Laity received into the Dominican family

Members of the Corpus Christi Dominican Laity Group were received into the Rite of Admission, the Rite of Temporary Profession and the Rite of Permanent Profession at St. Paul, the Apostle Parish on Saturday, Aug. 6, two days before the Feast Day of St. Dominic.

“We are not yet an official chapter,” Yvonne Youngblood who made her Permanent Promise as a Dominican Laity said.

Youngblood attended the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C. in 1991 where she was received into the Rite of Admission as a Dominican Laity. She received her candidacy in the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception also in Washington D.C. in 1992 and professed for three years.

“I was supposed to be received perpetually in the order in 1995, but my husband and I moved here [Corpus Christi] and at the time there was no Dominican Laity,” Youngblood said.

According to Youngblood it takes three members of the group who have received the Permanent Profession to become an official vhapter.

The laity group was formed five years ago in the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

“I did not immediately join, until Sister Ongpin encouraged me,” Youngblood said.

Youngblood is the only member of the group who made her Final Promise in the Rite of Permanent Profession.

Accepted into the Inquiry Period of the Rite of Admission were Nancy Porras, Elva Ybarra and Linda Beardsley. They each received a pin, rosary and the Lay Dominican Manual as aids to embrace a life of prayer and study to become authentic witnesses to the truth.

Those received into the Candidacy Phase of the Rite of Admission were Leonora Apiado, Sam Apiado, Jack Boje, Connie Elizondo, Cindy García and Gloria Mota. All received the Book of Rule and the Directory of Dominican Laity and a Dominican cross which represents the external manifestation of their commitment to the Dominican family.

Those entering the Rite of Temporary Profession were Lydia Boemker, OP; Mary Castillo, OP; Mario Garza, OP; Sonya Garza, OP; Alice González, OP; Sam González, OP; Albert Martínez, OP; Ben Mota, OP; Elsa Rodríguez, OP; and Valentina Whitman OP.

They promised to Sister Esperanza Seguban, OP, Delegate of the Superior General, representing the Master of the Order of Friars Preachers, to live according to the Rule of the Dominican Laity for three years. They received blessed scapulars, a sign of the newly professed.

For information on how to join the Dominican Laity Group, email Sister Claudia Ongpin at [email protected].