The order of Preachers, commonly called 'The Dominicans' after our founder St. Dominic, was established in the early thirteenth century. Domingo de Guzman, a Spanish nobleman, envisioned an Order devoted to “the holy preaching,” or preaching the truth of the gospel.

When in December 1216, Pope Honorius III approved our Order; he gave life to Dominic’s vision. The Pope entrusted Dominic and his followers with the task of preaching. There was a desperate need in the Church for trained preachers because Bishops, who were at that time the only ones allowed by Church law to preach, were overwhelmed by the needs of the day.

The source of Dominican spirituality is this same “holy preaching”. Dominic adapted the structures of monasticism so that the friars, professing the evangelical counsels, of poverty, chastity and obedience, would be a highly mobile group of itinerant preachers, traveling wherever needed. “Preaching for the salvation of souls” is the goal and purpose of the Order.

As a dynamic body of friars (both ordained and non-ordained), cloistered nuns, active sisters and laity, the Dominicans, after almost 800 years, maintain a profound commitment to “the four pillars”: prayer, community, study and ministry. These are the foundations of the life Dominic envisioned for his followers. The pillars are as relevant today as they were in the thirteenth century. They are what make us “Dominican”.

“VERITAS” is synonymous with the Dominicans as we always search for and preach the truth Dominicans are called
'To Praise, To Bless, To Preach' - 'Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare'.

In 1863 Louis Joachim Gonin, a Dominican from France, became the fourth archbishop of Port Of Spain. This first Dominican Archbishop arrived with seven Dominican Friars in 1864 to set up a community in the city immediately south of the Cathedral. Due to the pressing shortage of clergy, he invited the Dominicans to assist in parishes for a short period. This need continued for almost 140 years! The majority of parishes were entrusted to them and they were responsible over this period of time for the majority of the 133 primary schools founded in the Archdiocese. They founded the Credit Union Movement, the Catholic News and its predecessor, the Belmont Orphanage, and arranged the bringing of the Dominican Sisters to serve the lepers first in Cocorite and then in Chacachacare where a Dominican friar assisted.

In 1889 Patrick Vincent Flood, an Irish Dominican, became the fifth archbishop of Port of Spain. In 1895 the Trinidad mission, which had been administered by French Dominican friars since 1864, was passed on by pontifical decree to the Dominican friars of the province of Ireland.

The Dominicans also established the Catholic Truth Agency in the early nineteen twenties, then the publishing house St. Dominic Press now called the Dominican Book Center located on the Dominican compound at Diego Martin, the Catholic Evidence Guild which trained lay people in knowing and presenting the truths of faith to others, the radio and television apostolate which flourished in the nineteen forties to seventies, among other works.

The official policy of the Dominican Friars was to establish a local Church with its own priests serving the people of this nation in parishes. With this objective, they directed all aspirants to the priesthood towards the local seminary that was founded in 1943.

In 1955 the Dominicans purchased the property at Morne Coco Road in Diego Martin for the establishment of a Community, and with the handing over of the administration of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to the diocesan clergy, the Dominican community transferred to St. Finbar’s in 1972.

Presently in Trinidad and Tobago, there are three communities of Friars. These are at Holy Cross Priory in Arima, The House of the Immaculate Conception, Diego Martin and at St. Joseph. Friars serving in the various parishes would come to these communities for repose and to engender community bonds

St. Finbar’s RC Church and the Dominicans have co-existed at Morne Coco Road since 1957. The 'House of the Immaculate Conception' became an official Dominican House with the transfer of the community from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The Community now comprise Fr. Thomas Lawson, OP, Fr. Paschal Tiernan, OP and Fr. Michael Hayden, OP.

Our Dominican Laity Group - The Chapter of St. Margaret of Hungary - meets on the 3^rd Monday of every month at 6:00 pm. in the sacristy of the Church. Format of the Meeting: Evening Prayer, Discussion, Study, Rosary.

For detailed information, contact the secretary Nelia Martineau at 637-8170. Nelia is the secretary of the Chapter of St. Margaret of Hungary.

The history of the Dominican Laity in Trinidad and Tobago goes back to 1871. This history began with the zealous Fr. Forestier who established the first fraternity with a group of very devoted ladies who helped him care for orphans he had gathered together in a house in Belmont. Since then other fraternities were formed. These fraternities provided the vehicle for a sound Domnican Spirituality for those who could have shared in its life. Those who belonged to the fraternities met regularly for prayer and study.

The Second Vatican Council did much to open the way for a more vibrant lay participation in communities. There is now, more than ever, a growing sense of co-responsibility and a growing sense of community.

The present is a time when the laity is awakening to the call of the Gospel and the challenges of society with new boldness and renewed courage. It is a time when they feel themselves truly a part of this growing Church, which invites men and women every day to ensure that their contribution is seen and felt as a dynamic experience. Thus it is, by their baptism the laity are guaranteed a share in the work of spreading the gospel. Spreading the gospel is the work of Dominicans.

There are ten 'Chapters' or 'Fraternities' of Lay Dominicans in Trinidad. These are in Carenage, Diego Martin, Port of Spain, Barataria, St. Joseph, Arima, Sangre Grande, Chaguanas, Point Fortin and Cedros.