Six members who began their novitiate at the time the chapter was established made their profession in the Chapter of Mary Mediatrix in Evansville, Indiana, on 15 November 2021: Fr. Jack (Dominic) Durchholz; Deacon Tom (Thomas Mary) Goebel; Fr. Jim (Dominic) Koressel; Deacon Tom (Damien of Mary Immaculate) Kempf; Fr. John (James Martin) Pfister; and Fr. Jeff (Montfort) Read.
The rite of profession was held within the Holy Eucharist celebrated at the chapel of Cardinal Indiana, the center house of activities for the Chapter and its parallel Lay Dominican Chapter, the Woman Clothed with the Sun. Each member made his promise before the Provincial Promoter, fr. Michael Monshau, OP, who was also the Mass celebrant and preacher, as well as the presider of the rite. Immediately upon the conclusion of the profession Mass, the Chapter proceeded to elect its prior, Fr. Koressel, and the members of the Chapter council: Deacon Goebel, Fr. Read, and Fr. Durchholz. The new council likewise approved the nominations of Deacon Goebel as Sub-Prior, and Deacon Kempf as novice master.
As its first order of business, the Chapter articulated a clear mission statement to guide the many apostolic initiatives they share with the Lay Dominican Chapter of Woman Clothed with the Sun. The joint chapters are in association with each other through an entity called the Servants of the Redemptor. In addition to its particular relationship with a lay chapter, Mary Mediatrix Chapter is also unique for being the only one in the Chicago Province to include permanent deacons in its membership. Whereas many value the role that the priestly fraternities plays as a fraternal community for mutual support between priests, the Order allows for the membership of permanent deacons through dispensation. Such dispensation was granted upon the unanimous request of the Chapter members.
Having been erected on 7 November 2020, the Chapter of Mary Mediatrix is the youngest of the four chapters of the Priestly Fraternities of St. Dominic under the Province of St. Albert the Great, USA. It now has seven professed members, and arrangements are underway for the profession of the two other members, namely, Deacons Franco (Paul Maria) Cottrell and John (Ephraim) McMullen, who could not be present on the occasion. These brethren join Fr. Mauro (Egidio) Rodas, a professed member who agreed to transfer one year ago from the St. Vincent Ferrer Chapter, thereby providing the new Indiana chapter with a professed member so that it could begin to function.
fr. Michael Monshau, OP
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