Welcome to Dominican Sisters of Houston, Texas

, (strangled October 28, 1748).
   The motive for going to China was to let Christ be known in this vast land. These missionary
     brothers became Chinese among the Chinese, assuming Chinese names and dress. They
   wore their hair in pony-tails, adapted to local usage in food and even sleeping. Their lives were
    adapted to Chinese culture, most of which was obviously not in contrast to the gospel. They
     visited many Christian communities in China and formed a group of lay Dominicans to assist
    them in their missionary endeavor. One of the things they did was to set up orphanages for
     female infants who would have been killed because of the custom of the first-born having to be
    male. The missionaries with their strange rituals and teachings were not trusted by the
     authorities of this vast country and persecution was common. Ultimately they gave their lives
     for the gospel. (Information from IDI October 2000 issue)
3 - Bl. Dominic Spadafora, friar and priest (c.1450-1521) - Sicily
4 - HOLY FATHER ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, deacon (1182-1226) - Italy.
      The special celebration of his feast in the liturgy of the Order expresses the bond which
      exists between the Friars Minor and the Friars Preachers based upon the bond which
      existed between their founders.
5 - Bl. Raymond of Capua, friar, priest and Master of the Order (c.1330-1399) - Italy.
     Spiritual director for Catherine of Siena and whose friend, confidant, biographer, guide
     and disciple he became.
6 - Bl. Bartholomeo Longo, lay Dominican (1841-1926) - Italy
7 - Our Lady of the Rosary
8 - Bl. Ambrose Sansedone, friar and priest (1220-1287) - Italy
     Bl. Matthew Carreri, friar and priest (c.1420-1470)
9- St. Louis Bertrand, friar and priest (1526-1581) - Spain

St. Louis entered the Order at 18 years of age. He served as Novice Master and then was missioned to Colombia, S.A. where he was given the gift of communicating with the native peoples in their own tongues. With the encouragement of Bartholomeo de las Casas, he defended their rights against the Spanish conquerors. After seven years in New Granada, he returned to Spain where he was again named Master of Novices. He inspired the young men to love of God and missionary zeal. St. Louis is the patron of novitiates and formation personnel.

From a print from
Mission San José

11- Bl. James of Ulm, friar and religious (1407-1491) - Germany.
       Co-operator brother who was adept at stained-glass making.
13- Bl. Magdalen Panatieri, lay Dominican and virgin (1443-1503) - Italy
14- Bl. Marie Poussepin, lay tertiary, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation
      (1653-1744) - France
19- Bl. Mother Agnes de Jesus Goland, nun and virgin (1602-1634) - France
21- Bl. Peter of Cità di Castello, friar and priest (1390-1445) - Italy
22- Anniversary of the dedication of the church of "Les Jacobins,"
       The Dominicans, in Toulouse. One of the most famous of the Dominican churches
       in the early days of the Order. St. Thomas Aquinas is buried there.
25- Bl. Peter Geremia, friar and priest (1399-1452) - Italy
26- Bl. Damian of Finale, friar and priest (beginning of 15th c. -1484) - Italy
27- Bl. Bartholomew of Vicenza, friar and priest (c.1200-1270) - Italy
30- Bl. Benvenuta Bojani, lay Dominican and virgin (1255-1292) - Italy

November
1 - All Saints
3- St. Martin de Porres, friar and religious (1579-1639) - Peru

Stained glass window:
Holy Rosary Church, Houston
Photographer:
George McCracken

Son of a Spanish nobleman and a freed slave, he was noted for his care of the poor and sick. Despised by his aristocratic father, he was badly neglected in early childhood. As a boy he studied medicine which later he put to use in serving the poor. Skilled as a surgeon and healer, he also was able to communicate with animals. The "legend of the rats" is particularly engaging as it shows a man whose compassion extended even to household "pests."

5 - Bl. Simon Ballachi, friar and religious (c.1240-1319) - Italy
6 - Bl. Francis de Capillas and Alfonsus Navarette, friars and priests and companions,
      matyrs (d.1617, 1622, 1614-1632, 1648, 1747, 1748). Spanish and native Japanese
     Dominicans martyred in Japan and others in China.
7 - All Saints of the Order of Preachers
8 - Anniversary of deceased brothers and sisters of the Order of Preachers
14- Bl. Lucy of Narni, sister and virgin (1430-1511) - Sicily
       Bl. John Liccio, friar and priest (1400-1511) - Sicily. Ninety-six years in the
       Dominican habit.
15- St. Albert the Great, friar, bishop and Doctor of the Church (beginning of 13th c.-1280)
       Germany.

Stained glass window:
Holy Rosary Church, Houston
Photographer:
George McCracken

Helped introduce Aristotelian physics as interpreted by Jewish and Arabian philosophers into Western thought. Thomas Aquinas was his student. He attempted to blend the wisdom of the saints with human knowledge, was a distinguished writer and teacher, but was even more noted for his holy life and pastoral charity. He is patron of those involved in natural sciences.

17- St. Giordano Ansalone, missionary and martyr of the Order of Preachers (1598-1634)
       Sicily. St Giordano was martyred in Nagasaki on November 17, l634 and canonized
       October 18, 1987.
19- Bl. James Benefatti, friar and bishop (latter half of the 13th c. - 1332) - Italy
24- St. Ignatius Delgado, friar and bishop, St.. Vincent Liem, friar and priest,
       St. Dominic An-Kham, lay Dominican and husband, and companions, martyrs.
       ll7 martyred during the 18th and 19th c. in the region now known as Vietnam.
25- Bl. Margaret of Savoy, nun and widow (c.1382-1464) - France

December
1 - Bl. John of Vercelli, friar and priest (beginning of 13th c. - 1283) - Italy
8 - Immaculate Conception of Mary
16- Bl. Sebastian Maggi, friar and priest (1414-1496) - Italy
22- Anniversary of the approval of the Order
25- Christmas