Brothers Congregations in Ireland + Britain - a blog forum

Sharing Our Prophetic Vision As Religious Brothers... WE'RE STILL HERE + STILL FIGHTING!! - part 1

2010-06-26T10:31:00.001Z

Last Fri. (June 18th) I (Bro. James Hayes fic - De La Mennais Brothers) travelled up to Leeds for a day's meetings, sharing + fraternity with 12 Brothers from other congregations in Britain + Ireland on the topic of "Sharing Our Prophetic Vision". I am on the 3 Brother working party (a De La Salle Brother, a John Of God Brother and me) that organised the day and in the afternoon I gave a presentation (+ led a discussion) on "Internet + Evangelisation".

This day followed on conveniently from a more high-profile conference in London 2 days earlier for those involved in vocations ministry from both female and male religious congregations and institutes, entitled "Surveying The Catholic Future".

I always find it inspiring and encouraging to meet with Brothers from other congregations (+ of course my own too) who still have that fire for God in their belly, who haven't given up hope in terms of our collective future and who, no matter what their age, lay down their lives for God and his people each and every day.

As a result of this day and the desire to broaden the mission of our working party group to serve Brothers congregations in both Britain and Ireland, the name of this blog has now changed = Brothers Congregations In Ireland + Britain (BCIB). I have left the website address untouched, however, as the site has been indexed in directories of Catholic sites and we would not want to lose the potential traffic that might come from there... and I can't remember exactly where those directories are on the internet to inform them!

Brothers together

Some resources from the Leeds meeting. First up, a summary (from a PowerPoint) of Bro. Ben Foy's (De La Salle) presentation in the morning on Sharing Our Prophetic Vision. More to follow in subsequent posts:

Sharing Our Prophetic Vision As Brothers - Br. Ben Foy fsc

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me

because he has chosen me to bring the Good News to the poor;

he has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind;

to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people.”

Lk 4:18-19 (Is 61:1-2)

“This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it read.”

Lk 4:21

Chosen = anointed

Poor = those who know they are in need

The Good News = Jesus was sent for the poor, not the self-satisfied

******************

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”

Would we have become Brothers . . .

Would we be still Brothers . . .

Would we do what we do as Brothers. . .

if we didn't KNOW that God’s Spirit was upon us and that we are significant in his eyes?

As humans we NEED to know that we are significant/loved/needed

But we are like Moses, Samuel, Jeremiah, Zachariah, Mary, Bartimaeus...

We have searched for and still search to be even more fully aware of this reality
We have come to the realisation (not of our doing) that we are loved - through our creation, redemption and empowerment - known through prayer, study, community, ministry

Sr. Sandra M. Schneiders – “Why did they stay?” (2009).

“Tested in the fire”, “the taproot of our vocation is being face to face with God.”

“He has Chosen me"

Anointed = Equipped
In Response - we commit ourselves radically by vow to be in relationship with brother Jesus (God/Trinity) with those brothers with whom we live (Community) and with those brothers and sisters whom we serve (Ministry).

Schneiders (2009-2010) “promoting on-going conciliar renewal”; “prophetic ministry is intrinsic to this life-form”; “open communication, mutual respect and co-operation in ministry, prayer”; “no resurrection if unwilling to share passion”

Fr. Timothy Radcliffe: “call to be humble/follow Jesus/give up power and clericalism”

Br. Sean Sammon SM: “A New Day Dawning”

“If you want to be famous – don’t join us!

. . . We stand alongside others”

“To bring good news to the poor”

God loves you - and we care for you on God’s behalf so that you can know it too!

Expressed through our various charisms.

Importance of Rediscovering and Sharing our charisms - e.g. Hospitality and John of God Family, Association for Education and Lasallian Family, Edmund Rice Family, Mennaisian Family

“Proclaim liberty to captives”

Setting people free from worthlessness, depression, isolation by hands, words, being with !

Abbot Christopher Jamison - “You (Brothers) hold the pain of people”

Thomas Merton - “From time to time it happens that someone breaks through into God. Others discover that person’s break-through, and they sit with that person and there is formed in that place a community that no-one can destroy because it is not composed of compound things. It is the presence of God made manifest in the world.”

“Recovery of sight to the blind”

Society: blinded by isolation, materialism, secularism , rat-race

Church: limited vision - danger of sacramentalism, clericalism, institutionalism

Personally: fearful of looking at ourselves, at our qualities, of being really alive, of being all that we are (Rollo May - Mandela’s inauguration speech – “a gorgeous child of God.”)

Seeing and responding to God personally - everywhere, in everything, in everyday lives, in the good and the hard times (evangelisation, vocation and ministry)

“Set free the oppressed”

The exploited, the bullied, the marginalised

Haim Ginnott - Between Teacher and Child (1972)

“I have come to a frightening conclusion.

I am the decisive element in the classroom.

It is my personal approach that creates the climate .

It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

As a teacher I possess the tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous.

I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated, and a child humiliated or de-humanised.”

***************

A Transformative Vision of Religious Life - Paul Philibert , OP

neither Radical - emphasis on cloister, rule and habit (cf American study)

nor Cultural - emphasis on relevance, open, involvement in general culture

But : -

a critical engagement of culture by the Gospel

world as incarnation,

Gospel as inspiration

holiness as bearers of God’s spirit

dynamic silence,

sensitivity to the interior world through study and recollection

spiritual hospitality

spiritual work

choosing to live the common life

”genuinely accountable to the group”

Closed doors

A need to minister sensitively to those in our congregations, Provinces, communities who have closed their doors (both in practical terms and in inner spiritual terms) to candidates for religious life who might come knocking. These members have given up. No hope for the future (“We are finished!”).

Let us help them to re-open their doors, let us help them to rediscover hope and together live fully our consecration.

“Transforming Religious Life” - Bro Sean Sammon SM

“Orders who survive times of crisis and enter a period of revitalisation:-

a transforming response to the signs of the times
a re-appropriation of their founding charism
a profound renewal of the members’ lives of faith, spirituality and centredness in Christ.”

“ It is in this way that the Institute is the memory, the guarantee, the heart and the prophecy of our charism”

Following the model of Jesus

Being prophetic vs Being institutional

(seen as threatening) (safety)

Sincerity vs Hypocrisy

Humility vs Pride

Simplicity vs Ostentation

Our Prophetic Witness:

Community (Association for Mission) Symbol of relationships/of Trinity/solidarity for mission/“brothers of humankind”

Society of “isolates”/vague cyberspace relationships

Obedience Free to do the will of God/to meet the needs of humanity

Issues of control, secrecy, “do your own thing”

Celibacy Free to love everyone

Paedophilia, court cases, cover ups, sexualised society

Poverty Symbol of fraternity and solidarity with the world’s poor/stewardship of creation

Ambiguity of “Church wealth” in world aware of real poverty, materialism/consumerism/exploitation

Commitment/

Fidelity Symbol of and response to the unwavering love of God

Divorce/“partnerships : marriage”/change/“instant society”

Questions:

How do YOU understand “being brother”

What are the key factors distinguishing being brother : being priest : layman?

How do you live it out prophetically?

Holocaust Memorial Day 2010

2010-01-28T09:03:00.000Z

Yesterday was Holocaust Memorial Day and the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. I gave an assembly in school on the topic, relating it to other genocides of the past 100 years and using resources from the Holocaust Memorial Day website (click on image below) as well as a clip from the wonderful Hilary Swank movie "Freedom Writers".

Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Hugo Gryn, wrote: “You can only be safe and secure in a society that practices tolerance, cherishes harmony and can celebrate difference.”

Think about how you treat other people. Are there certain people that you consider to be ‘different’? Be honest with yourself - do you have any hidden prejudices? Reflect for a moment, and pray that you will be accepting of everyone, no matter what they look like, where they come from, or what they believe.

A Prayer for Holocaust Memorial Day

God who is unchanging and eternal, keep before us the remembrance of the sufferings of humanity; may we not seek to forget; may we learn the lessons for the sake of our society today, and seek to lay the sure foundations of our future. As we remember the victims of the Holocaust, let their suffering inspire our desire to change our world. Amen.

2 other websites relating to the Holocaust:

http://het.venus.co.uk/content.php
http://www.irenasendler.org/

Steering group minutes - meeting 13/12/08

2009-02-02T08:25:00.000Z

Brothers Communities in the UK

Minutes of the Steering Group
St Helens, 13th December 2008

Present: Brothers Benedict Foy, fsc; James Hayes, fic; Michael Newman, OH

Benedict shared about the Religious Life Institute and the first Study day led by Gregory Collins OSB. He recommended that we encourage as many Brothers as possible to attend the second session which will be in Manchester, March Contact Sr Maureen Connor at rli@heythrop.ac.uk

Since the last meeting with provincials – effectively little has happened other than Benedict’s involvement with the development of the Religious Life Institute. Benedict reported that there has been some request following the moves of Cath Lloyd and Paul Smith from Buckton Towers, for the RLI to be involved in initial formation. However RLI sees itself involved in developing on-going formation leading to an MA in Religious Life Studies but will encourage its personnel to respond to requests re initial formation. Unfortunately, there were no takers for the proposed vocations weekend in October.

We felt that waiting for agreement about establishing a Brothers website that it would be better to actually start by arranging for a draft website to be developed and then to invite Brothers from as wide an audience to meet to evaluate it before actually launching it. Benedict agreed to contact a former student who develops websites for a living to consider undertaking such a project and then look for contributions from different groups of Brothers towards the costs. The meeting is planned for Saturday May 9th 2009 at St Vincent’s Centre Carlisle Place London, 10.30 – 3.30. (Benedict to arrange.)

It was agreed to look at arranging a retreat for Brothers in summer 2010, various places and speakers were suggested. Benedict will make initial enquiries and keep people informed of possibilities.

It was also agreed that in the light of a certain reluctance for Brothers to take part in weekend sessions that we should press ahead with the idea of day meeting for Brothers, one in the north and one in the South in October 2009. We felt that this should take place on a Sunday and should include time for prayer, sharing, Mass and some social time. Various locations were discussed which Benedict will investigate. It was thought that a Sunday in September / October would be best.

We were grateful for the hospitality which the St Helen’s Community afforded us for our meeting.

Steering Group meeting 15/12/07

2007-12-24T07:59:00.000Z

Brothers Communities in the United Kingdom
Report of Steering Group Meeting
at St John’s House, St Helens
15th December 2007.

Present: Bros Benedict Foy,fsc; James Hayes,FIC; and Michael Newman OH.

Gathering after Mass with the community we reflected over events in the course of the year – some of which – like the retreat at Worth were really wonderful and others like the failure of the Study Day and Gatherings to take place were very disappointing. We speculated on the reasons for these experiences. Discs of materials from Worth Retreat will be circulated over Christmas period to those who participated.

Those who participated in the Worth Abbey Retreat for Brothers from any congregation.

Benedict shared experience of NoV Day in Oscott / proposals for Institute for Religious Life based on Heythrop.

We agreed that the two key foci of our group continue to be
- Promotion of the Brothers Vocation
- Encouraging Brothers in their Vocation

Looking to the future we agreed the following:
Meeting of Provincials / Delegates for Brothers / Vocation Directors / Representatives 1st April 2008 at St Vincent’s Centre, Carlyle Place, Westminster. (Date now confirmed 17/12/07). Benedict to make arrangements and to write to all male religious orders and follow up with reminders

Agenda: Review past activities - what has happened / buffers
Share present experiences: re vocations, formation
Future planning

- Propose Conference “Future of Brotherhood as a Mode of Religious Life”.
Spring 2009 possibly in Liverpool, Leeds or Bournemouth
Anglophone but inviting Ireland, Scotland and Europe participation?
Possible speakers include someone “Marketing Religious Life”, Sean Sammon, General of OH., James Hayes, Paul Bednarcyzk,

- Organising a different type of Brothers Gathering
A Saturday / Sunday gathering in different parts of the country : residential
Arranged by member of this group / (others?) supporting each other

- We will continue to make concerted efforts to contact brothers in other Congregations / Orders

- Collaboration on Vocation Promotion – we agreed that this is essential and will investigate attendance at Catholic Youth Days / Gatherings eg Diocesan / National (Youth 2000, New Dawn) Benedict to invite ourselves to such gatherings.

- Michael will look into mobile exhibition material re Brothers Vocations

- James will look into cost and proposal for Brother Website, links and possible sponsorship. Should it be a data-base type or an active site?

- National Vocations Sunday 15th April. Some Brothers took part in Church talks this year. Hospitallers and De La Salle are committed to being involved this coming years – others ?

- For Provincials meeting – what formation is being offered for Brothers? Initial and continuing? Is formation of associates taking focus away from Brothers?

- We will collaborate in organising a weekend for potential vocations for Brothers.

- We were most grateful for the hospitality and warm welcome offered by the Brothers at St John’s House.

Personal Testimony - Bro. James Hayes

2007-06-01T19:15:00.001Z

This is a version of a page that already exists on my web site, where I give a personal testimony about my vocation as a De La Mennais Brother. It was adapted and partly re-written for Vocations Sunday on the 4th Sunday of Easter for use in vocations resources.

******************************

My vocational journey began when I was in my mid-teens, as a feeling that God was asking me to give my life to him in some way. I didn’t know how at that point; whether it would lead me to the priesthood or the religious life. Through personal prayer and a variety of experiences and encounters over the next few years, I began to feel God pointing me towards life as a teaching Brother and, in particular, towards the Brothers who ran my school (the De La Mennais Brothers).

I simply had to say “Yes” to him and trust that he would guide me on the path ahead, because I had no idea where this was going to lead me.

On pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella with my good friend, Bro. Henri Rivoalen in 1999.

I seemed to have instinctively known, however, that responding to God with a “Yes” would lead me on the path to the greatest possible joy and contentment in my life. And my cup certainly overflowed in this respect during my life as a Brother. I cannot imagine any other way of life that would make me happier this time. Also, I can honestly say that since about the age of 17 and my “Yes” to God, I have never doubted the fact that God has called (and is still calling) me to be a De La Mennais Brother.

In Lourdes with the HCPT when I was 17. Next to me is Brother Gregory Casey, an English De La Mennais Brother who was based in Southampton but who spent 9 months every year for 21 years in Lourdes, working for all the English-speaking pilgrims (eg. making sure they had English Masses, getting them involved in the Blessed Sacrament Procession, Rosary on the Basilica steps, etc...). Known by Bishops and priests from all over the world through his work in Lourdes, the man was a legend. A very humble, down-to-earth, football loving saint of a man with a tremendous devotion to Mary.

 However, it was only gradually, over the next few years, that my initial “Yes” transformed itself into a personal relationship with God. Experiences such as a pilgrimage to Lourdes were important landmarks for me. I gradually became more sensitive to his presence in my life to the point of being able to say that I felt and still feel God's love for me and for the whole of humanity very strongly and in a variety of ways: through my prayer life both with my community and in my personal prayer, through encounters with other people and long-standing friendships, through the joys of making and listening to music and through the beauty of God's creation.

I also experience God's love through a better knowledge and understanding of the Bible, especially of the life of Jesus Christ and of his invitation to all of us to willingly accept God's love as His adopted sons and daughters - a love that manifests itself most clearly in Jesus, his Son, dying for love of you and me.   I was not sensitive to this love when I decided to take the plunge and respond to God’s call to become a Brother, but I definitely felt an invitation inside of me to enter into a relationship with God. One that I felt I should not say no to, even though I did not know where it would lead me. I now know that the invitation was not to a closed relationship with God through life as a Brother. Following the model of his trinitarian relationship with Jesus his Son, from which comes the outpouring of the Spirit (the expression of their mutual love), it was rather an invitation to open my heart out to God’s people and share with them his wonderful, limitless, infinitely generous love. All Christians are sent into the world to be God's ambassadors in this way, to help other people come closer to God through letting his love radiate from us to all. As a Teaching Brother, I am called to fulfil that role especially in schools and in working with young people in general.

English and French Brothers together in Liverpool.

At present I am school Chaplain and teacher in a large boys’ Catholic comprehensive in Liverpool (my subjects being Film Studies, Music and R.E. I also conduct the school orchestra and lead the staff/pupil worship band). I thoroughly enjoy working with the young. Even though my lay colleagues are wonderful teachers and tremendously dedicated, I feel very strongly that together with my fellow Brothers I have something different and special to offer the school community in part simply by the fact of being a Brother in its midst. I know that the training I have received and the years spent living in community following a daily prayer routine (including daily Mass) have made me a better person and one who is much more confident in the expression of his own faith.

Colleagues and parents say to us that the school would not be the same without us, though they maybe struggle to put their finger on exactly how. It is perhaps in part because we are a sign of God’s Kingdom here on earth through the radical nature of our commitment to him, expressed through the 3 vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Hopefully, by who we are and what we stand for, we show to young people the truth of what they learn in their R.E. lessons and contribute to “making Jesus Christ better known and loved”, this being the aim of our work as De La Mennais Brothers. But in actual fact, all we can do is sow seeds that through the grace of God may one day bear fruit and in most cases without us knowing.

Technorati Tags: brother, contemplation, divine love, religious life, vocation

Meeting of Brothers Provincials and Vocation Directors 05/02/07

2007-04-11T21:43:00.000Z

Here are belated minutes of our annual meeting (a bit low in numbers this year):

Report of Meeting of Brothers Provincials and Vocation Directors
Monday 5th February 2007. 26 Half Moon Lane, LONDON SE24 9HU

Present: Brothers Benedict Foy fsc, James Hayes FIC, John O’Neill OH, Sean Sellors fsc
Apologies: Brothers George Gordon CCB, John Martin OH; Michael Newman OH

We began with a time of prayer.

A Report of Recent and Planned Activities

1 . Meeting with Fr Paul Embury, Director of National Office of Vocations. A good meeting, looking to collaboration. Some problems of contact via CoR with impact on statistics and appropriate contact for enquirers. Happy to link websites of Brothers with NoV. Discussion on Website. Would be useful to have a central Brothers site, professionally done but it is better value for money than adverts or “amateur productions” (see Secular Institutes website: Religious Vocations DVD), common search tag on-line “about becoming a priest, brother etc.”. He was supportive of our idea of Brothers speaking on vocations on Vocations Sunday – important witness. He encouraged us to bring ourselves and our associates to the National Vocations Pilgrimage to Walsingham – Michael Newman will be leading the Holy Hour. He is looking for information about Catholic gap year opportunities – could people please contact him – for inclusion of service opportunities on NoV website. Advanced information about National Vocations Forum – probably at Oscott 21st June topic “ New Movements and Vocations”.

2 Vocations Sunday. Discussion about Brothers inviting themselves to preach in parishes 3rd Sunday of Easter 22nd April. The meeting agreed to print at least 10,000 double sided printed credit card size cards for distribution on that Sunday (cost minimal which was felt that congregations would be happy to contribute to) and to provide a guide for Brothers for speaking about Vocation on that day. Please indicate to Bro Benedict It was suggested that Brothers might contact their own local radio stations to publicise what they are undertaking. It was agreed to contact the National Catholic press on the same topic and it was suggested that Brothers contact their own diocesan newspapers with a news item about this happening.

3 National Vocations Pilgrimage to Walsingham – we encourage Brothers and their associates to attend (12 – till 4.30 approx – no need to book but we would appreciate some indication to Bro Benedict (contact details at the end of this report.)

4 Study Session London Colney May 29th to 31st 2007. “The Church in 2027 and its implications for religious life” at the moment there has not been many Brothers who have signed up for this session. We hope that Brothers will quickly sign up for this interesting look towards the future of Religious Life as time moves more quickly than we expect. If flyers and further info are required please contact Bro Benedict (Details at end.) This flyer is also being circulated by CoR.

5. Retreat for Religious Brothers at Worth 4th to 11th August 2007, “The Prophetic Role of Religious Today and Tomorrow.” Bro Philip Pinto, Superior General of the Christian Brothers has confirmed his leadership of this retreat with Sr Raimunda Jordan OP also being involved and with Abbot Christopher Jamison of Worth agreeing to act as chaplain. To date only 7 Brothers have signed up for this Retreat – in reality we are looking for at least 30 brothers to be involved. This retreat is going to be circulated this month amongst CoR male members, CORI, ARBI and CRS so Brothers from GB, who are the intended primary beneficiaries, need to book soon.

6 Brothers are reminded of the Fraternal gatherings planned for 27th -28th Oct at London Colney and November 3rd – 4th at Hinsley Hall Leeds. A few Brothers have already indicated their willingness to be involved in these.

B Planning for the Future

1 A Brothers Communities UK Website. We looked at a number of examples of Website for Vocations (NoV; Compass; Tyburn; Parkminster; Secular Institutes, etc). In the light of the discussions with Fr Paul Embury reported above, it was agreed that the steering group should draw up a short list of possible creators of a common Brothers’ website, with costings, design suggestions, guidelines, etc. It was suggested that we contact Ronnie McEwan FMS, as a Brother, to advise on this project. It was agreed that the steering group should make a proposal to Provincials when this preliminary work is achieved.

2 Meetings between Brothers Communities It was felt that this is an exercise which would be encouraging for the Brothers – that Brothers in a local area meet together to discuss their joint appreciation of their vocation, vocations promotions within a prayerful and social gathering. Brothers are asked to take the initiative and invite themselves to each others’ communities our own experience if that these are very positive and encouraging events. It was suggested that a good starting point for a first meeting might be to meet and discuss arrangements for Vocations Sunday.

3 Bro James shared that he has been asked to speak at and be involved in one of the Compass programme sessions at Worth Abbey about Brotherhood. This is a programme run by Worth for young men and women who are seriously considering Priesthood and the Religious Life. He is happy to share the perspectives of any Brothers if you wish to contact him on bro_james@blueyonder.co.uk .

4 It was agreed that the next meeting of the Provincials and Vocations Directors should evaluate the programme which has been planned.

In the light of the disappointing attendance at the meeting could I ask everyone who receives this report to please acknowledge its receipt, so that we can check whether we are having a communications problem or not. Could you at the same time please indicate to whom this report is being circulated and shared with by yourself. We are quite happy to send it to individual communities and Brothers if there are distribution difficulties. Thank you for your cooperation.

Contact details
for Bro Benedict Foy fsc.
Telephone 07968 529 559
E-mail: benpfoy@aol.com
Address: 26 Half Moon Lane, LONDON SE24 9HU

Personal testimony by Bro. Ben Foy sfc

2007-02-06T11:10:00.001Z

“Spoiled by God”

This is how I would sum up my life as a De La Salle Religious Brother. I am a member of an order, started by Saint John Baptist de La Salle in France in 1681, who is now the Patron Saint of Teachers. I am vowed to live in community, to pray together, to be of service as brothers in an educational environment.

I am 58 years young and have followed this inspiration as brother and educator for over 40 years. Having attended a Brothers’school in St Helens, Merseyside, I was attracted by the brothers prayerfulness, happiness and enjoyment being with young people. Through prayer and discussion, I came to believe, that God was inviting me to share their lives.

After a period of training, during which time I changed my name to Benedict (from Paul), I made vows – public promises to God – that I would live as a brother. Since then I have tried conscientiously, to live as a brother of Jesus; as a brother to the men I live in community with; as a brother to the men and women I work with in the world of education; and as an older brother to the young people it has been my privilege to live and work with. I have worked as a teacher, rugby and football referee, retreat giver, counselling psychologist, chaplain, but as a brother my main purpose in life is to stand alongside people on behalf of Jesus.

The vows I have freely made, of poverty, chastity, obedience, educational service to the poor and stability, have never been a burden for me. Through them I feel that I have been freed to be there for people, on behalf of God, as their brother (rather than as husband or dad!), wherever and however that may be needed. I have been privileged to live and work with young people and teachers in many places in Britain, Europe and the US, from delinquents to university students, of many abilities, nationalities and faiths. Through them I have learned to encounter, recognise and know deeply that I am blessed by God. I am privileged also, to serve mostly young people as their brother, in many different ways – but always for the same reasons – to help them to know God’s love; to help them achieve God’s will that “they might have life to the full”, and through them help to make our world a better place. What more could I wish for?

Why do I remain a brother? Yes, there have been difficulties, yes sometimes it is tough living in community, and yes the world of education can be difficult place to have responsibility – but isn’t this the general experience of life through which we all grow? I have learned that we grow more (in courage, compassion, faith, patience etc,) through facing the difficulties rather than looking for the easy life!

Some years ago a particular passage from the Bible struck home for me: “You have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced!” (Jeremiah 20:7 – Jerusalem Bible version). Over the years this passage has turned into the present tense – “you are seducing me and I am letting myself be seduced,” because this is what is happening to me, this is what God is doing in my life! I am enriched by thousands of younger brothers and sisters, who share with me their efforts to live authentically, to achieve their best. I am blessed by the opportunities, support and experiences that my community and colleagues give me. But above all, my constant experience of God, in prayer and in life, affirms me as a valued, loved and gifted person. I consider it then, simply to be my privilege to respond, as brother, to God, to Jesus, my brother!

Technorati Tags: brother, religious life, vocation

Steering Group Meeting 10.08.06

2007-02-06T08:37:00.001Z

Religious Brothers UK

Report of Steering Group Meeting
St John’s House, St Helens
10.08.06

Present: Brothers Benedict Foy, James Hayes and Michael Newman
The meeting started with a time of prayer.

Gatherings: The following sessions were agreed.

On-going Formation Session, 29th-31st May 2007 All Saints, London Colney “The Church in 2027” for approx 20 participants

A team from the following are to be invited to offer input
Dairmud O Murchu, James Hanvey, Tony Carroll, Pia Buxton, Gemma Simmons, Helen Costgan

Retreat for Brothers 3rd -11th August 2007 at Worth Abbey “ The Prophetic Role of Religious Today and Tomorrow.” for approx 50 participants

Bro Philip (Superior General of Christian Brothers) has been invited to lead – will know in September his availability. Abbot Christopher has been most welcoming. He is to be asked to act as chaplain with a series of relevant homilies. A Sister will also be invited from some of the following Helena? (Kinoull), Magdalen Lawlor, Helen Carroll OP. We are happy to accept Fr Christopher’s offers of hospitality and will work out the details as part of the details of the practical planning, particularly joining the community of Worth on 6th August (Transfiguration).

3 Southern Gathering 27th – 28th October 2007 at All Saints London Colney, for approx 10-15 participants

4 Northern Gathering 3rd – 4th November 2007 at Hinsley Hall, Leeds, for approx 10 – 15 participants

5 Meeting of Provincial Leaders and Vocation Directors at St Vincents, Carlisle Place, London, 6th February 2007 focus on Vocation Promotion and Collaboration; update on Brothers links.

6 National Vocations Pilgrimage to Walsingham 16th June 2007

It was agreed to arrange an advanced flyer for wide circulation about these meetings for September and more specific fliers for the formation and Retreat sessions to be available in January. Benedict undertook to draft these and run them past Michael ASAP. Benedict will confirm these details with the various locations.

National Vocations Forum 06 - Worth Abbey

2006-08-10T09:05:00.000Z

Spent Sunday July 18th at Worth Abbey (see http://www.worthabbey.net/flash_index.html). I was there for a National Vocations Forum with other religious (including Bro. Ben Foy), priests and lay people, all of whom work in some way in the area of vocations. It was a wonderful time of shared experiences, wisdom and support, skillfully facilitated by Abbot Christopher Jamison of Worth.

It didn't just deal with the burning question of religious/priestly vocations but also addressed the wider, more fundamental question of christian vocation and the discernment necessary to be able to hear God's call to whatever way of life; be it marriage, celibate single life, religious life, priesthood, etc... and to particular a apostolate within that life.

Here are a few snaps.

February Meeting

2006-06-16T20:38:00.000Z

Report of the Brothers Representatives Meeting
London February 2006.

Present; Brothers Benedict Foy, Sean Sellors (De La Salle); Michael Newman, John Martin (John of God); Ian Latham (Little Brothers of Jesus); Bill Jordan (Jesuit); James Hayes (De La Mennais); Vianney Kerr (Alexian); John Hegarty (St Gabriel) Roger Bosse(Sacred Heart)

Apologies Michael Duxbury (Redemptorist); Michael Powers (Josephite) George Gordon (Christian Brothers); Andrew Ferris (Sacred Heart of Betharam) Sr Karen Dartois OP (CoR Formation Desk)

Reflecting on outcome of regional meetings
Difficulties in contacting brothers

Grateful for this meeting and for others sense of Brotherhood – without knowing anyone previously
Theology of Brothers life Incarnational
Directory of Brothers communities in GB addresses and e-mails
Brothers blog site might become a ebsite
Benedict James and Michael to take things forward further national /regional
gatherings and retreats
Invite each other in local areas to meet, pray, socialise together celebrate brotherhood
Cooperate with whoever – wherever
Look to create opportunities
Presence at National Vocations Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Retreat – Sean Sammon
Start with 24 hour / weekend retreat
Possibility of National Association premature

Sell the why “standing together”
Work collaboratively on Vocations
Gathering after the summer – invite others
Brothers willing to stand up – Universities, colleges, parishes
Formation courses

Meeting in St Helens
Vianney sent information and article – appendix.

May Steering Meeting

2006-06-16T20:30:00.000Z

Report of the Meeting of the Steering Group for GB Brothers

Following the meeting of Brothers Provincials, Vocations Directors and other interested representative Brothers in London in February, Brothers Benedict Foy FSC, James Hayes FIC and Michael Newman OH were mandated to form a steering group to facilitate collaboration between Brothers.

A meeting was held at St John’s House, St Helens Friday and Saturday 21st 22nd May 2006 to make progress along the lines of what had been agreed.

We were most grateful for the wonderful hospitality we received from the Brothers of the community.

We agreed the following practical issues

1 Brothers UK Directory: We agreed as a matter of urgency to create a Directory of Brothers in Great Britain, listing communities and individual Brothers. We will invite all Brothers to have their names, addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers listed to facilitate communication between Brothers. Bro James will take responsibility for compiling this information.

2 Communication: We will endeavour to communicate with all brothers by means of the Directory. We intend using the CoR mailing shots, and Serra and NoV connections to inform Brothers and others who might be interested, of our activities.

3 Vocations Collaboration: We will invite all the Brothers congregations to work collaboratively in the promotion of Vocations. We undertook to introduce onto our own websites information about the variety of Vocations including creating links to the websites of other religious congregations.

4 Promotion of Vocations: The key message we wish to communicate to Brothers and others interested in the Religious Life is that “we are here” and that we welcome being invited together, to cooperate with whoever, to speak in schools, colleges, universities or parishes on vocations – in general or specifically), retreats for busy people, effective living out of the Christian spirituality, etc.

5 Wider involvement: We will encourage members of our own congregations to offer their services, to work together, to talk to and to accompany others in living out their Christian Vocation.

6 Blogsite: We will particularly encourage the use of the brosuk blogsite as a way of collaborating and sharing between Brothers and to facilitate the development of this collaborative ministry. (Contact Bro James Hayes at bro_james@blueyonder.co.uk to sign up for this website!)

7 Formation: We agreed that to work together on issues of formation, working with seekers, postulants etc. Bro Michael is happy to coordinate sessions for four or more participants (plus their Brother-accompaniers). We felt that it is also important for Brothers in initial formation to participate in the inter-congregationsal sessions which CoR organises.

8 National Vocations Pilgrimage: We again encourage Brothers to participate in the Nation Vocations Pilgrimage to Walsingham on Saturday 3rd June 2006. Gather at Slipper Chapel, bring a packed lunch; walk from Walsingham to Slipper Chapel starts at 1.00; Holy Hour, finishes with Mass at 4.00.

9 Gatherings: We are planning a series of Gatherings for Brothers during 2007 which we hope will be occasions for Brothers to come together to pray, address issues for on-going formation and to socialise.
These will be:-
a) On-Going Formation Session: A 2-night session (hopefully between 28 May 1st June 2007 at Hinsley Hall) where we intend inviting a significant speaker to speak and guide a reflection on Vision.
b) Retreat A week retreat during August 2007 (hopefully at Worth Abbey) again with a significant speaker / team around the theme “The Prophetic Role of Religious Today and Tomorrow.”
c) Gathering: a North and a South 24 hour gathering (hopefully at Hinsley Hall and London Colney) a Saturday – Sunday during October / November 2007.
Benedict will make the initial contacts about these sessions.

10 We encourage local gatherings of Brothers for prayer / meal and we undertook to start these in our own areas, and to publicise them on the Brothers blogsite.

11 Consultation: Whilst we agreed that a formal association of Brothers in GB is probably rather premature at this time we though that we would like to invite responses to the suggestion of “bcuk” “Brothers Communities in United Kingdom” as a working title to cover the coordinated efforts being proposed.

12 Interest: We are encouraged by the interest show by a number of Brothers in clerical congregations but are conscious that we have had little contact to date with Brothers in monastic communities. Benedict reported that some interest has also been shown in what we are doing by some vowed male members of some of the newer ecclesial communities. We believe that as Brothers we are open to anyone who wishes to stand alongside us.

13 The next meeting of the steering group will take place at St John’s House, St Helens, Tuesday 22nd August at 11.00.

The Monastery Revisited

2006-05-30T19:29:00.000Z

Calling all fans of BBC 2's 2005 reality series "The Monastery" (see earlier posts). There is a "Monastery Revisited" programme due to air on BBC 2 (UK) next Weds. 7th June, followed by the start of a 4-part series looking this time at the life of contemplative nuns: "The Convent" (sounds like jumping on the bandwagon, but let's see what it's like).

2006-03-09T09:11:00.000Z

A request

2006-03-04T17:07:00.000Z

I think it would be good if, when anyone contributes, they give they their name and congregation (at least initially) because some of your user names don't give much of a clue as to who you are. If you get the chance, it would also be good to put a few details in each of your profiles to give a bit of background about who you are and what your apostolate is.

Brothers' meeting in London, Tues. Feb. 28th

2006-03-04T12:30:00.000Z

Last Tuesday, a meeting was held for Provincials, vocations directors and any other interested Brothers from Brothers' congregations. We were delighted to also welcome a Jesuit Brother and an ordained Brother from the Fraternity of the Little Brothers of Jesus (Charles de Foucauld). The meeting was held to provide feedback from the two regional gatherings of Brothers that took place during last Autumn in Leeds and Oxford and to look ahead at how we should go forward in terms of collaborative work, mutual support, etc... between our different congregations. I will publish the minutes soon on here (or maybe you can do so yourself, Ben? :-)

The Monastery - BBC 2, May '05

2006-02-10T23:44:00.000Z

To set the ball rolling, a post I put on my own blog last year:

"The Monastery": a highly successful BBC 2 3-part documentary following 5 contemporary men who volunteer to live 40 days at Worth Abbey. I know lots of people who've seen at least part of it, some of whom have a lukewarm attitude to organised religion at the best of times. They were all gobsmacked by it and many found it profoundly moving (as I did myself - especially the last part and Tony's religious experience). The reaction in the press has been amazing. One of the volunteers (Tony) has even been talking openly on TV chat shows about how he discovered faith in God during the experience. His story gives tremendous witness to what Christianity has to offer people in today's secularised societies, in part simply because of the type of person he was before doing the series and also through seeing how it has changed him. I know a lot of people are campaigning for the series to be realeased on dvd but the BBC have not announced any such plans as yet.

A friend of mine has managed to do a decent transfer from vhs to dvd for me and I'm giving copies out to people. I've used part of it already in school. It's a wonderful resource to have: insights into religious life - its difficulties, its riches, insights into Christianity in general, a very positive image of the Church and of the Benedictines involved - the Abbot, Novice Master, etc... some of whom give individual guidance to the volunteers and classes to the whole group. Each of the 5 volunteers came with "issues" that needed sorting out. Three of them were not practicing Christians, but they all thought that their time in the monastery would allow them to take stock, to recharge the batteries and come back "into the world" hopefully as better people. Little did they know that they were going to get far more than they bargained for.

see http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/monastery/
and http://www.worthabbey.net/

It was great to see people having the kind of (religious) experiences I have had at times over the years and talking about them in lay man's terms. It's also great to see an aspect of the Church portrayed in such an open, positive and generous manner. The series has reminded me why I was so attracted initially to monastic life (Benedictine monasticism - Thanks, Raph - and then the Cistercian variety) as opposed to the Brothers I am now with. Though I thoroughly enjoy life as a De La Mennais Brother and have no regrets, part of me still longs for the "desert". I try and go for a monastic retreat once a year and also take school groups on retreat. As Brothers, we have to try and live out many of the values and principles of monastic life in an urban, "worldy" context. Not always plain sailing, but very rewarding.

Fascinating to follow how the candidates gradually open up, learn about themselves, about others, about monastic life, about God... That bit about learning to see yourself as others see you... very powerful + so true. The programme challenges me and makes me want to reassess who and where I am, imagining what I would say if some of their questions were addressed to me. In many ways I envy those Benedictine monks. Life for them is in a sense very simple and straightforward. I want to maintain that simplicity in my own vocation, but it's not always easy. Peace and love... that's all. When I am at peace and basking in God's love, all is well and I feel a taste of heaven and of what is awaiting me/us.

Anyway, if anyone wants a copy on dvd, just let me know and I'll post it off to you. No fee. You can say a few prayers for us instead! If anyone from the BBC reads this, I hope you understand my reasons. If you do release it on dvd I will stop giving out my copies.