Fr. David Kammler
OP is the Promoter General for the Dominican Laity from
the end of the International Assembly, 2007
Presentation for the members of
the Lay Dominican Fraternities/Chapters
(English version)
Is it true, David, that you will
take over from Jerry L. Stookey as Promoter General of
the Dominican Laity next year?
I am still getting used to this
myself! The appointment has not yet been officially
pronounced by the Master of the Order. But I have given
him my word about my readiness to serve in this post. At
first, I had serious doubts and reservations about this,
but these were dispersed during a personal fraternal
meeting with fr. Carlos in Rome. Jerry himself also
encouraged me to assent.
In your opinion, what particular
characteristics do you bring with you for your new post?
When, to my great surprise,
Carlos asked me, first of all the arguments occurred to
me which speak against my suitability: my age, my
insufficient knowledge of foreign languages … etc. But
then I also discovered characteristics which will
certainly help to make the work go more smoothly: the
pleasure I have in being able to dedicate myself in a
creative way to a meaningful task, even in detail; a
great love of and esteem for the laity as full members of
our Order; the readiness to encourage them in their task
of preaching as laity as their specific mission; the
exchange of ideas and communication amongst them going
beyond the barriers that are there; the capability to
encourage diversity on the basis of mutual respect and
trust. I sincerely hope to be able to continue, in my
way, that which Jerry was able to contribute in the last
few years in a convincingly international way.
Tell us something about yourself
and the path you have followed in the Order.
I was born on 21st October 1942
in Cologne in Germany. I still have a younger brother and
two nephews. As a result of my positions in various
places in my home province of Teutonia I have established
connections with many people. I hope very much that these
can be maintained in the next few years despite the
distance apart; for friendship is very important for me.
I became a Dominican in 1962, in particular because of
the challenge of a community with the objective of
preaching in new and unusual ways. After my studies at
our House of Studies in Walberberg and ordination to the
priesthood in 1968, I worked for several years as a
teacher of religious education for primary schools
(Diocese of Speyer). There followed a time as tutor in
the boarding school of our Province in Vechta, and later
I worked in a small Dominican community in a North German
parish in Bremen. For eight years I was Assistant Master
of Students at our House of Studies in Walberberg. Before
beginning my four-year term as Socius of the Provincial I
was Prior of St. Andreas in Cologne, where Saint Albert
the Great is buried. For the last six years I was Prior
of Walberberg, and during this time I have been active in
pastoral work, as spiritual advisor for individuals and
also retreat courses. For over ten years I have been
chaplain to a Dominican lay group and have been Promoter
of the Laity in our Province of Teutonia for seven years.
During the world congress of the Dominican Family in
Manila (2000) as well as the meetings of the European
Laity at Fognano (2001) and Walberberg (2004) I was able
to complement and enrich my theoretical knowledge of the
internationality and diversity of the Order of Preachers
through personal encounters.
Do you have other interests
which are not 'typically Dominican'?
Do you mean my hobbies?
Actually, they are very diverse. The first one which
occurs to me is: music, art and culture; then: sport
(swimming); my friends maintain that I am a good hobby
cook - "O taste and see that the LORD is good!"
(Ps 34:9!); and, finally: travelling and getting to know
other cultures. The last one especially will be
integrated into my future worldwide service!
What do you want to put the
accent on until you start your new job?
Firstly, I have to concentrate
on a number of sermons and services, conferences,
lectures and retreats, which I have already committed to
for this year. Then it will be absolutely necessary to
start to extend my knowledge of foreign languages in this
year already. My conversational English is quite good,
but not without mistakes. For my stay in Rome and Italy
it will be a challenge to learn Italian; I want to work
on this intensively this year as well. So that I am not
dependent on translators, I shall learn Spanish in the
next few years. My knowledge was until now sufficient to
get by as a tourist on holiday. I very much hope to be
able to deepen my elementary knowledge of the wonderful
language of culture, French. (My ability to preach in
Cologne dialect will certainly not be required in the
next six years!) How much I would like to be able to
encounter the Lay Dominicans of the world in their mother
tongues! In this respect, I envy the deceased Pope John
Paul II with his comprehensive language skills. I
nevertheless hope that, on my travels and in my
correspondence, I shall have the assistance of
translators, and, above all, non-verbal communication and
the Spirit of Pentecost, which creates understanding
across language barriers.
Last but not least I want to
learn as much as possible from Jerry before the official
start of my job in March 2007 and help him with the
preparations for the International Congress of Lay
Dominicans in Buenos Aires. We shall be in contact by
e-mail until then, and will be in touch personally in
Rome from January 2007. I place my trust in his advice
and his help. I pray that we, as brothers, sisters and
laity, will assist each other in the service of
preaching, and look forward to meeting many Dominican
sisters and brothers on God’s blessed Earth!
Walberberg, Germany, April 2006
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