New formation material will be distributed after the June gathering. Bishop has asked that all reference to sacrifice be removed from your local training materials. If you have any questions, contact me directly at OPDcommunications@live.com
-Br. John M, OPD
May 21, 2012
Brothers and Sisters,
We have heard it said that it is the Word of God that brings light to the heart. Word, in our tradition is not just important, but Divine. It is because of this idea that today we change our words to more closely mirror the image of the Divine. Our Community has been known as the Order of Penance of Saint Dominic because we came out from the Order formed by the idea of Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers of the Roman way. This year marks the eighth year of our inception. Like our founder, symbolized by the eight-pointed star, we represent oneness, peace, and divinity in the world. The idea of penance is foreign to us although we chose the title Order of Penance as homage to our founder and to the generations of men and women who gave their lives to perpetuate the mission of the preacher of Love.
In these last few years we have listened closely to the Voice of Love and followed the path of Love as we have continued to do the work of evolution…putting out into the deep of Life so that we may return to our source with Love unbound, ready for the next stage of existence. We are ready now to stand firmly on the foundation of Love. We are ready now to come into our own.
We reject the idea that suffering is of value. We reject the idea that a Loving Divinity would ask us to suffer. We reject the idea that a Loving Divinity would ask its own creation to suffer in order to gain eternal life. We repent of our former belief in a God that permits His own Son to suffer unjustly for the failings of others. No loving parent would permit this. Therefore no loving Divinity can abide in this idea.
Today we pronounce with the power of God’s own voice a new name for our Community and with it freedom from suffering and penance. We have walked the path set out for us in all humility. Now we walk our own path of oneness, peace, and divinity. We lay down the idea of penance and take up the idea of Peace. We are the OPD. We stand for Oneness, Peace, Divinity.
By the authority of my voice and by my own seal, I am,
+Tomas Martin Bell, OpD
Bishop and Presiding Minister of the
Ecumenical Brothers and Sisters of OPD
