St. Dominic Church is a Christ-centered, Roman Catholic, and Dominican parish for the people of Southwest, DC and beyond. Our mission is to preach the Gospel and make disciples, glorify God through the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, build up the communion of the Church, and serve others through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Our mission statement was crafted over a period of months in our parish council and finalized in 2016. There is significance to every word and phrase. We offer you here a reflection over the significance of each of its elements:
You will notice that the mission statement consists of two sentences. The first sentence is a statement about identity. Four things in particular identify us:
The second sentence is vision-oriented and purpose-driven. It is centered around the rich theological and New Testament concepts of Communion and Mission, in Latin Communio and Missio. The concept of Communion comes from the Greek word, Koinonia, a word rich in significance in the New Testament. In short, it is spiritual community, community suffused with the love of God, the risen presence of Jesus, and the grace of the Holy Spirit. The concept of Mission comes from the Greek word, Apostoleo, which means to send. The "apostles" of Jesus are those sent out, to bring the Gospel and His salvation to the ends of the world.
The Gospel of Mark says that Jesus called His disciples "to be with Him, and to be sent out" (Mk 1:14). To be with Him: this is the call of Jesus toward Communio. To be sent out: this is the call of Jesus toward Missio, a mission flowing from being with Him: the Communio. Evangelization in the Gospel of John is depicted principally as drawing into the Communio, whereas the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) depict the work of evangelization as a going-out to draw in. Thus, John emphasizes Communio, while the other three Gospels emphasize Missio. At the same time, we find elements of both in all of the Gospels. It is a matter of emphasis, not disagreement. It should also be noted that the concepts of Communio and Missio are major themes in all the documents of the Church on different vocations (in Pastores Dabo Vobis on the vocation of priests, Vita Consecrata on the vocation of religious life, and Christefideles Laici on the vocation of the laity). On the level of the entire Church, but also within each vocation, the Church wants us all to experience and build up a deep sense of Communio, from which a powerful Missio springs. In other words, the presence and love of Christ in community at different levels of the Church should lead to zealous and fruitful witness, service, and evangelization.
Here is a document (for your meditation) that lists the significant passages where the Greek word κοινωνία (communio in Latin) comes up in the New Testament, as well as the phrase "one another," which captures some of the lived-out ideals of Communio:
You will notice that the mission statement consists of two sentences. The first sentence is a statement about identity. Four things in particular identify us:
- Christ-centered: As St. Paul said, "As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." —Colossians 2:6–7
- Roman Catholic: We are fully in union with the local bishop and with the bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter, on whom Jesus founded His Church (Matthew 16:13–19).
- Dominican: From the beginning our parish was entrusted to the pastoral care of the Order of Preachers founded by St. Dominic in 1216, popularly knowns as the "Dominicans" (in Latin, Dominicanes is the combination of two words, Domini and Canes, meaning the "Dogs of the Lord"). The background of dog is found in a dream which St. Dominic's mother had concerning Dominic when she was pregnant with him.
- Southwest, DC and beyond: Washington, DC is divided into four quadrants. Each of the quadrants have several Catholic churches within them, except the Southwest quadrant, which only has one because of its smaller size, St. Dominic. The Southwest quadrant can be thought of it two parts: North of I-395 consists in federal buildings, business, hotels, the National Mall, and many monuments and museums. South of I-395 is the neighborhood of the Southwest quadrant, stretching south to the Potomac and East toward South Capitol Street. The southwest quadrant is the focus of our ministry, since that is our parochial jurisdiction. At the same time, we welcome all those who visit or who want to belong to the parish but who live elsewhere. We also seek to offer many things to people in the larger area. Many people who are not parishioners at St. Dominic but who work near the church love to come to daily Mass, and St. Dominic is an important part of their spiritual lives.
The second sentence is vision-oriented and purpose-driven. It is centered around the rich theological and New Testament concepts of Communion and Mission, in Latin Communio and Missio. The concept of Communion comes from the Greek word, Koinonia, a word rich in significance in the New Testament. In short, it is spiritual community, community suffused with the love of God, the risen presence of Jesus, and the grace of the Holy Spirit. The concept of Mission comes from the Greek word, Apostoleo, which means to send. The "apostles" of Jesus are those sent out, to bring the Gospel and His salvation to the ends of the world.
The Gospel of Mark says that Jesus called His disciples "to be with Him, and to be sent out" (Mk 1:14). To be with Him: this is the call of Jesus toward Communio. To be sent out: this is the call of Jesus toward Missio, a mission flowing from being with Him: the Communio. Evangelization in the Gospel of John is depicted principally as drawing into the Communio, whereas the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) depict the work of evangelization as a going-out to draw in. Thus, John emphasizes Communio, while the other three Gospels emphasize Missio. At the same time, we find elements of both in all of the Gospels. It is a matter of emphasis, not disagreement. It should also be noted that the concepts of Communio and Missio are major themes in all the documents of the Church on different vocations (in Pastores Dabo Vobis on the vocation of priests, Vita Consecrata on the vocation of religious life, and Christefideles Laici on the vocation of the laity). On the level of the entire Church, but also within each vocation, the Church wants us all to experience and build up a deep sense of Communio, from which a powerful Missio springs. In other words, the presence and love of Christ in community at different levels of the Church should lead to zealous and fruitful witness, service, and evangelization.
Here is a document (for your meditation) that lists the significant passages where the Greek word κοινωνία (communio in Latin) comes up in the New Testament, as well as the phrase "one another," which captures some of the lived-out ideals of Communio:
As you will see in this document, Communio is a very rich and beautiful concept in the New Testament that expresses the harmony that the early Christians experienced in being deeply united to God through Christ (1 Cor 1:9; 1 Jn 1:3), to the Holy Spirit (Phil 2:1), to one another in community (Acts 2:42), to the Church and her leaders (Gal 2:9), in the Eucharist (1 Cor 10:16; Acts 2:42), in prayer (Acts 2:42), in the Gospel (Phil 1:5), in faith (Philem 6), in goodness and right living (2 Cor 6:14; 1 Jn 1:6), in participation in the sufferings and resurrection of Jesus (Phil 3:10), and in service (Rom 15:26; 2 Cor 8:4; 9:13; Heb 13:6). The mystery of God can be described as a Communio: God is one in three divine Persons. The Church can be called a communio. In the Apostles’ Creed, we say that we believe in the Communio Sanctorum, the Communion of the Saints. We call the Eucharist Communio when received. Communio combines both love of God and neighbor in one concept. Communio is spiritual community suffused with God’s Trinitarian love and destined to share in the inner love and life of God forever. Even heaven is an eternal Communio with God. The word Communio can be seen to capture and incorporate all aspects of our faith in one single, yet rich, concept. Communio, thought of in this way, then, captures what we as a parish are trying to be, and grow and build each other up in. Our Communio is with Jesus Christ and one another. You are invited into this Communio. All of this, then, is behind the simple phrase, "build up the communion of the Church" within the mission statement.
So, part of our mission is to be built up in communion, to built up in God's grace in Christ. But this mission also "goes out." It goes out in three different ways, according to the priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices of Christ. What is the background of seeing the whole mission of Christ in terms of the priestly, prophetic, and kingly dimensions of His ministry?
God worked through three principal figures in the Old Testament to form His people: Priests, Prophets, and Kings. God forgave, blessed, and sanctified the people through priests. He exhorted and taught them through the prophets. He governed and served them through kings. Since Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament, He fulfills all three of these roles perfectly in Himself. That is why He is depicted as priest, prophet, and king in the New Testament. When we are baptized into Christ, we are baptized into this threefold mission of His. Indeed, each of us in our own way are called to live out the priestly, prophetic, and kingly mission of Christ. The following bookfold documents illustrate and explain this in more depth:
The parish as a whole also shares in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices of Christ. The liturgy and sacraments fall under the priestly mission. Preaching, teaching, and forming disciples at all levels fall under the prophetic mission. Shepherding, administering the parish, and serving in charity all fall under the kingly mission. Thus, the following phrases in our mission statement summarize these three dimensions:
- glorify God through the Eucharist and the other Sacraments (Priestly Mission)
- preach the Gospel and make disciples (Prophetic Mission)
- serve others through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy (Kingly Mission)
There are also deep Scriptural roots to the concepts and language here:
Glorify:
- "This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory." —John 2:11
- “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified." —John 12:23
- “Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified.” —John 13:31
- “He (the Holy Spirit) will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” —John 16:14
- “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you.” —John 17:1
The Eucharist
- See especially John 6; 1 Corinthians 10–11; Luke 24; and the accounts of the Last Supper in the Gospels
Other Sacraments
- Baptism: John 3:5; Mark 16:15–16; Matthew 28:19–20; 1 Peter 3:20; Colossians 2:9; Galatians 3:26; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:3; Titus 3:5–6; Ephesians 5:25–28; Acts 2:38; 22:16
- Confirmation: Acts 2; 8:14–18; 19:1–7; Heb 6:1–2
- Penance: John 20:23; 2 Corinthians 2:10–11
- Anointing of the Sick: Mark 6:13; James 5:14–15
- Holy Orders: Matthew 10; 26:17–56; Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6
- Matrimony: Matthew 25:1–10; Mark 2:20; 10:1–12; John 2:1–11; 3:29; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:21–33; Revelation 19:6–9; 21:2, 9; 22:17
Preach the Gospel and Make Disciples
- "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." —Mark 1:15
- "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age." —Matthew 28:19–20
- "Him (Christ) we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ. For this I toil, striving with all the energy which He mightily inspires within me." —Colossians 1:28–29
- "My little children, with whom I am in again in travail until Christ be formed in you!" —Galatians 4:19
- For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith. —Romans 1:16
Service
- "For the Son of Man also came not be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." —Mark 10:45
- "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." —John 13:12–15
Works of Mercy
- "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcome me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. . . . Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." —Matthew 25:35–36, 40
- "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." —Matthew 5:7
- "In the days of Shalmaneser I performed many acts of charity to my brethren. I would give my bread to the hungry and my clothing to the naked; and if I saw any one of my people dead and thrown behind the wall of Nineveh, I would bury him." —Tobit 1:16–17
- "And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that none of you repays evil with evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." —1 Thessalonians 5:14
