DPP hosts summer pastoral exposure for three American friars

Three Dominican brothers from the United States visited the Philippines to encounter the life and ministry of the Dominican Province of the Philippines (DPP) as part of their summer pastoral formation program from May 19 to July 18, 2025. 

The brothers were Br. David Hardy, OP, Br. Bonaventure Paul-Bonham, OP (Province of St. Albert the Great), and Br. Martin Mary Bauer, OP (Province of St. Martin de Porres). For two months, they witnessed the manifold apostolates of the brethren and met the different convents and Dominican communities around Luzon. 

Their first destination was Sto. Domingo Convent, where they stayed with the student-brothers and joined the apostolates of the parish, like the Basic Ecclesial Community Masses and the Flores de Mayo, a popular Marian tradition in the Philippines.

In the University of Santo Tomas in Sampaloc, Manila, and in Legazpi, Albay, they witnessed the educational apostolate of the Province and its relevance to the Christian formation of the local communities. They were also exposed to the hospital apostolate of the universities and toured around the UST Museum. 

The brothers also visited the Letran colleges, assisting in the campus ministry at Calamba, Laguna, ministered by the Convent of St. Albert the Great, and learning more about US-Philippine relations at the House of San Miguel de Aozaraza in Bataan, a province steeped in historical significance where Filipinos and Americans fought side by side against the Japanese during World War II.

Joining some student-brothers who were also having their summer exposure, the American friars stayed in the House of St. Mary Magdalene in Caleruega, Philippines, learning about the retreat apostolate of the community as well as engaging in manual work.

After meeting with the friars at the Convent of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manaoag, Pangasinan and a brief trip to Baguio City, the three went to San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City, where they were exposed to the ministry to the urban poor as the final leg of their trip. 

Some noteworthy events in their itinerary include visiting Quiapo Church and the Dominican community in Binondo, witnessing the Solemn Profession of three student-brothers on May 24, touring around Intramuros and the National Museum, and joining the Medical Mission of the Dominican Studentate on June 7.

The three American Dominican guests went back to the U.S. on July 18, expressing their gratitude to the brethren and the different communities of the Dominican Province of the Philippines.