Dominican Friars

Oct 15 2025

Watch the First Conference of the 2025 Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage

We’re excited to share the first conference of the 2025 Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage with Fr. Austin Litke, O.P. In “Be Transformed by the Renewal of Your Minds: The Rosary and the Virtue of Faith,” Fr. Austin guides us in discovering how the Rosary shapes our minds, hearts, and daily lives.

Through Mary’s example in the Annunciation, Visitation, and Nativity, we see how the Rosary leads us to a deeper act of faith and invites us to enter the mysteries of salvation with clarity and devotion. Whether you attended the Pilgrimage or are joining us from home, this talk offers a rich reflection on the transformative power of prayer and the daily practice of the Rosary.

Watch the full conference below and let the Rosary renew your mind and heart.

Oct 06 2025

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary | Reflection by Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P.

On this Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress, O.P., reflects on the origins of the feast—once known as Our Lady of Victory—and its meaning for us today. From the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 to the spiritual battles we face daily, the Rosary has always been a source of strength, protection, and hope. Watch this video to learn how perseverance in prayer, even when it feels dry or distracted, brings real grace and victory through Our Lady’s intercession.

Sep 11 2025

The Hillbilly Thomists Return to the Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage

Music has always had a place in the life of the Church. It lifts hearts to God, binds communities together, and expresses joy in the Gospel. At this year’s Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage, we are blessed to welcome the Hillbilly Thomists, the Dominican friars’ bluegrass band, for a live concert immediately following the Pilgrimage on September 27, 2025.

The Hillbilly Thomists blend traditional bluegrass, folk, and Americana with lyrics inspired by Scripture and the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. Their music has inspired listeners across the world and shows that joy in Christ can be expressed in every genre.

A Glimpse of What’s to Come

To give you a taste of what awaits in Washington this September, we’ve shared several full-song recordings from the 2024 Hillbilly Thomists concert at the Basilica.

Join Us in 2025

The concert will take place at Catholic University of America Mall next to the Basilica in Washington, D.C., directly after the Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage concludes. We invite you to celebrate with us through music and prayer in this unique evening of joy and fellowship.

Mark your calendars now:

Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Hillbilly Thomists Concert: Immediately following the Pilgrimage

Support the Pilgrimage

The Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage and the Hillbilly Thomists concert are made possible by the generosity of benefactors who support our mission of preaching through word, music, and devotion to Our Lady. Learn more about how you can support the pilgrimage here.

Sep 04 2025

Enroll in the Rosary Confraternity: A Grace for Every Pilgrim

On September 27, 2025, the faithful will gather at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage. It will be a day filled with prayer, preaching, and devotion to Our Lady. One of the spiritual highlights of the day will be the chance to enroll in the Rosary Confraternity, a centuries-old association entrusted to the care of the Dominican friars.

Enrollment, however, is not limited to those who can be present in Washington. Anyone, anywhere, can enter into this spiritual family. Members of the Confraternity promise to pray fifteen decades of the Rosary each week, with meditation on the mysteries of Christ. This obligation is not a heavy burden, but a steady rhythm of prayer that keeps one close to Our Lady and united to countless others around the world.

Belonging to the Confraternity brings with it real spiritual benefits. Members share in the prayers and good works of the Dominican Order, and in the intercession of fellow members spread throughout the world. The Church has also granted indulgences to members of the Confraternity, including a plenary indulgence on the day of enrollment and on certain feast days, provided the usual conditions are met. Most importantly, Our Lady herself looks upon Confraternity members with special care and protection.

The Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage is one day in the year when thousands come together to witness the power of the Rosary. The Confraternity is a way of carrying that same spirit into every week of the year. Wherever you are, your prayers become part of a living Pilgrimage that never ceases, uniting you with friars, nuns, sisters, and lay faithful who keep watch with Mary and contemplate the mysteries of Christ.

Whether you are planning to be at the Pilgrimage this fall or are unable to make the journey, you are invited to take this step. Enrollment is a simple act, but one that draws you into the heart of a great communion of prayer.

Obligations of Membership

The only obligation is to pray 15 decades of the Rosary each week, which can be spread out across the week. Members are asked to include the intentions of fellow Confraternity members in their prayers.

Spiritual Benefits

A share in the prayers and the good works of countless thousands of Rosary Confraternity members throughout the world and in heaven.
A share in the good works and prayers of the Order of Preachers (Dominican Order).
Various plenary and partial indulgences
- For members of the Confraternity, a plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions on the day of enrollment (the day indicated on the register/certificate) as well as the feast days of Christmas, Easter, the Annunciation, the Assumption of Our Lady, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Immaculate Conception, and Our Lord’s Presentation in the Temple.
- A plenary indulgence is also granted, under the usual conditions, to all who pray the rosary in a Church or oratory, in a family (family rosary), religious community, or in a pious association of the faithful. Otherwise, the indulgence is partial.
And most importantly, the intercession and special protection of Our Lady, the Mother of God.

How to Enroll

Joining is simple and open to all. To become a member and unite your prayers with thousands of others around the world, click here to enroll.

Sep 04 2025

Book Signing at the 2025 Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage

At this year’s Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage on Saturday, September 27, 2025, four Dominican friars will be signing their latest works—and you’re invited to meet them! The event takes place from 12:00–1:00 p.m. in front of the bookstore at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Books will be available for purchase on-site.

Meet the Authors

Fr. James Brent, O.P.
The Father’s House: Discovering Our Home in the Trinity

Father James Dominic Brent, O.P., is a Dominican friar of the Province of St. Joseph. Born and raised in Michigan, he completed his doctorate in Philosophy from St. Louis University and licentiate in Theology from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC where he now teaches. He frequently lectures for the Thomistic Institute and Aquinas 101. Fr. Brent’s new podcast Contemplata is born from years of traveling the world lecturing, preaching retreats, and meeting increasingly more people who hunger to know God more deeply in contemplative prayer. He is the author of The Father’s House: Discovering Our Home in the Trinity (Pauline Books, 2023). Fr. Brent was the homilist at last year’s Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage.

Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P.
Our Father: Our Prayer of Hope
The Power of Patristic Preaching: The Word in Our Flesh

Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., is Ordinary Professor and Editor-in-Chief of The Thomist at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, Dominican House of Studies and Master of Students for the deacons of the Province of St. Joseph at St. Dominic Priory in Washington, DC. Previously he served as a parochial vicar in Rhode Island, a missionary in Nairobi, Kenya, a doctoral student at the University of Notre Dame, and formator at the Dominican House of Studies. He is an author of many publications including The Power of Patristic Preaching: The Word in Our Flesh, Magnificat’s Way of the Cross and Rosary for a Eucharistic Revival, and he co-authored A Living Sacrifice: Guidance for Men Discerning Religious Life and Our Father: Our Prayer of Hope. He enjoys preaching on the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Fr. Philip Nolan, O.P.
Our Father: Our Prayer of Hope

Fr. Philip Nolan, O.P. is a Dominican of the Province of Saint Joseph. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2022 and serves at Holy Innocents Parish in Pleasantville, New York. He is a frequent contributor to Magnificat and co-author of Our Father: Our Prayer of Hope (Magnificat, 2025).

Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.
Your Eucharistic Identity: A Sacramental Guide to the Fullness of Life
Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly

From Pennsylvania, Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH. He previously served as the Assistant Director of Campus Outreach for the Thomistic Institute in Washington, DC, and associate pastor of St. Louis Bertrand Catholic Church in Louisville, KY where he also taught at Bellarmine University. He currently serves as an adjunct professor of dogmatic theology at the Dominican House of Studies and an Assistant Director of the Thomistic Institute. He is a contributor on the Pints with Aquinas show, a co-host of Godsplaining and the Catholic Classics podcast. Fr. Gregory is the author of Prudence: Choose Confidently, Live Boldly (Our Sunday Visitor, 2022) and co-author with Matt Fradd of Marian Consecration With Aquinas: A Nine Day Path for Growing Closer to the Mother of God (TAN Books, 2020). Fr. Gregory was the principal preacher at last year’s Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage.

Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P.
Contemplation and the Cross: A Catholic Introduction to the Spiritual Life
The Light of Christ: An Introduction to Catholicism

Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P., is the Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome. He is the author of various books and articles including Wisdom in the Face of Modernity: A Study in Thomistic Natural Theology (Sapientia Press, 2011), The Incarnate Lord, A Thomistic Study in Christology (The Catholic University of America Press, 2015) Exodus (Brazos Press, 2016), The Light of Christ: An Introduction to Catholicism (Catholic University Press, 2017), and The Trinity: On the Nature and Mystery of the One God (Catholic University Press, 2022). He is co-editor of the journal Nova et Vetera, a Distinguished Scholar of the McDonald Agape Foundation, and a member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Don’t miss this opportunity! Whether you’ve been shaped by their writings or are just discovering them, the book signing is a chance to meet the friars, share a moment, and bring home a signed copy of their newest work. Join us 12:00–1:00 p.m. in front of the bookstore.