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Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church

A Guide for Three Community Meetings

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Guidelines

Below you will find a pathway made up of four documents to deepen our understanding of the document.

1. Brotherhood: A gift we receive 2. Brotherhood: A gift we share and give to others 3. Being Brother: A story of grace 4. Without me you can do nothing

The first three guides include a time of celebration, guidelines for personal reflection and a time of community sharing.

The fourth guide is a thanksgiving celebration to gather the whole process.

The documents can be modified and adapted to suit your local needs.

The references in the documents indicate where you can find the resources indicated. Some of the songs and videos are not available in all languages. Each one is invited to adapt the use of the resources to local possibilities.

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1. “You are all Brothers” Brotherhood: A gift we Receive

Step 1: Moment of celebration

Presenting the document

The booklets are laid out in the centre of the circle and the person presiding reads the following text:

The Church places in our hands this document: “IDENTITY AND MISSION OF THE RELIGIOUS BROTHER IN THE CHURCH” which can be summarised in the Gospel phrase “And you are all Brothers” (Mat 23:8). The document seeks to contribute: “to the appreciation of the richness of the different vocations, especially within male consecrated life, and seeks to shed light on the identity of the Religious Brother and the value and necessity of this vocation” (No. 1). It is given to us Brothers with the desire that it might serve to affirm us in our vocation. It is also given to lay people, priests and bishops, and all those who wish to know more, to appreciate and to promote the vocation of religious brothers in the Church. The document proposes a number of ideas to help us respond to the question: How can we be Brothers today?

The document is handed to each participant (a moment of silence) All:

We receive this document as a gift from the Spirit which comes to us through the Church. This gift is calling to come alive through us for our personal growth and for our growth in brotherhood in our community, in the Congregation, in the Church and in the world. We are called to bring this gift alive in words, gestures and attitudes in our lives, lived in the service of the Kingdom.

Leader:

We thank God for this new document and for the opportunity to renew and appreciate the vocation to brotherhood in each one of us gathered here, in our community and in our Congregation.

The community might read numbers 1-4 of the document, the Introduction. Psalm 91 “It is good to give thanks”

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night,

to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

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How great are your works, O Lord!

Your thoughts are very deep!

The dullard cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this:

though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish,

they are doomed to destruction for ever,

but you, O Lord, are on high for ever.

For your enemies, O Lord, shall perish;

all evildoers shall be scattered.

But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;

you have poured over me fresh oil.

My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;

my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

they flourish in the courts of our God.

In old age they still produce fruit;

they are always green and full of sap,

showing that the Lord is upright;

he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Step 2- Moment of personal reflection

Religious Brothers in the Church-communion. “I have chosen you as a covenant with the people”

A gentle and reflective reading of numbers 5 to 11

Some guidelines for the reading:

We are presented with some biblical icons shared by the Church-communion and religious life: a) The source of communion is in the Trinity. b) The figure of the Servant of Yahweh, called to make a covenant which comes to its fullness in Jesus. c) The community of disciples which unites community life and mission. d) The breaking of bread and the washing of the feet.

The Church-communion is expressed in religious life and the vocation of brotherhood:

a) The Church as communion and consecrated life at the heart of the Church. b) The Church as People of God, a consecrated People and the special consecration of some of its

members for the Church-communion. c) In the Church-communion religious brothers highlight some specific elements of the Christian life.

The identity of the Religious Brother - “A mystery of communion for mission” The Mystery: Brotherhood, a gift we receive

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A gentle and reflective reading of numbers 12 to 20.

Some guidelines for the reading:

Brotherhood is born in the call to a Christian vocation: a) Each Christian vocation has its origin in the experience of God’s love. b) Our personal story which begins in Baptism, finds its fulfilment in religious consecration as a

unique and fruitful deepening of baptismal consecration. c) True prophecy is born in God, in friendship with God and the attentive listening to God’s Word in

the diverse circumstances of life.

Brotherhood is expressed in the vocation of the religious brother: a) The relationship of sonship is transformed simultaneously in relationships of brotherhood. b) The Brother deepens our baptismal priesthood through fraternity. c) He makes visible in the Church the face of Christ brother, the firstborn among many brothers. d) We are called to be brothers of Christ, brothers among our confreres and brothers to all of

humanity.

Step 3 – Community Meeting

Song: Peace Before Us (David Haas) Peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our our feet. Peace within us, peace over us, let all around us be peace. Love… Light… Christ…

Moment for sharing and dialogue:

How do I situate my vocation to brotherhood in the contexts of Church in which I live? How might I express what is specific to the brother’s vocation in those different Church contexts?

We look to the words of St. John Paul in 1995: "These

Religious are called to be brothers of Christ, deeply united with Him, “the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom. 8:29); brothers to one another in mutual love and working together in the Church in the same service of what is good; brothers to everyone in their witness to Christ's love for all, especially the lowliest, the neediest; brothers for a greater brotherhood in the Church" (No. 11) Are we expressing our brotherhood in the fullness in which it might be lived?

Do we really place the prophetic accent on living our brotherhood? Could our community be

considered a prophetic sign of brotherhood? What aspects could we improve?

What other aspects of the document have drawn my attention?

The meeting concludes as we pray the “Our Father”.

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2. “That all may be one so that the world might believe” Brotherhood: The gift we share and give to others

Step 1: A moment of celebration

Preparation - Presentation of Symbols: Document: “Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church”, candle, bible, towel and basin with water…

Greeting, motivation and explaining the symbols.

Moment of silence and reflection

Hymn: Do you Understand (Monica Brown) The night has come, my time is near. I must leave you now; leave you with this sign of love: my life, given up for you. Do you understand what I have done? Do you really know the love I have for you? I am your Lord and your God, Your Lord and God, do you really know? I pray for you, that you will know the mystery of the life I’ve lived in love for you. Remember me as you do the same.

Proclamation of the Word: John 15:9-17

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will

abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these

things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this,

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you

servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you

friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not

choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father

will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one

another.

Response of the community: Jesus Prayer (John Michael Talbot) Jesus, Saviour, Son of God, have mercy on us. Jesus, Saviour, Son of God, have mercy on us.

A moment of silence is followed by prayerful sharing of words or phrases that strike us from the Reading, the song or the psalm… Concluding Prayer: By Helder Câmara If you have a thousand reasons for living, if you never feel alone, if you wake up wanting to sing, if everything speaks to you from the stone in the road to the star in the sky from the loitering lizard to the fish, lord of the sea if you understand the winds and listen to the silence rejoice for love walks with you, as your comrade, as your brother!

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Step 2- Moment of deepening and personal reflection

Over the following weeks, dedicate a quiet time to Reading and meditating on numbers 21 to 31 of the document:

- Communion: Brotherhood, the gift we share - Mission: brotherhood, the gift we give to others.

For this reflection, the following might help you: What is my own thinking and the challenges that face me as I have read the Chapter on

“Brotherhood, the gift we share”? (21-26) What is my own thinking and the challenges that face me as I have read the Chapter on:

“Brotherhood, gift we give to others”?(27- 31) Can I write briefly about some experiences related to brotherhood and the mission of Brothers in the

light of the following two quotations from the document:

Part of the conversion process is going back continually to basics, to their prophetic mission in the Church: living brotherhood as a gift from God and strengthening it with God’s help and the commitment of the Brothers, within the community and also outwards from the community. (No. 26)

FRATERNIDAD: The Brother’s mission… is the fruit of a heart that is open to suffering with the needs and miseries of humanity. The Brother experiences in them the call of Christ who sends him to alleviate their hunger in many forms… A Brother, whose vocation ultimately is identified with the Son of Man, feels compelled to be like him, brother of the least ones. (No. 27)

MISSION:

(Don’t forget to bring to the community meeting some photographs which help you to remember fruitful moments in your living of brotherhood and your ministry as a Brother).

Step 3 – Community Gathering

Welcome and Creation of a Reflective Atmosphere for Sharing. You are invited to prepare the room for the gathering, maybe including posters of the

words: “Brotherhood”, “Gift we share” and “Gift we give away to others”, also a lighted candle. Song: His Greatest Delight (Kevin Bates)

I will give praise to my God while I live, give him the first and the best of my love, I’ll always remember the songs that he sings, and I’ll join him in harmony, rhythm and love. And the Father is laughing for joy in this family, teaching them love is his greatest delight, Clapping his hands with surprise as his children discover his story of peace, his truth and his life. He fashions the clay of our lives with a gentle hand, waiting to see if we’ll bend at his touch,

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Imagine the joy in his eyes as he watches his favourite masterpiece echoed in us. He fashions his word in the clay of our being, he waits for his word to be spoken anew, He is Father and Mother to all of our family, joy is the fruit of his dreaming come true.

Space for sharing

The animator of the session sets out the proposal, inviting fraternal sharing.

We begin in this first moment with a brief sharing on questions 1 and 2 from the reflection guidelines. Then in a second stage, we open a space to share our experiences of brotherhood: “Part of the

conversion process is going back continually to basics, to their prophetic mission in the Church: living brotherhood as a gift from God and strengthening it with God’s help and the commitment of the Brothers, within the community and also outwards from the community.”. (No. 26). Before the sharing we set up photos of the community and other communities around a poster which

says “A Gift we Share”.

In a third step we share some experiences of mission: "The Brother’s mission… is the fruit of a heart that is open to suffering with the needs and miseries of humanity. The Brother experiences in them the call of Christ who sends him to alleviate their hunger in many forms… A Brother, whose vocation ultimately is identified with the Son of Man, feels compelled to be like him, brother of the least ones”. (No. 27). We begin this sharing presenting our photos of the mission we have been involved in over the years and we place them around a poster which says “The gift we give to others…”

We end this gathering singing together: Ubi caritas et amor. Ubi caritas Deus ibi est.

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3. “Remain in my Love!” Being Brother Today: A Story of Grace

Step 1: Moment of

Celebration

Preparation - Presentation of Symbols:

Document: “Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church”, candle, bible, towel and basin with water, an image of the face of Jesus, sheets of paper, pencil and eraser… Greeting, motivation and explaining the symbols.

Moment of silence and reflection Some instrumental music can be played1. “How can Brothers today be a recognizable face of the covenant, in continuity with the ministry of the Servant of Yahweh (cf Is 42:6), and in fidelity to the prophetic vocation received from the Lord?” (No. 32)

Projection of some biblical quotations and Christian thoughts relating to the theme “finding the face of God”2 Projection of the face of Jesus for a few minutes, alternating with the faces of people, children, youth… (Images folder). Background music3 Then the projection can continue or be replayed while the following are read:

The life of the Brothers is a story, a story of salvation for their contemporaries, and among them, especially for the poorest. (No. 32)

There are many more faces still waiting for the Good Samaritan to approach them, to be their brother and to give them life. (No. 33)

Many faces are inviting Religious Brothers today, whatever their age, to compose a story of grace,

to live with passion for Christ and for humanity. (No. 33)

Concern for our own survival, so that the story of salvation may continue to be written, is a fair one, but much more important is the desire to give one’s life. (No. 33)

"Do not lose the thread of the story" (No. 40) How can Brothers today be a recognizable face of the

covenant? (No. 32) “Abide in my love” (Jn. 15:9).

1 JS Bach Pachelbel’s Canon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go5xOnGzrTU 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhG1fbeDJkw 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrVDATvUitA&index=2&list=PL4E2B24A02CA9E7FD)

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Song: In The Name of All That Is (Jan Novotka)

In the name of all that is we come together; in the name of the stars and galaxies; in the name of the planets, moons and the sun; in the name of all that is we come.

In the name of all that is we come together; in the name of the ocean and the sea; in the name of the mountain, desert and plain; in the name of all that is we come.

In the name of all that is we come together; in the name of the buffalo and bear; in the name of the turtle, eagle and whale; in the name of all that is we come.

In the name of all that is we come together; in the name of the cactus and the fern; in the name of the flower, tree and the herb; in the name of all that is we come.

In the name of all that is we come together; in the name of the elements of life; in the name of the soil, water and air; in the name of all that is we come.

In the name of all that is we come together; in the name of the children of earth; in the name of the Spirit breathing in all things; in the name of all that is we come.

Proclamation of the following paragraphs from no. 32 of the document:

Consecrated life has always been a story of grace in the Church and for the world, "a gift of God the

Father to his Church through the Spirit," which guides the eyes of the faithful "toward the mystery of the

Kingdom of God already at work in history, even as it awaits its full realization in heaven."

The life of the Brothers is a story, a story of salvation for their contemporaries, and among them, especially for the poorest. "We may not always be able to reflect adequately the beauty of the Gospel, but there is one sign which we should never lack: the option for those who are least, those whom society discards."

A characteristic of Brothers is their concern about being a gift of God the Father for those to whom they

have been sent. They are bearers of the love that goes from the Father to the Son and from the Son to his

brothers: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love" (Jn 15:9). This abiding which

is asked of them has an active dynamism, which is love.

A Story of Grace The account of a Brother is presented, relating what it means for him to be a Brother today. The example of Bro. Mario is given in the link below4. (You might also hand out copies of this testimony. See the file provided.) Moment of Deepening our Awareness. Instrumental music. Prayerful sharing of key phrases from what has been shared. Concluding Prayer: (You might Project again the images of faces or provide another set of images of Brothers from across the Congregation) This is followed by the prayer:

4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfwWoXFzlw

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Step 2- Moment of deepening and personal reflection

Over the next few weeks spend some quiet time reading and meditating on numbers 32 to 40 of the Document: Being Brothers Today - A Story of Grace.

What inspiration do you find in the document to continue writing today your story as a Brother?

Could you elaborate (writing, with some symbolic objects, with photographs or some other medium…) your own story, responding in a personal way to the question: What does it mean for me to be a Brother today?

Step 3- Community Gathering

Welcome and Creation of a Reflective Atmosphere for Sharing.

We invite you to make the room comfortable for the gathering and prepare yourselves to share your reflections and life journey. Song: Room At The Table – Carrie Newcomer

Let our hearts not be hardened to those living on the margin There is room at the table for everyone. This is where it all begins; this is how we gather in, There is room at the table for everyone. Too long we have wandered, burdened and undone, But there is room at the table for everyone. Let us sing the new world in, this is how is all begins, There is room at the table for everyone. There is room for us all and no gift is too small. There is room at the table for everyone. There's enough if we share, come on pull up a chair. There room at the table for everyone. No matter who you are, no matter where you're from, There is room at the table for everyone. Here and now we can be, the beloved community, There is room at the table for everyone.

Space for Sharing

The animator of the session sets out the proposal, inviting fraternal sharing.

We begin in this first moment with a brief sharing on the question: What inspiration do you find in the document to continue writing today your story as a Brother?

In a second stage, we ask ourselves: What does being a Brother today imply?

To do this, we allow ourselves to be questioned by those who know us. We ask different people who know the Brothers (from a youth group, teachers, friends of the community, associates) to record a short video (3-5 minutes) in which they express their feeling about the life of the Brothers, what they appreciate about it, what they might ask us to emphasise more.

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Each video is presented and we analyse them with the following key questions:

Is our life as Brothers appreciated? What are we being asked to emphasise more?

In a third moment we share the personal accounts we have written. The gathering ends presenting the beginning of a story with the title “We want to be a story of grace for others”. The animator will previously have written he first paragraph and will now invite the participants to continue writing the story in the community during the following week.

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4. “Without Me You Can Do Nothing” Being a Gift of God for Those to Whom We are Sent

Celebration of Harvest – Thanksgiving Preparation - Presentation of Symbols: Document: “Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church”, candle, bible, photos of the community and of experiences of mission…

Greeting, motivation and contemplation of the photos…

A Moment of Silence Song: By Breath, Sara Thomsen

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one.

The air that is my breath is the air that you are breathing, And the air that is your breath is the air that I am breathing, The wind rising in my breast is the wind from the east, from the west, From the north, from the south, breathing in, breathing out. The water that is my blood, my sweat, tears from crying, Is the water that is your blood, your sweat, tears from crying, And the rising of the tide is in our veins and in the ocean wide, We are in the rising steam, rushing river, running stream. The earth is dust, the earth is clay, flowers blossoming and fading, We are dust and we are clay, we are blossoming and fading. Every color, every sound, every place is holy ground, Oh, every living thing, can you hear it laugh? Can you hear it sing? The fire in my heart, my soul flame burning, Is the fire in your heart, your soul flame burning, We are Spirit burning bright, by the light of day, in the dark of night. We are shining like the sun, and like the moon, like the Holy One

Proclamation of the Word: Mt. 25:34-40 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Reflection: The Sharing - Edwina Gateley

We told our stories - That's all. We sat and listened to each other and heard the journeys of each soul.

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We sat in silence entering each one's pain and sharing each one's joy. We heard love's longing and the lonely reachings-out for love and affirmation. We heard of dreams shattered and visions fled. Of hopes and laughter turned stale and dark. We felt the pain of isolation and the bitterness of death. But in each brave and lonely story God's gentle life broke through and we heard music in the darkness and smelt flowers in the void. We felt the budding of creation in the searching of each soul and discerned the beauty of God's hand in each muddy, twisted path. And God's voice sang in each story. God's life sprang from each death. Our sharing became one story of a simple lonely search for life and hope and oneness in a world which sobs for love. And we knew that in our sharing God's voice with mighty breath was saying love each other and take each other's hand. For you are one though many and in each of you I live. So listen to my story and share my pain and death. Oh, listen to my story and rise and live with me.

Thanksgiving We are invited to share our prayer for the gift that God has given us in the process of reflecting together on this document about our identity as Brothers in terms of community and mission. At the beginning and end of the sharing we sing:

Ubi caritas et amor, Ubi caritas Deus ibi est.

“Our Father” and a Gesture of Peace

Final Song: Go, Light Your World (Cathy Troccoli)

There is a candle in every soul, some brightly burning, some dark and cold. And there is a Spirit who brings a fire, ignites a candle and makes his home.

Carry your candle, and run to the darkness, seek out the helpless, confused and torn, And hold out your candle for all to see it, take your candle, and go light your world.

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to light his own candle some other way See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to, still holds a candle without a flame

So carry your candle, and run to the darkness, seek out the lonely, the tired and worn, And hold out your candle for all to see it, take your candle, and go light your world.

'Cause we are a family whose hearts are blazing, so let's raise our candles and light up the sky, Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus, make us a beacon in darkest times.

Carry your candle, and run to the darkness, seek out the helpless, deceived and poor Hold out your candle for all to see it, take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness, seek out the hopeless, confused and torn Hold out your candle for all to see it Take your candle, and go light your world