My Dominican brothers and I live a vow of poverty. That means we hold our goods in common. Bank accounts I am a signer on are not created with my social security number; they are in the non-profit 501 ©3 number of the Western Dominican Province.
There are 143 members in our province. Forty-one are young men studying for the priesthood. During my earning years it’s my responsibility to pay my own way and to try to help pay for the educations of my younger brothers. Think of us as a family trying to put 41 young men through graduate school.
Have you ever calculated what it costs for you to wake up in the morning? This fiscal year, July 2023-June 2024 I am costing my brotherhood $36,050. Here’s the breakdown. Our preaching office will pay me:
*We’ve chosen to be in a pooled health care plan in solidarity with religious sisters and brothers around the U.S. This older demographic has higher-than-normal healthcare costs.
In addition to trying to earn my keep, I’ve set a goal of trying to support one of my brothers studying for the priesthood. The cost of housing, feeding and educating one seminary student for the year is $52,500.
My aspirational goal for FY ’23-’24 is $88,550.
Can that be done during a global pandemic? I won’t know until I try. Watch this space! I’ll keep a running tally of progress toward that goal.
