July 8, 2021 - Donor Spotlight by the Midkiff Family | Dominican Friars, Province of St. Martin de Porres

July 8, 2021

by Dominican Friars

When and where did you first connect with the Dominicans? What is distinctive about the Order of Preachers?
We moved to Lakeview in 1990 and began to attend Mass at St. Dominic Church. My boys, Donald and Kyle, continued to attend a private school in New Orleans East. Over the years, we became active in the parish. I began to teach CCD and the boys attended CCD and assisted as altar servers. We developed a relationship with Fr. Neal McDermott, O.P. One day he asked my husband, Donnie, and I, “Why don’t your kids come to my school?” The next year, we transferred our sons over to St. Dominic School and our relationships with Fr. Neal and all the Dominicans blossomed. We enjoyed having the priests join us for family dinners and special events. Our sons continued to serve at Mass until their senior years in high school, and they both worked at the Rectory. We wanted our boys to get to know the priests and see them as regular men who devoted their lives to Christ and His people, just like the disciples.

The Order of Preachers is special for several reasons. Their life of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, married with their call to live “in community” WITHIN actual communities and neighborhoods, facilitates their relationships with the laity as they preach the good news of the Lord from the pulpit and serve as living examples of Jesus out in the local community.

Midkiff Family with Fr. John Restrepo, O.P., at Avery's Baptism

Tell us about one of your favorite memories with the Friars?
You must decide on your own. Was it the time that Fr. Victor Brown, O.P. arrived at our door, with Gatorade in hand, to visit our son, Donald, who was severely dehydrated from mononucleosis? Was it the time that Fr. Chrys Finn, O.P. jumped in the car with me to ride around the neighborhood looking for Kyle when he ran away for a day? Was it the time that Fr. John Dominic Sims, O.P. danced with us at my sister’s crawfish boil? Was it the time that 10 Dominican Friars showed up in our home after my brother’s death? Was it the time that Fr. Peter Damian Harris, O.P. was waiting at Kyle and Kathryn’s home to bless their firstborn son when they got home from the hospital? Was it when Fr. John Restrepo, O.P. made a special hospital visit to Donald and Julie after having their first-born son? Was it the weddings and Baptisms that the friars performed? Was it when Fr. Marty Gleeson, O.P. met with Kyle on a weekly basis to help him get back on track? When Kyle did get on track, Fr. Marty would always remind him that it was “God’s grace, and not Kyle’s doing.” Was it the words of wisdom that Fr. Dan Shanahan, O.P. would give to Donnie when he brought him to his doctor visits? How can we decide on a favorite story? We have so many more stories, as I am sure you do too. Each one is special and memorable. Now might be a good time to reflect upon your favorite memory with a Dominican Friar.

Fr. Peter Damian Harris, O.P., blessing Everett upon his arrival home from the hospital with Kyle and Kathryn

In your opinion, how does a parish (or the larger Catholic community) benefit from Dominican Friars? The fact that the Dominicans reside in the actual neighborhood / community allows for the building of relationships between the Friars and the laity. As a result, friendships are formed and the Friars become the glue that brings the community together in Christ through their preaching of the word of God and their presence in the community.

In what way has your friendship with the Dominican Friars impacted you personally?
“Friendship” is the perfect way to describe the relationship that our family has had with the Dominican Friars for over 30 years. They are ordained priests and brothers, but when I see Fr. Dave Caron, O.P. or Fr. Tom Condon, O.P. taking their daily walk in the neighborhood, I see a friend; someone that I can share my thoughts with. It is like having Jesus living down the street. In the gospel of John, Jesus says, “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father” (Jn 15:15). Having a close and personal relationship with the Dominicans has allowed our family to have an experience of the friendship that Jesus had with his disciples. How can we be in the company of Christ and not be changed for the good?

Fr. Dave Caron, O.P., at the Baptism of Joseph with Donald Jr. and his wife Julie

You are involved in many other charitable organizations. Why do you choose to support the Dominicans?
We support the Dominicans because we appreciate their call to holiness, their call to preach the Good News, and their willingness to serve their community through their life of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. We understand that the formation of new seminarians is vital to the continued success of the Dominican Order. The recent ordination of Fr. James Martin Nobles, O.P. was a beautiful testimony of the fruits that come from the seeds of support given by the benefactors of the Dominicans. The formation of future Dominicans consumes approximately two-thirds of their donations with the other third going to give proper care to older friars, including the elderly and infirm. They are in much need of our support whether it be in service, financial, or prayer. I always keep in mind that, if there are no priests, there is no Eucharist.

Dear Jesus and Mary, we thank you for our beautiful Dominican Friars. Stay by their side always and give them strength to continue the call “to Praise, to Bless, and to Preach.”
Amen.