidly-growing Catholic population in the southern United States, the Province of St. Martin de Porres covers eleven states. Its laity website (laydomsouth.org) lists chapters and groups in Texas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana, South Carolina, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Florida, with several exploratory groups in additional cities.
- Asheville, NC — St. Martin de Porres Chapter
- Austin, TX — St. Martin de Porres Chapter (1st Monday, 6:30 PM)
- Houston, TX — Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Chapter
- San Antonio, TX — St. Rose of Lima Chapter
- Round Rock, TX — St. Vincent Ferrer Chapter
- Irving/DFW, TX — Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii Chapter
- Corpus Christi, TX — Corpus Christi Chapter (3rd Saturday, 2:30 PM)
- Atlanta, GA — Dominican Laity of The Holy Cross Chapter
- Charlotte, NC — Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapter
- Memphis, TN — St. Peter Chapter
- Oklahoma City, OK — Mary, Queen of Preachers Chapter (4th Sunday, 2 PM)
- Tallahassee, FL — Lay Dominicans del Espiritu Santo Chapter
- Pensacola, FL — Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Chapter
Formation: Becoming a Lay Dominican
Inquirers begin by identifying which Dominican province they live in and contacting a local chapter or the provincial Promoter for the Laity. The formation process takes approximately five years and includes structured study, prayer, community life, and apostolic work. After successful completion, the candidate makes the Promise of Incorporation, which formally admits them into the Order of Preachers as a Lay Dominican.
- Step 1 — Identify your Dominican province (Eastern, Central, Western, Southern, or Canada)
- Step 2 — Contact a local chapter or the provincial Promoter for Vocations
- Step 3 — Five-year formation program (prayer, study, community, apostolate)
- Step 4 — Promise of Incorporation into the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic
Devotions and Dominican Identity
Lay Dominicans have a strong Marian identity. By pious tradition, Our Lady gave St. Dominic the Rosary in a vision and instructed him to use it to combat heresy. Although various forms of the Rosary existed before St. Dominic's time, this legend underscores the centrality of the Rosary in Dominican life. Lay Dominicans traditionally wear their Rosary on the left-hand side of their habit — where a medieval knight would keep his sword — as a sign that the Rosary is their 'weapon' against heresy. St. Catherine of Siena, a Dominican tertiary, is the patroness of the Lay Dominicans.
- Rosary — central Marian devotion; traditionally worn on left side of habit
- Patroness — St. Catherine of Siena (Mantellate of Siena)
- Founder — St. Dominic de Guzmán, OP (1216)
- Post-nominal — OP (per Master of the Order, 2021)
International Congresses and Gatherings
International congresses of the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic have been convened to strengthen communion across the order: I International Congress in Montreal, Canada (1985); II International Congress in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2007); and III International Congress in Fatima, Portugal (2018). At the regional level, conferences like the DLIPC (held every 18 months in North America) bring together leadership for formation, mission, and collaboration. The most recent DLIPC Conference was held in Portland, Oregon, April 24–26, 2026.
- I International Congress — Montreal, Canada (1985)
- II International Congress — Buenos Aires, Argentina (2007)
- III International Congress — Fatima, Portugal (2018)
- DLIPC Conferences — every 18 months in North America; most recent April 24–26, 2026 in Portland, Oregon