VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - During the nineties I did a Masters Degree in Sacred Theology at the John Paul II Institute. At the time, the American campus of JPII was housed in the Dominican House of Studies, across from Catholic University in Washington DC. Now, the Institute is located on the campus of Catholic University. I cherished those days studying at the Dominican House. I fondly remember intentionally passing by the beautiful statue of St Dominic every morning so that I could ask the saint for his intercession.

While engaged in my theological studies I had the joy of coming to know several of St. Dominic's sons and disciples, the young Dominicans who are members of the Order of Preachers (O.P.) They lived, prayed, were being formed  for their future work at the Dominican House of Studies under the Pontifical Faculty of Theology of the Immaculate Conception.  They were extraordinary men of God.

Years later, when I continued my work at the Doctoral Level in Moral Theology at the Catholic University of America, I was in classes with many more of the Dominicans. Though, all those years later, they looked even younger to me.  Of course, that was because I have aged. I was the white head in those classes.

Each time I encountered those young friars they gave me great hope for the Church and the world into which she is sent to continue the redemptive mission of the Lord. They are deeply in love with the Lord and his Church. They are also well formed in solid philosophy and theology, ready to do the vital work needed in the Third Millennium, a new missionary age. 

In both instances of studying, there was a common response to a question I would ask the young friars about who had influenced their lives - Fr. Augustine Di Noia, O.P.  His lectures, homilies and addresses obviously had a key formative role in these men of God. Their esteem for him spoke volumes concerning the formidable gifts of Fr. DiNoia; gifts which he has placed at the service of the Lord and the Church he so clearly loves at a crucial time in history.

Now Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, O.P. was as a member of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology of the Immaculate Conception for 25 years and served as its president  for a year. He also served as the executive director of the Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Finally, he directed the Intercultural Forum for Faith and Culture at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Joseph Augustine DiNoia, O.P. as the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and he moved to Rome. Over the years he has served in Rome, the high regard in which he is held by the Holy Father has been evident. It is also well justified.

Archbishop Joseph Augustine DiNoia, O.P. is one of the great theologians of the Church. He is also an extraordinary teacher. Finally, he is known to be a truly holy and humble man.So, it is no wonder that the Lord keeps choosing this son of Dominic for such important tasks. On Tuesday, June 26, 2012, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the faith issued a release concerning a new appointment for this good Bishop as Vice President of Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei". It is set forth below:

"Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, O.P., to the post of vice president of the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei'. The appointment of a high-ranking prelate to this position is a sign of the Holy Father's pastoral solicitude for traditionalist Catholics in communion with the Holy See and his strong desire for the reconciliation of those traditionalist communities not in union with the See of Peter. The president of the commission is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William J. Levada."

"The Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei' was established in 1988 by Blessed John Paul II to facilitate 'full ecclesial communion of priests, seminarians, religious communities or individuals until now linked in various ways to the Fraternity founded by Archbishop Lefebvre' and to promote the pastoral care of the faithful attached to the ancient Latin liturgical tradition of the Catholic Church. In 2009, the Pontifical Commission was structurally linked to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to address the doctrinal issues in the ongoing dialogue between the Holy See and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X."

"As a respected Dominican theologian, Archbishop Di Noia has devoted much attention to these doctrinal issues, as well as to the priority of the hermeneutic of continuity and reform in the right interpretation of Vatican Council II - a critically important area in the dialogue between the Holy See and the Priestly Fraternity. Under the guidance of Cardinal Levada, with the assistance of Msgr. Guido Pozzo, secretary of the Pontifical Commission, this dialogue has been ongoing over the past three years."

"Previously, Archbishop Di Noia served as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments where, together with the prefect, Cardinal Antonio Canizares, he oversaw the reorganisation of the dicastery and the preparation of a new 'Regolamento' following the directions of Pope Benedict's 'motu proprio' of 30 August 2011, 'Quaerit Semper'. Archbishop Di Noia's experience and continued association with the Congregation for Divine Worship will facilitate the development of certain desired liturgical provisions in the celebration of the 1962 'Missale Romanum'."

"In addition, the broad respect that Archbishop Di Noia enjoys in the Jewish community will help in addressing some issues that have arisen in the area of Catholic-Jewish relations as the journey towards the reconciliation of traditionalist communities has progressed".