For the second time in the eight-hundred-year history of the Order of Preachers, its General Chapter is being held in Poland, at the Holy Trinity convent in Krakow. The meeting runs from July 19 to August 8, with dozens of provincials, vice-provincials, and other Dominicans from around the world participating. They are discussing how to be a Dominican today and how to specifically fulfill the order’s mission in the time we live in.

The friars from our Foundation are involved in organizing the event: Dawid Kołodziejczyk as the Vice Secretary General of the Chapter, and Łukasz Miśko in preparing the liturgical celebrations, which take place daily in consecutive official languages of the order: English, French, and Spanish.

In the context of the Chapter, the dominikanie.pl portal, seeking to re-examine the question of who Dominicans are and what their purpose is, has prepared a series of films under the slogan “Dominican Vocation.” The guests of the episode titled “How does liturgy shape the life of Dominicans?” are Fathers Dominik Jurczak OP and Łukasz Miśko OP – the former and current president of the Dominican Liturgical Center. Is liturgy merely a monastic duty, or perhaps something more? In this episode, the interlocutors take us on a journey through the world of Dominican prayer – from the medieval Dominican rite to the contemporary phenomenon of “Unfathomable Trinity” hymnal.

We also recommend the recording “Ave Florum” to your attention – it is a contemporary composition inspired by the Latin text of a Gregorian antiphon in honor of St. Hyacinth. The delicate sound, traditional melody, and contemporary harmony create a space for prayer, reflection, and a spiritual encounter with the Saint. The song was performed live during a concert on July 19, 2025, during the ongoing General Chapter, by the Sancta Trinitas chamber ensemble under the direction of the composer of the piece, Fr. Dawid Kusz OP.

The Latin version of the name Jacek is Hyacinthus – this word is also the name of a semi-precious stone and a flower called “hiacynt” in Polish – the concept of the Latin text of the Gregorian antiphon is based on this ambiguity, which is untranslatable into Polish. The visual setting of the recording, prepared by Marlena Solon, refers to the architecture of the Basilica of the Holy Trinity, where the relics of St. Hyacinth rest.

Photos: dominikanie.pl and Ordo Praedicatorum (Curia Generalis) on Flickr