Meet our New Executive Director

A Special Message from the New Executive Director of the Dominican Friars Foundation

Dear Friends,

It is with great joy and excitement that I take the helm of the Dominican Friars Foundation as Executive Director. I thank you, our benefactors, who share in our zeal to win souls for Christ, for your support and partnership in our Dominican mission of preaching for the salvation of souls.

For the past ten years, you have partnered with my brother priest, Fr. Gabriel Gillen, O.P., to build up the Order of Preachers. You have made sacrifices for those reached by our preaching, many of whom encountered the Word of God for the first time through a Dominican friar, whether in school, church, on a college campus, or even by watching one of our preaching videos online. I am excited to pray for you and I look forward to getting to know you as we work together as partners in mission.

I come to you most recently from serving as campus chaplain at the University of Louisville. From my recent experience serving on a college campus I know that young people are searching for answers but they are drowning in confusion. In fact, our society as a whole is confused and searching for answers.

Jesus Christ is the answer. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. With Him, we have abundant Life. Without Him, we do not have any life worthy of the name at all. We must shout the saving truth of Jesus Christ from the rooftops, following in the footsteps of our Holy Father St. Dominic. Together, we can proclaim Him anew to a generation very much in need. When the Word of God is proclaimed boldly, men and women respond; when they encounter Jesus Christ in the sacraments, they are transformed.

Fr. John Paul Kern, O.P. (center), and Fr. John Baptist Hoang, O.P. (right), with students of the University of Louisville Catholic Campus Ministry

This issue of BlackFriars highlights Dominican Friars engaging our culture in creative ways to preach the saving truth of Jesus Christ to people who may not otherwise encounter Him. You make this kind of creative and effective outreach possible. I am grateful to have you as a partner in this mission of shining the light of truth into darkness, bringing hope to those tempted to despair, and offering life in Christ to those languishing in spiritual death.

Please know of my prayers for you, that as a partner in mission you may be filled with the Holy Spirit, strengthened in your faith, and moved by the love of God to be a bold witness and ambassador for Christ.

I look forward to collaborating with you for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. May God bless you and your loved ones abundantly.

Yours in Christ and St. Dominic,

Fr. John Paul Kern, O.P.
Executive Director
Dominican Friars Foundation

Until November 30, your most generous offering in support of our young friars in training will be matched dollar-for-dollar by an anonymous benefactor, up to $300,000!

The Dominican friars are called to preach the Gospel in every age and in every place it is needed. Through preaching, teaching, pastoral ministry, and the formation of new friars, they work to bring the truth of Christ to a world searching for meaning and hope.

Reflections like this one are made possible because of the faithful support of friends like you. Your generosity helps sustain the friars in their mission to proclaim the Gospel, serve the Church, and form future preachers of the faith.

Support the preaching mission of the Dominican friars and help ensure that the light of the Gospel continues to reach hearts for generations to come.