Seattle chaplain: ‘Be as yeast for our culture’

Father Augustine Hilander, O.P., is prior superior of the Dominican community at Blessed Sacrament Priory in Seattle and chaplain of Legatus’ Seattle Chapter.

He grew up an only child in Orange County, CA, to divorced parents with no religion practiced in the home. He was introduced to Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA, while attending a college night at his high school and was impressed by its Great Books curriculum, style of learning, and safe environment. He converted to Catholicism while at TAC, graduated in 1999, and entered religious life in 2000.  

He has served in a variety of roles in his community since, and today works with Dominican laity, diocesan priests interested in Dominican life, and the Holy Name Society.

What led you to convert to Catholicism?

I was influenced by the good example of those I knew at TAC. I was frequently invited to Mass and shared with them many conversations about life. I wondered, “How do these conversations make sense without God?”

I also read the works of St. Augustine — his writings on grace, predestination, his Confessions, The City of God — which helped me know who Jesus was and who God was and to synthesize elements of the Bible, which had previously been a mystery to me. 

Why did you choose to enter the Dominicans?

I loved my time at TAC, and I saw joining the Dominican community as a way to continue those academic discussions by including more people, covering more subjects, and sharing what I learned with others.

What did your parents think about your conversion?

My mother was okay with it, but was concerned that when I joined religious life, I would be away from her. My dad didn’t like me becoming Catholic. However, once I became one, he said he was OK with it, but didn’t want me to become a religious. My mother has since become a Catholic, and my dad and I are still in conversation.

Tell me about your community in Seattle.

We have nine friars. Two work in a parish, two at a Newman Center, two at the archdiocese, one is a retired religious, and then there is a student brother and me. As a local superior, I am not assigned to any of these ministries, although I am free to help out as need arises.

How is your province doing for vocations?

We’re ordaining one to the priesthood this year, and five next year. We have eight who entered as novices at our St. Albert’s Priory in August.

What do you enjoy about the priesthood and what do you find challenging?

I enjoy participating in people’s conversion of life, doing spiritual direction, and working with small groups. But each of these things I love brings with it a challenge. Preaching, for example, is difficult in that the preparation time is intensive as is working out what people need to hear. 

There is also a tension of living in community. I may want to be alone, but I’m committed to sharing my life in community with others.

What do you do with the Dominican laity?

These are individuals who make promises, live a religious life, and do something every day relating to promises they have made to the Dominican order. They pray the Office, say the Rosary, engage in mental prayer and study, gather monthly, and sometimes are involved in apostolates.

What message do you have for Legatus members when they meet?

I share with them the life of Christ and talk to them about their prayer lives. I also remind them — as in the Parable of the Yeast (Luke 13:20-21), in which the woman mixed in three measures of flour and the whole batch of dough was leavened — they are to be yeast for our culture, reminding others that the Blessed Trinity is alive and active in every good work.