Annual Events

The House of Studies celebrates a Vigil of All Saints on October 31st of each year. One of the community’s more popular events, the vigil celebrates our friendship the saints in glory. The liturgy includes the chanting of psalms, readings from the lives of the saints, preaching from one of the friars, and a candlelight procession around the priory cloister. Arrive early to ensure a seat in the chapel. Click here for recent media coverage of the vigil.

Each year on the Wednesday of Holy Week, the community celebrates Tenebrae. In its full traditional form, Tenebrae – Latin for “darkness” – is a monastic office prayed on the three days preceding Easter. It includes chants from the Psalms and the Book of Lamentations, the gradual extinguishing of candles, and a strepitus or “loud noise” evocative of the earthquake that accompanied Our Lord’s death. The abridged service celebrated by the friars retains all of these traditional elements.

The Dominican Spring Gala takes place every April. Proceeds benefit the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception.

Every year, the community celebrates Solemn Professions in January or February, Diaconate Ordinations in March, and Priestly Ordinations in late May. All three liturgies are celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and they are open to the public.

Details regarding all annual events are duly publicized in the News section of this website.

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