By Maria Bohan
You’ve probably seen the abbreviation “O.P.” after the names of many of our sisters, or perhaps other vowed religious. Have you ever wondered what it means?
O.P. comes from the Latin ordo praedicatorum, which translates to Order of Preachers.
The Order of Preachers is also called the Dominican Order since St. Dominic founded it in 1216.
In addition to Dominican Sisters like the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York, the Order is composed of brothers, nuns, and priests.
On their website, the Order also recognizes the non-vowed Dominican Laity, many of whom are volunteers or associates at programs like that of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York; however, these individuals do not receive the O.P. designation.
No matter what their title, members of the Order of Preachers are called to follow St. Dominic’s example.
Dominicans aim to fulfill the four pillars of Dominican life: prayer, study, preaching/ministry, and common life.
800 years later, St. Dominic’s spirit lives on in the mission of these inspiring individuals.
So, when you see O.P. following a person’s name, remember to keep them in prayer, so they can continue to bring God’s mercy to our world.
Maria Bohan is a Volunteer for the Communications and Development Office at the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, New York. She is a student at Bryn Mawr College majoring in English and a graduate of Pearl River High School.