A Brother aligns his life with Jesus’ search for God and his mission to spread the
Reign of God. To be a Brother is to engage with and be present to all people with
humility, empathy and an open heart. The core of a Brother’s vocation is to live the
Gospel radically through his search for God. Taking this “search for God” honestly
and seriously is a particular gift a Brother offers the Church.
Formation of the Brothers requires each taking responsibility in seeking
opportunities for personal, spiritual and ministerial development.
They will be encouraged to seek opportunities to “foster and develop other gifts and
creatively seek new outlets for mission appropriate to their age and energy”
(Constitution 65).
It is essential that young men entering into this process of preparation for a way
of life and a mission that draws them into engagement with poor people have the
necessary intellectual capacity to carry out their mission. They should also have
experienced life to the extent that they have a good sense of their own personality,
sexuality and relational style and show themselves to be responsible and strongly
disposed to a life of service.
A mission that is going to draw Brothers into a deep and active engagement with poor
people will need the solid foundation of personal prayer and time for quiet
reflection. It is imperative therefore to provide the necessary skills that allow
for theological reflection, and for the scriptures to occupy a place at the Centre
of our lives. This initiative will encourage the nurturing of a contemplative stance
on life, or what is called “mysticism in the marketplace”.
Brothers’ awareness of themselves and their capacity to address personal issues will
enable them to deal with what may arise when working in close proximity with people
in dislocating situations. It will create in them the need for, and appreciation of,
personal counselling and spiritual direction as regular requirements of their lives.
It is essential that the Brothers are skilled, competent and confident in their
mission and ministry. In addition, being professional entails having knowledge of
professional ethics and boundaries, child protection policies and availing of
supervision and regular evaluation.
Engaging with poor people as a disciple of Jesus demands an openness of mind and
heart and a listening ear. Relating to people as Brothers requires an attitude of
reverence, respect and trust.