Living in the Love of God

“This is the realization of a dream. The seed that God planted in us has grown into a mighty tree blossoming and producing much fruit. I am grateful to God for the life that he has given to me and this community. I am also grateful to the Holy Father... His words have awakened the very Spirit of God inside me and have helped me to see a new spiritual dimension that brings life to the community. Now, as a fully catholic community, we will live the dream. We have journeyed long together and now God has given us a home where we will be able to reap and to sow in His garden.”
+Tomas Martin, OPD

Presiding Minister of the OPD Community

The Nature and Work of the Community
The Order of Penance of St. Dominic was founded on November 5, 2006 with the profession of private vows of Brother Thomas. Bishop Sherman R. Mosley, DD of the OCCA, witnessed the profession of vows, which took place at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Absecon, NJ. The Association is located within the State of New Jersey. The purpose of the Community is to renew the lifestyle of the First Rule of the Third Order of St. Dominic of 1285, in our own lives and our modern world (following modern Statutes) for the love of God and as a public witness to the Gospel in the world, so as to fulfill our Mission, and share God's Light with others. Members live the Gospel with the goal of personal sanctity and eternal life in Christ.

The Mission of the Community is to teach the faithful to seek union with God in fulfillment of the Gospel by hearing the Word of God in their hearts so as to ascend to the Light of Spirit in the manner and according to the example of the early members in the Church, which included many Saints and Blessed, and most certainly include St. Dominic, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Martin de Porres.

The Order of Penance of St. Dominic began to take form in the year 2004 when members of the Third Order Dominican community in Camden, NJ requested to live a common life of religion according to the prescriptions of the First Rule of the Third Order of Saint Dominic of 1285 while still within the Secular world and to promote the vocation and mission of the Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary founded by the Venerable Father Damien Marie Saintourens, OP. These first members felt called to deepen their commitment as tertiaries by making private vows and witnessing to these vows in a public way. This first group of the Association is the Fellowship of Saint Martin de Porres.

The Order of Penance of St. Dominic is a Community of the Faithful whose members seek to live the Gospel more fully in their lives by following the spirit of Christ and reaching the ascension of the spirit as called for in the Gospel. Profession in the Community of the Order of Penance of St. Dominic is open to all of the faithful regardless of their affiliation with any Third Order or other Church group in accordance with the Statutes. Eligibility for professed membership in the Order of Penance of St. Dominic is extended to all the fully initiated members of the Faith who are 18 years of age or older in accordance with the Statutes.

The vision of the Community is to promote the renewed practice of Gospel Life in the Church among the faithful consistent with the Gospel itself, the spirit of the First Rule of the Third Order of St. Dominic of 1285, and Statutes of the Association, which were written in 2006 and amended in 2010; and to promote the mission of the Our Lady of the Well ministry as one of the apostolic works of the people of God. We endeavor to lead lives that will enable us to ascend to higher spiritual levels by uniting ourselves with the Light of the Spirit of the Universe.

Primum non nocere - Above all, do no harm
Our true catholic (universal) vision includes a pledge to do no harm to any other, but instead to give aid to any who seek, in love, the Universal Spiritual Light.

The spirituality of the Community is that of the Gospel itself, which endorses lives of peace, love, and mercy so as to live in the world with Christ. Membership in the Association both causes and is the fruit of each individual’s personal conversion and desire to live the Gospel more perfectly in his or her own life. Our spirituality includes developing an understanding of many faiths both ancient and contemporary in an effort to foster dialogue among believers.

About the OPD

The purpose of the Association is to renew the lifestyle of the First Rule of the Third Order of St. Dominic of 1285, in our own lives and our modern world (following modern Statutes) for the love of God and as a public witness to the Gospel in the world, so as to fulfill our Mission, and save souls. Members are called to live the Gospel in a more radical and consecrated way for modern times, with the goal of personal sanctity and eternal life.


Today the community exists as a true catholic community that serves the Gospel. The community has ties to the Traditional Roman Catholic, Old Roman Catholic, Independent Catholic, Orthodox churches, as well as to communities that embrace a variety of non-Christian spiritualities. The Gospel message can be preached to all mankind regardless of one’s association. Keeping that fact in mind, the OPD will minister to all those who seek the Gospel. Branch chapters of the OPD will normally fall under the protection of a local bishop of the Church.

Members are authorized to use the letters OPD after their name as a public witness of their conversion to community life and the salutation “brother” for male members or “sister” for female members in conversation or correspondence. The use of the public habit of the community is optional for all professed members who have requested vesting in the habit.

The vision of the Association is to promote the renewed practice of Gospel Life in the Church among the faithful consistent with the Gospel itself and the traditions of the Church, the spirit of the First Rule of the Third Order of St. Dominic of 1285, and Statutes of the Association, which were written in 2006 and amended in 2010; and to work to win souls for God

The spirituality of the Association is that of the Gospel itself, which endorses lives of mercy, and love in the world for all people. Membership in the Association both causes and is the fruit of each individual’s personal conversion and desire to live the Gospel more perfectly in his or her own life.

Professed members live a lifestyle of spiritual obedience, poverty, and mission. Even though we take our name from the example of the first community of laity who came together in the preaching mission of the Gospel (as connected to the Dominican Order), we strive to live our lives with peace and joy. The term "penance" in our name should not lead anyone to think that our community advocates any form of personal suffering. On the contrary, our first members came together out of love for God, each other, and community. We are people of joy who desire that others find the joy in their lives that God, family, and community can bring.

Spirit of Obedience
The member strives to live according to the Gospel which advocates following one’s personal conscience by listening to the Word of God in one’s heart. The purpose of the idea of obedience is to strive to live God's will in one’s life through joy. Members are encouraged to remember that God calls us to a life of happiness. Our association does not advocate any practice that causes suffering or hardship to any member. Our “penance” is turned now to joy in God’s love. Our association is one that focuses on being a witness in the world. We believe that Love and Peace represent God more than any personal suffering.

Spirit of Poverty
The member advocates a humble lifestyle and makes an effort to lend financial support the mission of the Order of Penance of Saint Dominic when able. No member of the Association will be required to relinquish any resources in his personal possession. A life of “poverty” is not to be considered a life of destitution. It is to be a lifestyle that turns away from greed and becomes a lifestyle of sharing of resources for the good of others. Members should enjoy the benefit of a comfortable lifestyle free from financial worries so as to more fully devote themselves to the apostolic works of the Community. All members will receive the blessing of God in their respective financial situation.

Spirit of Mission
The member strives to engage in some apostolic work for the good of others.

Members should find a program of spirituality that brings them closer to God's love. We do not mandate any specific rituals or practices in this area. We advocate a spiritual life that is opened to experience a variety of perspectives.

Some of the practices embraced by our members…

• Morning and Evening Prayer, using the Divine Office
• Pray for all members of the Association and the Order of Preachers
• Pray for the Church and the Pope
• Spiritual Reading/Study
• Contemplative meditation
• Energy work and spiritual healing
• Scripture Reading in addition to Spiritual Reading
• Native American Spirituality
• Eastern Religious Studies
• Hebrew Studies
• Weekly attendance at the Traditional Rite Liturgy
• Non-denominational worship
• Monthly Community meeting
• Group Apostolate programs
• On-going Spirirtual Formation

Ministries of the Order of Penance of Saint Dominic...

The OPD engages in Deliverance Ministry, Homeless Ministry, Healing and Prayer Ministry, Promotion of the Perpetual Rosary Association, Outreach ministry, Teaching, Aid to Shut-ins, and Nursing Home Ministry. We minister with a special concern for those who feel cut off from the Church.

The OPD is open to new any new ministry that spreads the Light of God and gives the children of God knowledge of Salvation by the forgiveness of their sins...freeing them to experience the light within them.

Do you feel a call to bring the Light of Love to others?
For More Information Contact:
Bp. Tomas-Martin, OPD
DominicanVocations@hotmail.com