About the Novitiate
THE NOVITIATE
About the Novitiate
THE NOVITIATE
The Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Martin de Porres
joyfully announce the Simple Profession of their Brothers
Benedict Gregory Johnson
Martin Mary Bauer
Dominic Enrique Gonzales
Cassian Mary Aquila
Albert Augustine Kerstiens
Francis Mary Kratz
Received by
Very Reverend Roberto Merced, O.P.
Prior Provincial
Mass of Profession
Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 11:00 A.M.
University of Dallas — Church of the Incarnation
1845 East Northgate Drive • Irving, Texas 75062
reception to follow at the University of Dallas - Braniff Building
RSVP at www.opsouth.org/vows
Every August, St. Albert the Great Priory welcomes a new novitiate class - those men considering religious life and priesthood in the Dominican Order. Men wishing to enter the Dominican Order spend their first year of discernment with us. The novitiate year is dedicated to living Dominican life in a focused way. During the novitiate year, the novice comes to a better understanding of vowed Dominican life through:
Experiencing communal and personal prayer
Spending quiet time in reflection and study
Participating in daily Mass
Living community life
Ministering in the local community
Studying Dominican history, our constitutions, the vows, spirituality, etc.
Click the button below to buy books and other items for the novices.
To learn more about becoming a Dominican friar, visit our vocations website at
www.DominicanVocations.com
The Novices
THE NOVICES
The Novices
THE NOVICES
BR. BENEDICT GREGORY JOHNSON
Alma Mater: University of Dallas
Hometown: Irving, Texas
Br. Benedict is a Dallas native and is the third of seven children. He graduated from the University of Dallas in 2022 with a degree in Theology. During his time there, he grew to love learning the faith and sharing it with his friends through conversation. He encountered the Dominicans through UD’s campus ministry and was drawn by their communal life, their focus on contemplation, and their desire to share Christ with those who do not know Him. Br. Benedict enjoys studying the church fathers, having good conversations with friends, and keeping up his Latin and Greek.
BR. MARTIN MARY BAUER
Alma Mater: University of Dallas
Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Br. Martin Mary is from Greenville, South Carolina. He went to the University of Dallas for both his undergraduate and graduate studies and graduated in 2022 with an M.Th. He encountered the Order of Preachers through their ministry at UD which led him to learn more about the Dominican charism. He eventually encountered St. Martin de Porres, and through the intercession of this humble donatus, Br. Martin Mary has entered into formation in hopes of becoming a cooperator brother. He loves to read, spend time with friends and family, and share the Catholic Faith with others.
BR. DOMINIC ENRIQUE GONZALES
Alma Mater: University of Notre Dame & Texas A&M University
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Brother Dominic Enrique was raised in San Antonio, Texas, and is the eldest of three. He went to the University of Notre Dame to study Physics and Mathematics before going to Texas A&M University School of Law for his Juris Doctor degree. He had discerned the priesthood since high school but did not find a religious order or diocese that called to him until he discovered the Dominicans. Their deep communal life paired with a contemplative spirituality in service of the salvation of souls deeply moved him. He is eagerly following God's call in the hope of being granted the honor of participating in the Sacred Preaching.
BR. CASSIAN MARY AQUILA
Alma Mater: University of St. Thomas (Houston)
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Br. Cassian Mary is the 9th of 11 children and was raised in Houston, Texas. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and a BA/MA in Theology from the University of St. Thomas (Houston). He enjoys baseball, walks, and spending time with his family. Br. Cassian Mary was raised at a Dominican parish in Houston (Holy Rosary) which helped to cultivate his vocation to the Dominican Friars.
BR. ALBERT AUGUSTINE KERSTIENS
Alma Mater: Mississippi State University & University of Tennessee College of Law
Hometown: Madison, Alabama
Br. Albert Augustine was born and raised just outside of Huntsville, Alabama. The middle of three children, he attended Mississippi State University where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Political Science in 2018. He went on to study at the University of Tennessee College of Law where he graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 2021. Following that, he clerked for a federal judge and then practiced law in Birmingham, Alabama.
Br. Albert Augustine developed a love for Thomistic natural law theory in college, and it was in studying this that he initially was drawn to the Order. He is extremely excited to wed his studies to theology and join the teaching and preaching mission of the Dominicans. He also enjoys working out, hiking, kayaking, and studying law, ethics, and philosophy.
BR. FRANCIS MARY KRATZ
Alma Mater: Florida Gulf Coast University
Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
Br. Francis Mary was born in San Diego, California, but spent most of his life growing up North of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is an only child. He attended Florida Gulf Coast University and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Marine Science with a Minor in Biology. He continued for his Master's in Environmental Science at the same university, focusing on using bacteria to track wastewater in rivers. He was drawn to the Dominicans due to their focus on finding truth, studying for the sake of others, and community life. In his free time, he enjoys nature hikes, reading, and playing basketball.