Vatican document on religious brothers published on dec. 14th
The Religious Brothers Conference (RBC) released this very special announcement on Wednesday, December 9, 2015.
The Vatican has been preparing a document on the subject of religious Brothers for some time. RBC is happy to announce that the document was released on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 at 11:30 AM (local time) during a press conference in Rome.
More details will be available as the CMSM Brothers Think Tank committee forms to create a Reflection Guide for both the English and Spanish editions of the document on the "Identity and Mission of Religious Brothers in the Church."
Brothers of the christian schools walk the "camino de Santiago"
Ever-present sign pointing "The Way" to Santiago de Compostela in Northwestern Spain
On July 13, 2015, thirteen Brothers of the Christian Schools from the Lasallian Region of North America, Australia and Nigeria, and four young men in discernment, left Madrid by bus to begin their 100 mile journey on the "Camino de Santiago" in northern Spain. Five Spanish Brothers and eleven collegians joined them, as did 200 high school youth from Spain, as they all set out on a period of discernment with the theme of "Together as Brothers."
Their journey concluded at the Shrine of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on July 21 after eight days of walking. In addition to the daily walk of 12 miles or more, participants also engaged in prayer and faith sharing.
The idea for the pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago was conceived during the 45th General Chapter and coincides with Year of Consecrated Life. Check out their Camino de Santiago 2015 Video which shares their vocational journey and the invitation to explore religious life and the life of the Brothers.
The expectation of the Brothers and young men was to deepen and discern their vocation through the opportunity to journey together, both physically and spiritually. Br. Gus Nicoletti, FSC, of St. Vincent Strambi High School in the Bronx reflected, "I hoped that all the walking and praying would hold great value for me that will be life changing and challenging." We hope it has !!
Successful brother pilgrims smile at the end of their journey in front of the main altar at the Basilica of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Current CMSM Board member, Br. Larry Schatz, FSC, is second from left in top row. Congratulations to all !!
"The Path less traveled - Men's lay institutes in the United states"
Christian Brothers Services publishes an award-winning magazine called OutReach twice a year. Its most recent 2015 edition has a wonderful summary of the history of "Men's Lay Institutes in the United States," many of whom are CMSM members today. The article features a timeline back to the 1100s with short descriptions of all the men's lay communities which are active in the US today. You can read the article online or download it here. Thank you to the unnamed author of this comprehensive list -- CMSM has generated a quick spreadsheet listing the institutes and their respective websites in the file which can be downloaded below.!
lay_institutes_list_with_websites.xlsx
Institute on Religious LIfe Celebrates its 40th anniversary
Thomas Nelson, O.Praem.
Fr. Thomas Nelson, O.Praem., serves as the National Director of the Institute on Religious Life (IRL) which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Comprised of bishops, priests, religious and laity, the organization was founded after the Second Vatican Council to assist and support religious communities in the process of renewal called for by Vatican II's documents.
In his welcome letter on their website: Religious Brotherhood: A Consecrated Expression of Gospel Life, Fr. Thomas notes that "one of the ways that the IRL helps to promote the consecrated life is by fostering vocations among young Catholic men and women." In collaboration with the Brotherhood of Hope and Conventual Franciscans Friars of the St. Bonaventure Province, the website is "our humble attempt to remove the bushel basket over the marvelous light that radiates from this important vocation in the life and mission of the Church."
The ILR website includes a variety of resources, testimonials, links and other materials. Read more about the key elements of the religious brotherhood vocations here.
Becoming a Holy Cross Brother
Joseph DeAgostino, CSC
Br. Joseph DeAgostino, CSC, currently attends graduate school at the University of Notre Dame after completing the Old College Undergraduate Seminary Program in the Fall of 2009. After his year in the Holy Cross Novitiate, he officially transferred from the priests society to the brothers society within the Congregation of the Holy Cross. Originally from Jerome, Michigan, Br. Joseph recently reflected on his discernment about "becoming a brother" on the Holy Cross Vocations blog website. Read about his personal vocational/spiritual journey here.
After completing his studies, Br. Joseph said that he hopes work within the ministry of special education, especially with young people.
"The Church's Best-kept secret"
Brother David Hirt of the Capuchin Province of St. Joseph based in Detroit reflects on "The Church's Best-Kept Secret" where he describes his vocation as a lay brother. "So who is the religious brother?" he asks.
"We keep asking ourselves this question. For me it means that I walk with the people around me, my brothers and sisters, as an equal or even a lesser person. Unlike a priest or a married man, I am not called to a vocation of fatherhood whether spiritual or biological. I am called to be brother to the world."
Read more of Br. David's reflections here.
Consecrated Life as a religious brother
"The lay consecration of [religious brothers] constitutes a state which--in its profession of the evangelical counsels--is complete in itself. --Lumen Gentium § 60
"This way of life...is not to be seen as a middle way between the lay and clerical states of life..." --Vita Consecrata, 1996
Life as a religious Brother is perhaps the least well-known expression of consecrated life for men. In the U.S., there are approximately 4,000 religious Brothers living in a variety of lay and mixed clerical institutes. In comparison, there are over 12,000 religious priests in the U.S., 27,000 diocesan priests and seminarians, more than 17,000 permanent deacons, and over 50,000 religious Sisters.
In the past Brothers were often referred to as "lay Brothers," a technical term that indicates a religious vocation independent of priesthood. Brothers are not ordained clergy nor are they seminarians preparing for sacramental ministry. Instead, Brothers are vowed members of their communities who live together and participate in a diversity of ministries. In some communities (informally called "mixed clerical institutes") Brothers live and work alongside religious priests, seminarians, and deacons. In these communities Brothers stand as equals among their ordained confreres and participate in the mission of the institute as religious and ministers in their own right.
"Religious brothers provide valuable services of various kinds, inside or outside the community, participating in this way in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel and bearing witness to it with charity in everyday life." --Vita Consecrata
In late December 2014, the superiors general of Brothers' orders in Rome published a wonderful message called "We are all Brothers" which reflects their "great vision of working together for God's dream for humanity."
Thank you to Christian Brother Benedict Oliver of Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh for sharing this document which can be downloaded below.
religious_brothers_message_generalate.doc
CMSM conducted research between September 2013 and April 2014 on "Brothers in Formation in the United States." The Research Summary may be downloaded below.
cmsm_research_summary_on_brothers_in_formation.pdf