New book relates history of Dominican Friars in New Zealand

Preachers, Pastors, Prophets – The Dominican Friars in Aotearoa by Gisborne historian Susannah Grant highlights the relevance of their values today, emphasising community and deeper meaning in relationships.

Ms Grant has written other Church-related books, including Windows on a Women’s World: The Dominican Sisters of Aotearoa New Zealand (2017). While working on the book about the Dominican sisters, she came to know the friars, and was asked by Fr Kevin Toomey OP if she would write the friars’ history in this country.

The friars wanted an academic history by a professional historian and gave her absolute freedom, Ms Grant said.

“The Dominican friars have only ever been a small group in New Zealand, but they have had a wide reach,” she said.

“They have worked as priests in Catholic parishes. They have worked as chaplains in universities, teachers’ colleges and hospitals, and they worked in a range of peace and justice ministries.”

Ms Grant said she feels fortunate to have been able to carry out this work.

“I got to spend time with fascinating people who have lived in such a different way, in many ways a very counter-cultural way, vowing themselves to chastity, poverty and obedience, devoting their lives to God and to helping other people,” she said.

“For me personally, the process of research and writing in this field is a chance to think about the bigger questions in life. But it’s also about telling very human stories – acknowledging the good and noble, funny and fickle, sad and sinful, and ordinary stories which make up the broader story of religious life in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

She said that even though there are only two elderly Dominican friars living in New Zealand now, “I think what they stand for is more relevant than ever”.

The book, which also addresses historical cases of sexual abuse, was launched recently in Gisborne and Auckland.

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Susannah Grant book highlights Dominican Friars role (By Kim Parkinson/Gisborne Herald)