About
What is a Dominican School?
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A Dominican Education
Education in the Dominican tradition, inspired by the vision of St. Dominic de Guzmán in the 13th century, is guided by the belief that learning should embrace the full range of human experience. It seeks to nurture the total well-being of every student; intellectually, spiritually, socially, and emotionally; so that they may grow into whole and balanced individuals.
Central to this tradition is the practice of intellectual compassion: the pursuit of knowledge not for its own sake, but for the good it can bring to others. To be formed in the Dominican way is to develop both wisdom and empathy, preparing students to respond with courage and compassion to the challenges of their time.
History of the Dominican Order
Founded by Dominic de Guzmán in the 13th century, the Dominican Order, most often referred to as the Order of Preachers, was a bold initiative that combined contemplation and rigorous study with a commitment to teaching and preaching. The order emerged in the growing urban centers of the Middle Ages, drawing inspiration from the intellectual life flourishing in newly established universities such as those in Paris, Oxford, and Bologna. St. Dominic envisioned the order as a way to respond to the needs of the world through active engagement with the most advanced learning of the time.
Quick Facts:
- Inspired by St. Dominic: Named for St. Dominic de Guzmán, founder of the Dominican Order in the 13th century, the school carries forward his vision of combining rigorous study, ethical reflection, and active engagement with the world.
- Founded on Inquiry: Dominican education emphasizes disputatio, a method of rigorous questioning that seeks truth through dialogue and reasoned debate.
- Faith and Reason in Harmony: Students explore ethical, philosophical, and scientific questions while integrating moral insights.
- Whole-Person Formation: Intellectual, spiritual, social, and emotional growth are treated as inseparable components of education.
- Legacy of Scholarship: Dominican Sisters have historically advanced knowledge across sciences, humanities, and social justice.
- Ethics in Action: Students are trained to apply knowledge responsibly, considering its impact on society and the common good.
- Critical Thinking + Compassion: Learning cultivates intellect, empathy, and courage.
Dominican Schools Today
Dominican schools offer curricula that integrate the classic liberal arts and professional education in ways that prepare students for making a living as well as having a fulfilling life. Students are challenged to use their talents not just to answer abstract questions, but to engage with today’s urgent challenges.
The writings of St. Thomas Aquinas introduced the concept of disputatio—a way of learning that searches for truth by engaging with every side of a question. For centuries, this method has asked students and teachers alike to think deeply, weigh evidence, and pursue reason.
Liam Walsh, OP
Instead of saying one was right and the other wrong, the task was to reconcile the truth that was in each of them…the holistic, reconciling way of doing theology came to characterize the best of the Dominican tradition.
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Faith and Reason Work Together:
Students are encouraged to ask why things are true, not just accept them blindly.Religious teachings aren’t meant to shut down questioning; instead, students are invited to explore how faith can inform ethical decisions, the meaning of life, and human purpose, alongside rational investigation. -
Science is Valued:
Scientific knowledge, experimentation, and evidence-based reasoning are respected and taught.Dominican schools see science as another way to understand the natural world and human experience. -
Critical Thinking is Integrated:
Students are taught to think deeply, evaluate evidence, and reason logically while also reflecting on spiritual, moral, and philosophical questions.This approach encourages nuanced thinking, so a student might, for example, explore climate science while also discussing ethical responsibility for stewardship of the Earth. -
Holistic Education:
It’s about forming the whole person, intellectually, morally, and spiritually, rather than separating “religion” from “real-world learning.”
Examples of how faith and reason are linked in a classroom:
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Environmental Science:
- A class studies climate change. Students examine data, experiments, and models.
- Then, they discuss the moral imperative to care for the earth and its creatures, linking the lesson to stewardship teachings in Catholic doctrine (faith).
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Literature:
- In English or philosophy class, students read texts about human suffering or justice.
- They analyze the story critically and also discuss what their faith teaches about compassion, forgiveness, or human dignity.
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Science and Ethics:
- In a biology class, students study genetics and discuss the mechanics of inheritance.
- Rather than stopping there, the teacher might ask: “How should we responsibly use genetic knowledge? What ethical considerations does our faith suggest when it comes to things like gene editing?”
- Students explore scientific facts and engage with moral reasoning informed by their religious tradition.
The key is that students are never asked to abandon inquiry or critical thinking. They are asked to consider how faith and reason inform each other.
The Sisters of St. Dominic
The tradition of institutions, like Lacordaire, founded by the Dominican Sisters, reflects a sustained commitment to engaged inquiry. Many Dominican Sisters earned doctorates in fields such as political science, economics, chemistry, and biology, and their scholarship was consistently intertwined with the social and scientific challenges of their time.
They played a pioneering role in exposing the false biological assumptions that underpinned racial prejudice, thereby contributing to the intellectual foundation of the civil rights movement. Dominican women advanced research in cancer treatment, examined the intersections of religion and science, and sought to integrate insights from both faith and psychology.
During the Great Depression, Dominican Sisters responded to urgent community needs by offering free evening courses for adults in both liberal and professional studies. This initiative exemplified their dedication to expanding access to education as both a public good and a form of service. Their legacy reminds us that study is never for its own sake, but always for the total well-being of society.
Père Henri Lacordaire
Père Henri Lacordaire (1802–1861), our school’s namesake, was a French Dominican priest and influential figure in the 19th-century Catholic revival in France. He is best known for restoring the Dominican Order in France after the French Revolution and for his powerful sermons at Notre-Dame de Paris, which attracted large audiences. A gifted orator and writer, Lacordaire also engaged in public debates about the relationship between the Church and modern society, advocating for the compatibility of Catholicism with democracy and civil liberties.
Our Mission
Empowering students to become confident decision makers and responsible leaders in a community of belonging, rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition
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