The Global Dominican Family
The Dominican Family is a vast and diverse community present on every continent—friars, sisters, nuns, lay men and women, and members of the priestly fraternity—united by a common mission to preach the Gospel rooted in truth, compassion, and justice.
Founded by St. Dominic in 1216, this family continues to bring light to places of deep need, often amid war, displacement, and suffering.
Dominicans in Iraq: Witnesses of Resilience and Faith
In Iraq, the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena have lived through war, exile, and the destruction of their homeland—yet remain committed to rebuilding and ministering with courage. Expelled from their homes in 2014 by ISIS fighters, the Sisters spent years in displacement in Northern Iraq alongside thousands of refugees.
In 2019, a delegation of U.S. Dominicans, including Sisters Rose Ann Schlitt, OP, Nancy Jurecki, OP, and Dominican laywoman Gloria Escalona, visited the Sisters as they returned to their devastated homes and churches on the Plains of Nineveh.
The delegation bore witness to the immense faith and determination of the Iraqi Sisters, who continue to serve their communities through education, healthcare, and pastoral care, even amid physical and emotional ruins. Their presence is a sign of hope and steadfast commitment to the Gospel.
Dominicans in Ukraine: Preaching Amid War
As war erupted in Ukraine in early 2022, Dominican friars and sisters stayed with the people—praying, serving, and advocating for peace. Just hours before the Russian invasion, Dominican brothers and sisters across the globe received a moving message of solidarity from their Ukrainian counterparts, calling for prayers and international support.
Fr. Petro Balog, OP, a Dominican friar and theologian in Kyiv, spoke powerfully about Ukraine as a peaceful, creative, and free nation now under attack.
His statement affirmed the country’s commitment to peace, democracy, and sovereignty, while urging the global community to stand in support of Ukraine’s right to self-determination.
Dominican sisters from Spain, serving in Ukraine, were among those forced to evacuate, seeking safety at the Spanish Embassy. Yet many Dominicans remain—ministering in hospitals, shelters, and local parishes, embodying the Dominican mission in a time of suffering.
A Family That Stands Together
The stories from Iraq and Ukraine are only two examples of how Dominicans live out their charism in places of urgent need. Whether walking with refugees, offering theological education, tending to the wounded, or lifting voices in prayer for peace, the Global Dominican Family bears witness to the Gospel in word and deed.
Their shared life—rooted in prayer, study, community, and preaching—transcends borders and languages. Together, they form a living response to St. Dominic’s vision: a family of preachers in solidarity with the world’s most vulnerable.