Edmund Rice Christian Brothers North America Initial Formation Program It is the agenda of the world that sets the mission direction of the Church and the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers 1
Encountering the Mystery At the core of our call to be Brother for the world is our being drawn into the Mystery we call God. 2
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:19 You probably are feeling a quiet, persistent tug toward something you can t quite name. Or you may be feeling some small, indefinable void in your life. You may be looking for something, but have little or no idea what. You may be experiencing a call toward a life lived totally for God in the service of others. We warmly encourage you to heed that call. And we invite you to explore whether the call is leading you towards the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers, a community of men who live a life of spiritual freedom, simplicity, and meaningful service. We come from and minister in many nations, and all strive to live these values: Faith. We proclaim the Catholic faith and call youth toward a deeper connection with God in all aspects of their lives. Moreover, we foster the sense that each individual belongs to the larger community of faith. Compassion. We celebrate the value and dignity of each person. We particularly commit ourselves to ministering with the poor and marginalized in our society. Community. We live in community and invite all to share with us in our ministry and to serve God with us. Justice. We stand in solidarity with, and open our hearts to, Christ present in people marginalized by poverty and injustice. We endeavor to proclaim Gospel values, to affirm the dignity of all people, and to work for justice and peace which will, in turn, enrich each of us and bring us into a deeper relationship with God. This booklet provides an overview of each stage of Initial Formation for men seeking to affiliate themselves with the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers in North America. The five stages of Initial Formation - Contact, Candidacy, Residency, Novitiate, and Annually Professed - all offer opportunities for you to grow in your understanding of religious life. In addition, they offer you numerous opportunities to experience prayer, community and ministry with us. Please know that you and your vocation are extremely important to us. Our goal is to assist you as best we can in your discernment process. As you continue on your faith journey, please feel free to contact us for more information. May the blessings of God be with you as you seek the Lord s call in your life. 3
The North American Initial Formation Program Table of Contents In every age there have been men and women who, obedient to the Father's call and to the promp ng of the Spirit, have chosen this special way of following Christ in order to devote themselves to him with an 'undivided' heart (1 Cor. 7:34). Like the apostles, they too have le everything behind in order to be with Christ and to put themselves, as he did, at the service of God and their brothers and sisters. Vita Consecrata 1 Welcome. 3 Blessed Edmund Rice. 5 How do I become a Brother?... 6 Contact Program.... 7 Candidacy Program... 8 Residency Program... 12 Novitiate... 14 Annual Profession.... 17 For more information.... 19 4
Christ present and appealing to him in the poor. Edmund Ignatius Rice (1762-1844) was a wealthy businessman, happily married, and a father. After his wife s death, Edmund struggled to find meaning in his life. In time, he heard God s call in the poor, uneducated, marginalized young boys of Ireland. Brother Edmund began to establish Catholic schools, although such schools were illegal at that time. He took in the boys everyone else had given up on. It did not take long for Edmund Rice to realize that he must attend to all the needs of the boys food, clothing, and housing. Edmund Rice founded the Congregation of Christian Brothers in 1802 in Waterford, to meet those needs. He essentially opened his heart to Christ present and appealing to him in the poor. Two men, Patrick Grosvenor and Patrick Finn, arrived to help Edmund. They had been considering dedicating their lives to God also. Unknown to themselves, even though the conditions were difficult and their success was limited, something beautiful had been born. On 15th August 1808, eight men, wearing a simple black habit, joined Edmund in a chapel in Waterford. The men made three vows: poverty, celibacy and obedience. The men referred to one another as Brother. This was the first venture of its kind in the English speaking Church. In 1838, at the age of 76, Edmund resigned as the Superior General of the Brothers. His successor was Brother Michael Paul Riordan from the North Monastery in Cork. Edmund Rice died on 28th August 1844 in Waterford. A Protestant journalist who attended the funeral wrote the following: Why are you sorrowful? Why are you sad? Mr. Rice is not dead! He lives! Yes, he lives the highest, noblest and greatest life. He lives on in the noble band of Christian workmen to whom he has bequeathed his spirit and his work. By the end of the nineteenth century the Congregation had grown steadily in membership and Brothers had moved to many different countries around the world. The first Brothers came to Newfoundland in 1876 and to the United States in 1906. During the twentieth century the Brothers expanded throughout Canada and the United States and opened schools and ministries in many cities and towns. The Brothers also expanded into many countries overseas with vastly different cultural traditions and diverse pastoral needs. On a beautiful autumn morning, 6th October 1996, Pope John Paul II beatified Edmund Rice at a ceremony in St. Peter's Square, Rome. 5
How do I become a Brother? Becoming a Brother is a never ending, life-long, faith journey. The life decisions to become a Brother discernment are first and foremost spiritual. You have taken the first step; you have opened your heart to the call of the Holy Spirit. The pages that follow provide an overview of the more formal stages as you discern your call to life as a Brother. 6
There is a youthfulness of spirit which lasts through time; it arises from the fact that at every stage of life a person seeks and finds new tasks to fulfill a particular way of being, of serving and loving. Vita Consecrata 70 The Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Contact Program: Provides you with the opportunity to explore where God may be calling you. Is a period of time during which you come into contact with the Brothers, and the Brothers with you. Is designed to enable you to evaluate your gifts and talents, as well as your suitability for the life and mission of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. During this period of initial discernment, you will become acquainted with the spirit of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers while meeting regularly with the Vocation Director. 7
Were we to know the merit and value of only going from one street to another to serve a neighbor for the love of God, we should prize it more than gold or silver. Blessed Edmund Rice The Candidacy Program The Candidacy Program is the initial stage of formation in North America for the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. If you are considering life as a Brother, the Candidacy Program provides you with an opportunity to discover Brotherhood and to follow in the footsteps of Blessed Edmund Rice. Before entering the Candidacy Program you must have completed your high school education. If you have not completed your college education you may do so during Candidacy. If you have completed your college education you may continue in your chosen field of employment or be employed by a Christian Brother ministry. Throughout the Candidacy Program, relationships with family and friends are encouraged. In addition to nurturing these relationships, it is important also to nourish your faith life. As such, regular attendance at Eucharistic celebrations and active involvement in the parish and/or college faith community is highly recommended. Likewise, reflecting on and praying with Scripture is most important. Throughout the Candidacy Program, you will receive support and encouragement from the Brothers who welcome the willingness of each individual to explore the Brothers way of life in prayer, community and ministry. 8
The purpose of Candidacy is to enable you to grow in prayer, in the knowledge of how God works in your life and in your relationship to the Church. During Candidacy you will participate in: Regular meetings with the Director of Initial Formation, Retreat experiences with other men in the Christian Brother Initial Formation Program, Visits to Christian Brother communities, Apostolic volunteer service, and On-going spiritual direction. 9
Regular Meetings You will meet regularly with the Director of Initial Formation to share something of your life story, and to discuss ways in which God is present in the people and in the events of your life. Discussion will focus on topics such as prayer, community living, ministry and the vows. These meetings will allow you the opportunity to share openly and freely your fears and concerns, as well as your joys and hopes. Retreat Experiences You will participate in an experience of reflection, relaxation, and prayer with other men in the Initial Formation Program. During these retreats, you will have the opportunity to further develop your personal and spiritual life in a prayerful and communal setting with other Christian Brothers. Visits to Brothers' Communities At various times, you will share an evening of prayer, dinner, and conversation with a community of Christian Brothers. At times, visits to Brothers communities will be for an extended period of two or more days, allowing you to experience a more realistic view of community living. 10
Apostolic Volunteer Service Jesus calls each of us to love our neighbor. The Christian Brothers endeavor to respond to this invitation in a wholehearted manner, and encourage you to deepen your involvement with people through some form of volunteer service to those on the margins of society. The experience of apostolic service enriches the one being served as well as the one serving. Spiritual Direction You will meet regularly with a Spiritual Director to discuss God s call in your life. The practice of spiritual direction will allow you an opportunity to share your Christian Brother experience with a qualified spiritual guide. 11
We are called in faith by a loving God to a deep relationship with Jesus and with our brothers in a religious community founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. Constitution # 2 The Residency Program During the first phase of the Residency Program, you will live in the Brothers Initial Formation Community in Chicago, Illinois. During the second phase, you will live in one of the many Brothers mission communities in preparation for entrance into the Novitiate. Both phases take place under the supervision of the Initial Formation Director. The objectives of the Residency Program include: Encouraging you to grow in self-knowledge and self-acceptance. Enhancing your prayer life through experiences of communal and personal prayer. Participating in the active apostolic activity of the Brothers. Developing community living skills. Sharing in the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice through service to the poor. 12
It is believed that by living in community with the Brothers, your experience of sharing in the community s daily rhythm of prayer, work, meals and recreation will assist you in deepening your understanding of yourself and of religious life. Exploring the prayer and community life of the Brothers serves to further enrich your experience in the Initial Formation Program. During Residency you will participate in an InterCommunity Candidacy Program sponsored by the Religious Formation Conference. The program allows for regular contact with residents from other religious orders, and provides opportunities for interaction with a peer group who are also discerning their call to religious life. 13
Our formation as Brothers is a lifelong process of growing to full human maturity as we seek to realize more clearly that God is the center and source of integration in our lives... Constitution # 48 Novitiate The central focus of your initial formation is to encourage and foster the growth and development of you within the context of the Congregation of Christian Brothers. The central experience of your initial formation takes place during your Novitiate year. The Novitiate year takes place under the supervision of the North American Novice Director. The Christian Brothers North American Novitiate is located in Chicago, Illinois. The Novitiate is a special period of time for growth which allows an individual to powerfully experience the presence of God through: Prayer, Study, Spiritual development, Apostolic involvement, and Ordinary life experiences. 14
It is a year set apart which allows for an in-depth study in the following areas: The Constitutions of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, The life of Blessed Edmund Rice, The history of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, The vowed life (chastity, poverty and obedience), Scripture, Prayer, community, ministry, and Other issues related to religious life. The Novitiate year provides opportunities for: Daily quiet time, Reflective reading, Directed retreat experiences, and Ongoing spiritual and formation direction. 15
In addition to the above stated areas of study, the Novitiate also allows for weekly participation in the Chicago area InterCommunity Novitiate Program. This program brings together novices from a variety of religious orders, and it provides opportunities for interaction with a peer group of others experiencing the Novitiate stage of their initial formation. An important component of the Novitiate year is the opportunity for theological study and reflection at the Catholic Theological Union (CTU) located in the Hyde Park section of Chicago. CTU is a world renowned center for religious study and formation; it is international in scope, and it draws a diverse cross-section of the world s population. At the end of the Novitiate year you will testify to your commitment to the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers by publicly professing the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. 16
The total dedication of ourselves is expressed in the profession of the public vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Our profession, received by the Church, commits us firmly to the mission of proclaiming the Good News... Constitution # 6 Annual Profession Through the public profession of the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, you promise to share your love freely and non-exclusively, to share your talents, possessions and time and to willingly listen to what God is asking of you. In this, you are supported by a community of Brothers who bring the Good News of the Gospel, in the spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice, to the people they serve. As a Brother, during the time of Annual Profession (vows renewed annually), you will live in community with other Brothers ministering within the Church in the name of Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers. Annual Profession is for a period of six to nine years. Once each year, you, with your local community and the Director of Initial Formation, evaluate your desire and readiness to renew vows. You will meet regularly with the Director of Initial Formation to discuss experiences of prayer, community and ministry in light of the vowed life. Participation in initial formation retreats, on-going spiritual direction and on-going formation direction enriches this stage of your life as a Brother. A final component of the Annual Profession is the opportunity for you to participate in an immersion experience in a developing world country. This experience will help you witness in a profound way the internationality of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers and their work among those on the margins of society. After you have completed six years under annual vows, you become eligible to write a letter to the Congregation Leader asking for permission to profess perpetual vows. Before professing perpetual vows a suitable program and a period of prayerful preparation take place. 17
Any real change must start with prayer. 18
For more information, contact: Br. James R. McDonald, CFC 4219 Constance Street New Orleans LA 70115-7742 Call or text 815.272.7742 bromaccfc@yahoo.com www.erbrothers.org Image Credits: Page cover - Tim Brauhn Page 3 - Nick Kenrick Page 4 - Wendell Page 5 - coloneljohnbritt Page 5 - Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Page 7 - Lauren Nicole Page 8 - Jason Page 9 - David Gunter Page 10 - Santhosh Kumar Page 11 - Transaction Fraud Page 12, 13, 14 - Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Page 2, 6, 15, 16, 17, 18 - public domain 19