OAKLAND, Calif. — General Minister Fr. Michael Perry, OFM, has appointed Dominic Monti, OFM, to serve as General Visitor for St. Barbara Province to prepare for the community’s chapter in 2016.
“Dominic is well known to many of our friars, is a good listener and comes with a rich experience that will benefit us all through the process of chapter,” wrote St. Barbara’s Provincial Minister Fr. John Hardin, OFM, in a recent letter to the friars.
St. Barbara Province friar Fr. Melvin Jurisich, OFM, served as General Visitor for Holy Name Province for the Provincial Chapter earlier this year.
As General Visitor, Dominic’s responsibilities will include interviewing all the friars of the West Coast province and assessing the current state of the province in a report that will be submitted to the General Minister. Dominic will preside at the chapter in 2016, where he will present his report, give recommendations for action and supervise the elections.
Previously, Dominic served as General Visitor to Assumption BVM Province from 2010 to 2011.
“I found my service as General Visitor to the Assumption Province to be a great fraternal experience,” he said. “Yes, it involved a lot of work, but at the same time, it was a wonderful opportunity to get to know a lot of great friars and to appreciate their work in a variety of situations. I am looking forward to meeting the brothers of the St. Barbara Province, to learn about the great things they are doing for the Reign of God in another part of our country, and to be of some assistance to them as they discern their future.”
He has traveled to California regularly since 1994 as a member of the board of the Academy of American Franciscan History. He also spent a sabbatical at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif., in 1993.
Dominic, who is on sabbatical through December, most recently served Holy Name Province as Provincial Vicar and Secretary of Formation and Studies from 2005 to 2014. He was also a member of the English-speaking Conference’s Interprovincial Collaboration Commission from 2012 to 2013.
Dominic’s ministry has been largely devoted to higher education. He taught at Christ the King Seminary in Western New York from 1971 to 1973 and 1977 to 1978. In 1979, he received his doctorate from the University of Chicago, specializing in the history of Christianity.
That year, Dominic joined the faculty of the Washington Theological Union as professor of church history. He also began teaching Franciscan history in the School of Franciscan Studies at St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, N.Y., during the summer in 1986.
In 2002, he became professor of theology at St. Bonaventure University and was also elected as a Provincial Councilor. From 2003 to 2004, he served as interim president of the university. In 2013, he succeeded Fr. Joseph Chinnici, OFM, as chair of the Secretariat for the Retrieval of the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition.
A native of Bradford, Pa., Dominic entered the Order in 1964, made his solemn profession in 1969 and was ordained in 1971. His educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Bonaventure University, a bachelor’s of sacred theology from The Catholic University of America and master’s in sacred theology from the Union Theological Seminary.
— Maria Hayes is communications coordinator for Holy Name Province.