Jubilee 2021
800th Anniversary of the Dominican Order in Britain
In 2021, the Dominican Order celebrates 800 years since the foundation of the Province of England as well as 800 years since the death of St Dominic.
On 15 August, 1221, the first Dominican house was established on St Aldate Street in Oxford. The Province’s history since then has been dramatic, from medieval strengths to near obliteration at the Reformation; and then centuries of exile before a strong return after the Emancipation and a renewed presence in the life of the Church in England, Wales and Scotland.
From Pentecost 2021 until the feast of the Translation of St Dominic 2022, the whole Dominican family in Britain will be joined in a year of celebrations and cultural events to mark this milestone. Our plans for this year are gradually being developed as we emerge from the Covid-19 restrictions and will be published here.
2021 Events
14–22 May | Beginning of Jubilee Year: Pentecost Novena for the whole Province | Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Leicester, Cambridge | |
22 May | Aquinas Institute Colloquium: ‘The English Dominican Province and Thomism, Part I: the 20th Century’ | Oxford | www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/aquinas |
26 June | Rosary Pilgrimage, Dominican Sisters, Stone congregation | www.stonedominicans.org | |
1–15 August | Pilgrimage Walk from Kent to Oxford, recreating the original journey in 1221 by Gilbert of Fresney OP and companions; ending with Solemnity of Assumption | Kent to Oxford | www.dominicanjubilee.com |
10th August | Online talk (all welcome): The History of the English Province and the Context for Scotland – BOOK NOW | Fr Richard Finn OP | www.scotland.op.org |
17th August | Online talk (all welcome): Clement of Dunblane and His Times: An Outstanding Member of the Order of Preachers | Martin Colpi | www.scotland.op.org |
24th August | Online talk (all welcome): The Dominican Scottish Province | Michael O’Duffin | www.scotland.op.org |
31st August | Online talk (all welcome): The Edinburgh Dominican Priory: History and the Archaeological Evidence, 1230 – 1559 | Alan Cran | www.scotland.op.org |
7th September | Online talk (all welcome): Dominican Women’s Houses in Scotland during the 20th and 21st Centuries | Sara Parvis, Biddy Gray | www.scotland.op.org |
14th September | Online talk (all welcome): The Lay Dominicans in Scotland | Steve Male, Biddy Gray | www.scotland.op.org |
21st September | Online talk (all welcome): University Dominican Chaplaincies in Scotland | Mary O’Duffin | www.scotland.op.org |
23 September – 3 October | Exhibition: David Jones and Contemporary Art at Blackfriars | Cambridge | www.blackfriarscambridge.org.uk |
3 October | Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary at the Rosary Shrine | London | www.rosaryshrine.co.uk |
7 October | Launch of new Rosary Book, photos and meditations, by Lawrence Lew OP | London | www.rosaryshrine.co.uk |
11 October | Aquinas Institute’s Jubilee Lectures: A series of twenty recorded lectures on the theology of St Thomas Aquinas, covering the entire Summa Theologiae in the English Dominican tradition. With an event to mark the launch if this is possible under Covid regulations. | Oxford | www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/aquinas |
13 November | Aquinas Institute Conference, ‘The Philosophy of Herbert McCabe, OP’ (9am – 5pm) | Oxford | www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/aquinas |
16–20 December | Dominican Youth Movement pilgrimage to Bologna and Florence | Italy |
2022 Events
24 May | Feast of the Translation of St Dominic and ceremony with the Master to re-inter the bones excavated from the medieval Blackfriars | Oxford | www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk |
TBC, May | Event at the Rosary Shrine with the Master | London | www.rosaryshrine.co.uk |
TBC, May | Aquinas Institute Colloquium: ‘The English Dominican Province and Thomism, Part II: The Middle Ages’ | Oxford | www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/aquinas |

O Lord our God, Creator of the world, Giver of life. Eight hundred years ago, it pleased you to receive St Dominic into eternity, and to establish the Holy Preaching in Britain. O Spem miram! YOU are the wonderful HOPE, promised by Dominic, as our constant Companion, in the holy endeavour of spreading and growing Your WORD, over lands, across the sea, beyond the horizons of our vision. As we celebrate the double Jubilee of the dies natalis of St Dominic into eternal life and the Sacra Praedicatio in Britain, feed us and fill us with a double portion of the SPIRIT,
so that we may experience a new Pentecost – a renewed proclamation of the ‘mighty acts of God’ and rekindled commitment to our mission for the ‘salvation of souls’. Bless our brothers and sisters and the entire Dominican Family in England, Scotland and Wales with health, happiness and holiness. Lead them to ever serve your people. Gather them all to Yourself, in praise and thanks eternal. Through Mary’s plea; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, Master of the Order. Sta Sabina, Rome.
15 March 2021
- Download the Prayer Card
- Printed copies are available from Dominican priories