The Four Pillars of Dominican Life

Have you heard any references to the four pillars? In short, the pillars - Community, Prayer, Service, and Study - are the basics of a Dominican life, and are used as the ideals by which one lives his or her life. As part of a fall leadership retreat, students created a banner around the theme of the four pillars, writing words and drawing images that reminded them what each pillar meant to them, and how they are experiencing or living out that particular pillar while they are a student at Dominican. To provide you with some background and familiarity with the four pillars, we spoke with several students to see how they saw each pillar alive in their own life, or in the life of the University campus. Here's what they had to say:

COMMUNITY:
"The pillar of community has been important to me this year. As a member of SLAM [Student Leadership and Ministry Team], we all feel like a family. Since coming to Dominican, everyone on campus has been very accepting, welcoming, and supportive. As a freshman, I feel very at home." -Cathy Jaskey, 2013

PRAYER:
"Prayer has seemed to become more incorporated into the campus and my life this semester. Between praying the Rosary on Thursdays, participating in the Interfaith Contemplative prayer on Tuesdays, and being a part of Breaking Open [student faith-sharing group], they all help me think more about prayer in my daily life, even outside these activities." -Shannon Seegers, 2011

SERVICE:
"I particularly connect with the pillar of service because it's through service that I can experience the other three pillars. By living lives of service we build communities and relationships with others. There is also a lot to be learned through serving others, and it complements what I do in the classroom. And service is a way I live out a prayer in my life." -Jamie Zwijack, 2011

STUDY:
"I see this pillar most exemplified in the passion of the professors here at Dominican and in how they truly want their students to learn. They are invested in us, and it inspires me to work hard." -Patrick Magner, 2011

Pictured in front of the Four Pillars banner: Monique Muniz, 2013; Cristin Monaghan, 2013; Armando Diaz, 2013; Megan Russell, 2010.