benedictines @ st. john's abbey sing "happy brothers day" ...
Br. Richard Oliver, OSB, CMSM's original "web master" was transferred back to his home abbey, St. John's in Collegeville, Minnesota, in August 2016, but he gathered with his Benedictine brothers to sing "Happy Brothers Day to Us" in this video you can play here.
Besides praying a petition at Morning Prayer for Religious Brothers Day, the Benedictine Brothers and visiting student Brothers from other religious congregations celebrated being a Brother with home-made cakes and ice cream after the evening meal. Brother Paul Richards, OSB made the cakes and organized the gathering. Brother Aidan Putnam, OSB recorded the event in this group photograph.
Besides praying a petition at Morning Prayer for Religious Brothers Day, the Benedictine Brothers and visiting student Brothers from other religious congregations celebrated being a Brother with home-made cakes and ice cream after the evening meal. Brother Paul Richards, OSB made the cakes and organized the gathering. Brother Aidan Putnam, OSB recorded the event in this group photograph.
Smiling Benedictine brothers at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN, pose after singing "Happy Brothers Day to Us" now accessible on You Tube.
Capuchins in Puerto Rico acknowledge religious brothers day
Religious Brothers Day celebrations even extended to the island of Puerto Rico. Fray Jaime Perez, OFM Cap., reflects (in Spanish) about the vocation of Capuchin Franciscan religious brothers in this video in which he explains that St. Francis of Assisi wanted all his followers to be brothers, whether ordained or not.
Las celebraciones de este día especial se extendieron a la isla de Puerto Rico. Escuchen ustedes las reflecciones del Fray Jaime Pérez, OFM Cap. en este video.
Las celebraciones de este día especial se extendieron a la isla de Puerto Rico. Escuchen ustedes las reflecciones del Fray Jaime Pérez, OFM Cap. en este video.
De la salle christian brothers consolidate resources
Many resources for celebrating Religious Brothers Day may be found on the website for the De La Salle Christian Brothers of the Christian Schools. Take a look here for more details and files you can access and download.
Also, the the De La Salle Christian Brothers Vocation Office has also created a short video in honor of Religious Brothers Day. You may access the video here. Thank you to Chris Swain, Director of the Office of Lasallian Vocation Ministry, Christian Brothers Conference, for providing it to us.
Also, the the De La Salle Christian Brothers Vocation Office has also created a short video in honor of Religious Brothers Day. You may access the video here. Thank you to Chris Swain, Director of the Office of Lasallian Vocation Ministry, Christian Brothers Conference, for providing it to us.
Students Honor Bro. Gerald Hopeck at st. charles high school
Photo from Dr. Courtney Millet, St. Charles Catholic High School
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Students from St. Charles High School in LaPlace, Louisiana, happily honored their teacher, Bro. Gerald Hopeck, for Religious Brothers Day 2017. What a nice shout out from these young people!!
Bro. Gerald's web page on the high school website describes his varied roles as a religious brother. He's been in Catholic Education for over 22 years as principal, director of religious education, youth minister and a pastoral associate. Originally from Bridgeport, Connecticut, Bro. Gerald teaches both 9th and 10th grade religion and conducts the Liturgical Choir for the school Masses. “Teaching young people to know and love the God who first loved them has been a calling I received from God since I was a child.” Bro. Gerald, a Franciscan, moved to New Orleans to start a new religious community. |
Jesuits offer Special grace before dinner to honor brothers
The Jesuits of the Maryland and USA Northeast Provinces have been invited to offer a special blessing as Grace Before Meals to celebrate the first-ever Religious Brothers Day. Maryland Provincial Robert M. Hussey, SJ, and Provincial John J. Cecero, SJ of the USA Northeast Province, sent a joint memo on April 26th to "thank the religious brothers of all of the many congregations who have served and do serve in our country for their generosity, their service to the Church, and their witness to the Gospel."
In a special way, these two Provincials took the opportunity to thank their Jesuit Brothers. "We give thanks to God for the Brother's vocation and for the many Jesuit brothers who have graced the Society," giving thanks for their words and deeds which have taught us how to be a companion of the Lord and a minister of the Church."
A copy of the Jesuits' "Order of Blessing as Grace Before Meals" is attached below. Perhaps other communities might adapt this for their celebrations as well.
In a special way, these two Provincials took the opportunity to thank their Jesuit Brothers. "We give thanks to God for the Brother's vocation and for the many Jesuit brothers who have graced the Society," giving thanks for their words and deeds which have taught us how to be a companion of the Lord and a minister of the Church."
A copy of the Jesuits' "Order of Blessing as Grace Before Meals" is attached below. Perhaps other communities might adapt this for their celebrations as well.
| jesuit_blessing_as_grace_before_meals_for_religoius_brothers_day_2017.pdf |
Look here to view a video where Jesuit brothers describe their ministries using the words of the Anima Christi prayer.
Catholic Theological Union in Chicago to host Prayer service
The National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) joined the Religious Formation Conference (RFC) Giving Voice, Communicators for Women Religious, the Institute of Religious Formation and the Center for the Study of Religious Life for a communal prayer service at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago at noon on May 1, 2017 for Religious Brothers Day.
Attendees were invited to create a "shout out" for a brother who inspired them. Many sheets were received and posted on a bulletin board near the location of the prayer service. Those with first and last names (and identifiable communities) are displayed in the slide show below. Special congratulations to each of these inspirational brothers!
Attendees were invited to create a "shout out" for a brother who inspired them. Many sheets were received and posted on a bulletin board near the location of the prayer service. Those with first and last names (and identifiable communities) are displayed in the slide show below. Special congratulations to each of these inspirational brothers!
For more details on the communal prayer service at Catholic Theological Union event, see the flyer shown below.
| invitation_to_rbd_prayer_service_at_ctu.pdf |
Diocese of brooklyn to host mass with religious brothers
The Diocese of Brooklyn will be celebrating with its Religious Brothers on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at the 11:00 am Mass at St. Gregory the Great Church, 242-20 88th Avenue, Bellerose, New York 11426.
Thanks to Br. Bill Boslet, OSF, for alerting us to this celebration organized by the Vicar for Religious in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Sister Maryann Seton Lopiccolo, SC. We look forward to receiving and posting photos from the event.
See details in the file below.
Thanks to Br. Bill Boslet, OSF, for alerting us to this celebration organized by the Vicar for Religious in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Sister Maryann Seton Lopiccolo, SC. We look forward to receiving and posting photos from the event.
See details in the file below.
| inaugural_religious_brothers_day_may_1_-_brooklyn.docx |
The Diocese of Brooklyn's newspaper, The Tablet, also published an editorial on "Our Brothers" in their April 19, 2017 edition. You can read the story here.
There is a request at the end of the article for readers to "send in a memory of your favorite Brother and how you came to know him." The hope is that someone's memory will spark the interest of someone just waiting to be asked to consider a vocation to religious life. Stay tuned for their future postings.
There is a request at the end of the article for readers to "send in a memory of your favorite Brother and how you came to know him." The hope is that someone's memory will spark the interest of someone just waiting to be asked to consider a vocation to religious life. Stay tuned for their future postings.
Religious Brothers Day celebrations continue on the west coast
The Christian Brothers from the Lasallian District of San Francisco New Orleans have been organizing several events to commemorate the first national Religious Brothers Day. Take a look here to read about their activities in the western and southern states which make up their District.
The vocation team of the De La Salle Christian Brothers of the Christian schools are also celebrating Religious Brothers Day. You can read more about their activities here.
We welcome photos and write-ups about YOUR celebrations for Religious Brothers Day. Please send them to Martha Novelly for posting to this website.
The vocation team of the De La Salle Christian Brothers of the Christian schools are also celebrating Religious Brothers Day. You can read more about their activities here.
We welcome photos and write-ups about YOUR celebrations for Religious Brothers Day. Please send them to Martha Novelly for posting to this website.
Dominican cooperator brothers reflect on their unique call
Honoring those who have gone before them, several Dominican Cooperator Brothers from the Province of St. Joseph recently reflected on their unique call which complements the life and ministry of their clerical brothers in the Order of Preachers (colloquially known as "The Dominicans").
Click here to watch a video about men (past and present) who have answered the Lord's call to be a Cooperator Brother following the rule of St. Dominic which dates back to the 13th century.
Click here to watch a video about men (past and present) who have answered the Lord's call to be a Cooperator Brother following the rule of St. Dominic which dates back to the 13th century.
