dominican
Domuni, Dominican University, Catholic, on the Web
A cathedral dedicated to the Wisdom of God
Domuni is like a cathedral dedicated to the Wisdom of God! Like St. Sophia in Constantinople [1]: A monument of knowledge articulated together, each piece answering the other as in a musical game or, like the stained glass windows that tell a story through colours and give to the pilgrim more impressions, intuitions and a "sensus fidei", than that of any slim knowledge. We are not a supermarket but a unified "act of faith". The opposite of an autodafé (the burning of books)! We want to conceive them, write, talk about them and publish them.
A cathedral of many styles, according to the generation, where memory and hope are allies and supplement each other, where tradition and modernity are the openings and pillars, the spire the crypt and the buttresses.
A universal cathedral, in the sense that the Web is a gateway to anybody’s home on any point of the planet, whether in the Amazonian forest or in Haiti.
A cathedral for all, those near or far away, rich or poor, young or old, believers or non-believers, specialists and beginners. As the Summa of St Thomas, the work is dedicated to beginners, by the care brought to the easiness of access and through the stimulation of the desire to progress further, as from the doorstep to the choir and finally to contemplation that goes beyond words... What do we do?
To welcome and give knowledge, that could be our motto. However we still wish you to join us, so as to build together that which can only be a shared project.
It is the desire to communicate that leads to expression. There must be listeners if there are to be preachers! We are all called to witness to the marvels of God, each in our own language, even if we are not very articulate.
Each can bring a stone to build the cathedral, so that it is really ours. How? By participating: by being formed and expressing ourselves, whether in forums or by counselling and advice, or by sending documents, articles or conferences for the library.
The foundations are solid but the work has only just started!
Frère Michel Van Aerde, Dominican, President of Domuni
DOMUNI is an association
Founded in February 1999 by French Dominicans (Religious from the Order of Preachers, Catholic Church), Domuni is a non-profit-making association under French law (Law of 1901).
The president is Brother Michel Van Aerde op. He is assisted by an administrative counsel of 8 members, by a scientific counsel and a technical counsel.
Domuni’s mission is elearning : "higher education at a university level and professional formation in all disciplines, in particular those linked to theology and human sciences, with the principal support being by computer science and Internet. It is designed mainly for people for whom access to higher education or to professional formation is difficult, due to economic, social, professional, health or geographical reasons. (especially in underprivileged countries). (Status, art. 2).
e-Learning & Network
Domuni has created an opening to theological teaching on the Web, using an adequate platform, on which is found the virtual campus, which includes the tools needed for study and research. (library, forums, art gallery, a links directory etc). This equipment is the base for formation courses at different levels. etc.
"Initheo" (initiation to theology), Minitheo (for children) and the Faculty of St Jerome are in French
The library is mainly in French. The contents are increasing gradually in other languages.
The development and mission of Domuni includes the setting up of partnerships with academic institutions to promote the development of theological teaching on the Web.
Domuni works particularly to develop an international network so as to favour academic, pedagogical and technical exchanges between members and in different languages.
[1] St Sophia, to be rigorous in the term is a basilica. It does not really matter, we retain the metaphor!
