The Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Martin de Porres (Southern Dominican Province, USA) created the Aquinas Education and Formation Trust in 2013 for the benefit of the Dominican student brothers and novices, your future priests and religious brothers. These are the young friars in initial formation preparing for profession and ordination to the priesthood in the Province of St. Martin de Porres. Currently, the Province has five student brothers in graduate programs in Philosophy and Theology at St. Dominic Priory and Studium, our House of Studies in St. Louis, Missouri, and one novice learning about Dominican life at the St. Albert the Great Priory and Novitiate in Irving, Texas. As friars of the Province of St. Martin de Porres, these young men will someday minister to the people of God as university chaplains, teachers, itinerant preachers, prison and hospital chaplains, and pastors in the Southern United States.

In creating the Trust for the benefit of friars in initial formation, the Province established a fundraising goal that would someday pay for their full education and formation in perpetuity. Thus far the Province has raised $4 million of the $5 million fundraising goal. Thanks be to God! This is 80% of the goal. This is certainly great progress through six years, but in reality fundraising for the Trust has been difficult for some time, thereby delaying the Province from receiving any financial aid from the Trust for educating and forming the friars.

As the Board of Trustees, we are assigned to help the Province raise the remaining $1 million required to fully fund the Trust. For this reason, we are appealing to the charity of Christ in your hearts, dear friends. Please help us raise the funds for the Trust by donating sometime during this 3-Year fundraiser. In doing so, you will be participating in the ministry of educating and forming the young friars who will someday serve the people in the South, especially Roman Catholics. Any amount you could offer would be appreciated. Moreover, if you are a Shareholder, President, CEO, or CFO for a Corporation, or if you have the financial resources, I hope you will consider offering a major donation to help the Province of St. Martin de Porres move substantially closer to reaching the fundraising goal for the Trust. All donations are Tax-Deductible. Please also consider bequesting in your will a financial gift or property to the Trust. At the same time, if you cannot help financially, you may have a friend, family member, or colleague who can help. If so, please refer this person to this fundraiser. For more information contact Fr. Mariano at 713-836-1152, or email him at [email protected]. Thanks! Please pray for a fruitful fundraiser. May people be moved to charity by the Holy Spirit.

In Christ with Blessed Mary,

Fr. Scott O'Brien, O.P., Board Chair
Fr. John Dominic Sims, O.P.
Fr. Mariano D. Veliz, O.P.
Dr. Cynthia Thomas
Dr. Jennie Block, O.P.