Religious brothers offer a unique vocation to the church

Written by Brother Louis Couvillon

Religious brothers who serve in the Archdiocese of New Orleans gathered recently at the residence of Archbishop Gregory Aymond to pray, to celebrate brotherhood and to remember the significance of consecrated, non-ordained ministry in the church.
 
Organized by the Department of Religious and Sister of Mount Carmel Beth Fitzpatrick, 32 of the 64 brothers in the archdiocese representing 12 congregations of religious men attended the prayer and social. Louann Hood and Marist Brother Stephen Synan helped plan the gathering.
 
Archbishop Aymond thanked the brothers for their vital work in the church through education, health care and social ministries and the gift of their presence of Christ to many persons in need of God’s healing love and mercy.
 
Reflecting in prayer on the Feast for the Day, the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, the brothers recalled:
 
“Like Mary, the religious brother is invited to live intensely the spirituality of the Word, to have this experience of being at home around Jesus, listening to his message and living alongside him the mystery of the Father who makes us children in the Son and brothers among ourselves and with Jesus. Like Mary, the brother is invited to allow himself to be filled by the Spirit, to hear the Spirit within himself, crying in the depths of his heart: Abba.”
 
As a special gift, Archbishop Aymond and the Department of Religious gave to each brother attending a copy of the latest document, “Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church,” published by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Released by the Vatican on Oct. 4, 2015, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the document speaks of the unique “Identity of the Religious Brother in the Church” and “Being Brothers Today: A Story of Grace.”
 
Brotherhood, a special gift in the church, stands in solidarity with their ordained brothers in Christ. The religious brother offers another icon of grace for the people of God, again showing the power and beauty of different and unique lifestyles in the Body of Christ.
 
While a significant percentage of brothers minister in schools – either their own or others – others are involved in pastoral ministries or in service to their own communities. Approximately one third of the brothers are retired but maintain an “active” retirement, ministering whenever and wherever they are able.
 
In giving thanks for the presence and ministry of the brothers in the archdiocese, Archbishop Aymond shared his appreciation for his formation by religious brothers in high school and his early seminary training. Boys’ schools operated by brothers in the New Orleans area have a tradition that dates back to the mid-1800s, along with schools for girls begun by religious sisters.
 
Pleased with the joy of the grace-filled gathering, Sister Beth shared the next day by e-mail: “I awakened this morning with such happy memories of the gathering yesterday. … I’m already thinking about next year.”
 
Sacred Heart Brother Louis Couvillon is chaplain at Brother Martin High School.