The Studentate

After making first profession, after completing one year of novitiate, the brother is assigned to a studenthouse for studies. At this very moment in time this is our motherhouse St Dominic's Priory Melbourne.

With rooms for over 30 people, it is our largest priory. It incorporates a parish and a parish school, in which students are involved as part of their pastoral work in the following;

1. giving classes at St Dominics Primary
2. giving catechesis classes
3. Giving talks
4. attending parish youth events and retreats
5. beign involved in liturgy

Duties

Duties include:

1. Cleaning up after lunch
2. Cooking the main Sunday Meal
3. Cooking for student recreation on saturday nights
4. Rostered cleaning duties on saturday morning (can include, garden, vacuuming, mopping, bathrooms, kitchen, cars etc)
5. Grocery Shopping
6. Fresh Food Shopping @ the fresh food markets early saturday morning
7. Driving the older fathers to doctors appointments, hospitals etc

Timetable

Just like postulancy, the timetable in the studenthouse is quite flexible and its up to each individual friar to manage his time wisely.

The hours held in common are

7:30 Office of Readings

7:45 Morning Prayer

8:00 Breakfast

9:00 Travel to Catholic college for studies

12:15 Rosary

12:35 Middle Hour

12:45 Lunch

1:30 Cleanup

5:30 Eveing Prayer

6:00 Mass

7:00 Dinner

9:35 Night Prayer

Wednesdays:

6:45 Adoration

Saturdays:

8:00 Morning prayer

8:40 Rosary

9:00 Mass

10:00 Rostered Cleaning duties

Studies

Most brothers will undertake a bachelors in theology.

It is either held at YTU(Yarra theological college) or CTC(Catholic theological College); both institutions are part of the MCD (Melbourne College of Divinity).

We take classes along with the diocesan seminarians, and other religious and lay people. it gives an opportunity to talk to others, make friends, and find about other styles of life, vocation, charism, and opinions.

Holidays

Every year a student gets around 3 weeks break, either in early december (back for christmas) or early January.

It gives an opportunity to go home, visit family, relatives and friends OR can be used to go exploring. A small allowance is given to cover travel and other related expenses.

Retreats and Reflection

Every month, there should be a reflection day, to recollect our thoughts, and focus ourselves towards our spiritual welfare, to take some time off from our busy lives, from our studies duties, pastoral work etc.

Once a year brothers should have 5 full days of retreat.

Formation

Preaching

Being students, we practise preaching to each other, writing homilies, and sitting down later as a community to find ways to improve our techniques or our writings

Spiritual Guidance

The student master can act as a spiritual director. He is in charge of our welfare and wellbeing