Order of Preachers-Laity, San Roque Chapter, Marikina

29/04/2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Saint Dominic,

A happy and blessed feast of Saint Catherine of Siena, our sister and patroness.

Many ordinary Catholics assume that Saint Catherine was a nun or a religious sister because she is often depicted wearing a veil and habit. In truth, she lived as a member of the Dominican Third Order (a Lay Dominican) faithful to her vocation in the world. Many are further surprised to learn that she had no formal education, yet she wrote profound spiritual works that earned her the title Doctor of the Church. Even more astonishing, this laywoman helped persuade the Pope to return to Rome from Avignon and became an instrument of peace and unity in the life of the Church.

These are only a few reasons why Saint Catherine of Siena stands as a powerful witness, not only for Lay Dominicans, but for all the lay faithful. Her life proclaims a truth we must rediscover today: the laity are called not to minimal participation, but to a mission that often exceeds expectations.

But where did Saint Catherine draw her strength and courage?

A Life of Prayer

Her wisdom and boldness flowed from a deep and intimate union with God. Nourished by the sacraments and formed in constant prayer, she entered into what we may call the “school of divine intimacy.” Though lacking formal education, she contemplated divine truths with extraordinary depth and shared their fruits with the Church.

This is the heart of the Dominican vocation: contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere—to contemplate and to hand on to others the fruits of contemplation.

Prayer strengthens faith, and a faith strengthened by prayer becomes a light for others.

A Life of Penance

Saint Catherine’s life was also marked by sacrifice and penance. Yet her penance was not an end in itself, it was a means of loving God more fully and serving the Church more freely. As she disciplined the desires of the flesh, her spirit became more attuned to God’s will. What appeared as weakness in the eyes of the world became strength in grace.

True penance does not destroy; it transforms. It orders our desires, purifies our intentions, and strengthens our resolve to love God above all things.

A Question for Our Time

If Saint Catherine were to speak to us today, what would she say?
We live in a time marked by confusion, division, and spiritual complacency, both in society and even within the Church. Are we content to remain silent, private, and passive in our faith? Or are we ready to be courageous, visible, and active witnesses of Christ?

A Call to Action for Lay Dominicans

As Lay Dominicans in the Philippines, we are not called to mediocrity. We are called to mission. Inspired by Saint Catherine, let us commit ourselves to the following:

Deepen our life of prayer: Be faithful to daily mental prayer, the Holy Rosary, and, as far as possible, the Liturgy of the Hours.

Embrace concrete penance: Practice regular acts of self-denial and charity for the conversion of souls and the renewal of the Church.

Proclaim the truth with charity: Defend and witness to the faith in our families, workplaces, and communities with clarity and humility.

Engage in apostolic mission: Teach, write, accompany, and evangelize, especially the youth and those who have drifted from the Church.

Build unity and peace: Become instruments of reconciliation within the Church and society, following the example of Saint Catherine.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Church today still needs Lay Dominicans who pray deeply, sacrifice generously, and act courageously.

Let us not underestimate our vocation. Let us not remain on the sidelines.

Like Saint Catherine of Siena, may we set the world on fire with the truth and love of Christ.

In Saint Dominic,

Dr. Dave Ceasar Dela Cruz, O.P.
President
April 29, 2026

29/04/2026

26/04/2026

The Marikina Lay Dominicans congratulate the newly elected Provincial Government of the Lay Dominicans of the Philippines, especially our new Provincial President, Hon. B.M. Harold R Espeleta, O.P., together with his Council members. Among them is our very own President of the Marikina Lay Dominicans, Dr. Dave Ceasar F. Dela Cruz, O.P.

President: B.M. Roman Harold R. Espeleta, O.P.
Council Member 1: Dr. Eugene A. de los Santos, O.P.
Council Member 2: Atty. Michelle G. Bernardo, O.P.
Council Member 3: Mr. Mark L. delos Santos, O.P.
Council Member 4: Ms. Julie Ann G. Ogayon, O.P.
Council Member 5: Dr. Dave Ceasar F. Dela Cruz, O.P.
Council Member 6: Mrs. Mercedes O. Perez, O.P.

26/04/2026

26/04/2026

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We Give You Praise
A Catechesis on the Eucharistic Prayer IV
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21/04/2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Saint Dominic,

Greetings in Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord!

On Saturday, April 25, we, the Lay Dominicans in the Philippines, will gather as one family at the University of Santo Tomas for our Annual Assembly. This year’s gathering is particularly significant, as the triennium of Dr. Eugene Delos Santos, OP, and his Council comes to a close, culminating in the election of our new Provincial Government.

We are reminded that our Dominican vocation is rooted in both study and community, for as St. Dominic taught through his life, we are to “speak only to God or about God.” Likewise, St. Thomas Aquinas affirms: “Contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere” — to contemplate and to share with others the fruits of contemplation.

As your President, I strongly urge all who are able to attend this important assembly. Together, let us listen, learn, and grow as we reflect on our call to become Stewards of Grace. This mission is especially urgent for us as Lay Dominicans, for to be a “grace to others” is to bring Christ into the realities of the world in which we live.

In the afternoon, the capitulars or representatives of each chapter will gather to elect our new Provincial President and Council. We express our deep gratitude to Dr. Eugene and his Council for their dedicated service over the past three years. Let us pray that this election may be holy, fruitful, and guided by the Holy Spirit, raising leaders who will remain faithful to the rich Tradition of the Dominican Order, especially our identity as the Lay Fraternity of St. Dominic, formerly known as the Third Order.

As I reflect on these past three years, I see them as a time of grace, a preparation for even greater blessings for the Lay Dominicans in the Philippines. Yet, with hope for the future, I humbly present several important concerns for our incoming leadership:

1. A Serious Commitment to Education and Formation

Formation is essential to our vocation. As St. Catherine of Siena reminds us: “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” This can only be achieved through solid intellectual and spiritual formation.

The foundations for a unified formation program have already been laid. It is now crucial to strengthen this by entrusting formation to competent and well-formed Lay Dominicans, particularly those trained in Theology, Philosophy, and related disciplines. Formation must be holistic, structured, and mission-oriented, enabling us to become effective preachers in our respective fields and states of life.

2. A Return to Dominican Tradition

While we are secular in state, we are not secularized in spirit. Our identity is rooted in our baptismal consecration and deepened by our profession in the Order. However, there is a growing concern that our vocation is sometimes reduced to that of a mere organization rather than a true participation in the life of the Order.

As St. Vincent Ferrer preached, “Whatever you do, think not of yourself, but of God.” We are called to holiness in the world, but according to the Dominican way of life: through prayer, liturgy, study, community, and apostolate. A renewed fidelity to our traditions, including our liturgical and devotional practices, is essential if we are to remain authentic witnesses of the Gospel.

3. Evaluation of Structure and Directory

We acknowledge the ongoing work on the revision of our Directory. However, it is important that this document remains faithful to our original charism and to the liturgical norms approved by the Church.

The Church teaches in the Lumen Gentium that the laity share in the mission of Christ according to their proper vocation. This calls for a structure that promotes true collaboration, respecting the role of the friars and nuns while also affirming the rightful autonomy of the laity within the Order.

A more synodal and less centralized approach may better reflect both Dominican tradition and the ecclesial vision of communion.

4. More Pastoral Engagement and Programs

As Lay Dominicans, we are sent into the world to preach the Truth. Yet, some chapters face inactivity or decline, especially due to a lack of vocations.

Encouragingly, several chapters such as those in UST, Letran, Laguna, and others are flourishing, particularly among the youth. This shows that active engagement, meaningful programs, and visible presence attract vocations.

As St. Rose of Lima exemplified in her life, holiness lived authentically in the world draws others to Christ. We must therefore become more present, proactive, and responsive to the needs of our communities.

Finally, I ask all who are able to offer sacrifices and prayers from April 22 to 24 for the success of our Assembly and especially for the Provincial Elections. Let us offer the Liturgy of the Hours and the Holy Rosary, imploring the guidance of the Holy Spirit upon our capitulars, that they may choose not by influence, but through true discernment.

As St. Dominic himself entrusted everything to prayer, so must we.
Be assured of my prayers and sacrifices as we offer these acts of love for our beloved Venerable Third Order.

In St. Dominic,
Dr. Dave Ceasar F. Dela Cruz, OP
President

14/04/2026

The Filipino head of the worldwide Dominican order has reaffirmed support for Pope Leo XIV and called for unity and peace, following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump that called the pontiff “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy.”

Click the link in the comments for the full story.

05/04/2026

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAPTER - Easter Message 2026

Dearest Brothers and Sisters in the Order,

Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen! A blessed and joyful Easter to all of you!

Some of you may wonder, “Why is Saint Mary Magdalene a co-patroness of the Dominican Order?” Historically, one reason is that the friars were entrusted with the care of her shrine in France. This led the General Chapter of Bologna in 1297 to elevate her celebration to a greater feast within the Order. Yet beyond this historical reason lies a deeper one: we look to her as a model of the spiritual life.

As members of the Order, we are preachers in our daily lives, called to proclaim that Jesus is risen from the dead. The Gospel of the Resurrection is not preached only from the pulpit or ambo within churches, but also from the “ambo of the world.” Your ambo may be your family, your circle of friends, your workplace or school, or even the streets where you carry out your apostolates—whether communal or personal—living our vocation as brothers and sisters journeying together in the Order.

Like Mary Magdalene in the Gospel, we are sent to call others and lead them back to “Galilee,” the place where everything began. Our Galilee is our repentance, our conversion, and our change of heart—purified through the disciplines and graces of Lent, Holy Week, and the Easter Triduum. Yet before we can invite others, we must first return there ourselves. Have we truly changed? Are we now more faithful? Are we ready to embrace the mission God has entrusted to us?

What gave Mary Magdalene the courage to proclaim to the disciples that the Lord had risen? It was her profound experience of God’s mercy, as recounted in the Gospels. She encountered the Lord personally, and from that encounter flowed her mission. What she experienced, she proclaimed.

Our sister, Saint Catherine of Siena, beautifully exhorts us: “I want you to follow the Magdalen, that lovely woman in love, who never let go of the tree of the most holy Cross. With perseverance she was bathed in the blood of God’s Son… she so filled her memory, heart, and understanding with Him that she became incapable of loving anything but Christ Jesus. This is what I want you to do until the end of your life—growing from strength to strength. Persevere day after day. Never give up.”

This Easter, let us continue the discipline we embraced during our season of preparation, and be guided by the way of life that Saint Dominic and our Order teach us. Let us ask the Lord for the grace of perseverance and zeal, so that we may continue our conversion, faithfully follow Christ, live what He has taught us, and embrace the joy of Easter—a joy born of true conversion.

May Jesus, the Risen Lord, bless us all and strengthen us to be true preachers of the Resurrection, bringing joy, hope, and faith to the “ambo of the world.”

Go forth, then, and proclaim with your lives: the Lord is truly risen!

Yours in Saint Dominic,
Dr. Dave Ceasar Dela Cruz, OP
(Ivan Martin of the Immaculate Conception)