St Dominic’s Formation Fund

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Many are being called to serve as Dominicans. Could you help to fund their formation?

God is calling many to be Dominican friars – a vocation that demands an exceptional formation!

In September 2025, we are expecting a large intake of men to join as novices! As of May 2025, 8 applicants have been accepted to join us.

They are being called from many backgrounds, and are a sign of hope for the universal Church, especially for its intellectual life.

First Year – as Novices

Their first year will be spent in Cambridge. Here Fr Albert, the bursar, is preparing to feed all these new friars. And to fit them all in, he has even had to create an extra bedroom in an attic space!

The noviciate year alone costs around £12,000 per man. To meet our rising costs, we must fundraise at least £60,000 in 2025.

It costs over £150,000* (c.£19,000 a year) to form each friar to the highest level, over 8 years of study.
Could you help us to prepare these preachers for their mission?

Formation in Oxford and beyond

Then in 2026, God willing, some or all of the novices will move to Blackfriars Oxford to become student brothers. Here we must cover their living and study expenses* over 5 years when they are unable to earn (they study full-time and undertake pastoral placements during vacations); and then for a further 2 years of post-ordination study, in Rome or elsewhere, for a Licence to teach Theology. The cost of this is around £19,000 per friar per year.

Why such a rigorous formation?

If you have ever been moved or inspired by a homily given by a Dominican, or by a book written by a friar, then you will appreciate the value of the careful formation that they receive.

We believe that attentive pastoral care for the people to whom we minister demands a careful and thorough formation of our friars’ minds as well as their hearts.

We believe that an excellent intellectual formation is vital to equip friars for their future mission – they must be ready at all times to preach the gospel confidently and patiently in a world so often hostile to the Christian message.

Dominican formation is rigorous, but also personal, aiming to nurture the individual talents of each friar, allowing him to find the apostolates to which he is being called. He is guided through this formation by older friars and by lay experts.

To help us to bear the costs of fully equipping friars for their future mission, we urgently need new donors.

Current Costs

*After the noviciate year, where costs are approximately £12,000 including food, clothing, books and travel, each year of study for a friar requires: Academic fees £8,660; Food £6,000; Other Personal Expenditures £2,300, Travel £2,000. Note that costs vary by year and by individual, and inflation will increase these costs.

Could you help?

• Could you make a generous one-time gift?
• Could you sign up to give £10 a month – or more?
• Could you stretch to £40 a month?

Donating is easy – how to support

Need help or advice? Speak to the friars or email development@english.op.org