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Our life is a journey on which we are to play a certain role. Some people
prefer to be just the spectators, as we see them at the sport's stadium.
Normally God destines each human being to a task given to him. "It
was he who gave gifts to mankind; he appointed some to be apostles,
others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and
teachers.” (Eph 4:11). Who am I to be?
This question starts ringing in our mind stronger at certain age; it could
be 13, 15, 18 or later. The answer to this question is equally important
as the question. Once correctly answered makes someone very happy for the
whole life. On the other hand if it is wrongly answered it makes someone
to be miserable to the end of his life. How to know the correct answer?
Well there are different programs, workshops, talks, topics and very good
books as well, which can help to make a proper decision. It is important
to know myself - my abilities, gifts and interests. It has to be done on a
very sincere way, with an open mind, and a wide perception to accept
myself the way I am. We should not demand from ourselves more than we can,
because even the Lord does not expect us to do impossible things. A wrong
decision can never make someone happy. The life would be full of pretence
and dissatisfaction with myself and from the people I will be working
with. My decision can be wrongly influenced simply by my jealousy, my high
ambitions, or laziness to serve others. Also some people may have a wrong
impact on my decision, especially the parents or close friends.
Among different vocations
there is a call to be a brother. That
call is equally important as the priestly vocation. It needs only to be
properly discovered and fully accepted. It is really a beautiful vocation
for the one who is called to it. Maybe today it is not as popular as some
time back, when there were so many young boys who generously responded to
such call. Why there are so few who answer the call to the brotherhood?
The main reason could be the lack of proper understanding and information
about this vocation.
At the beginning of Divine
Word Missionaries blessed Arnold Janssen had plenty brothers comparing to
the number of priests. In fact the brothers and fathers were founded
together on the 8th of September 1875 in Steyl as one SVD
family. The brothers were given various tasks and responsibilities like:
building, carpentry, mechanics, press printing, mass media program,
electrical and electronics work, plumbing, agriculture, the apostolate in
schools, hospitals and other, doing an administration work, not forgetting
an active role in evangelization. They were working hand in hand with the
fathers, living together in the same communities. Also living the same
three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Up to today the role of
brothers in our Society did not change, only somehow the number of
brothers has been decreased. Maybe there was not enough focus on the
brother vocation. This is why today we would like to encourage young boys
to be brave enough to take this challenging vocation. And God who is
calling You would give You plenty gifts and graces to be happy with such
vocation.
The
requirements to be a brother are the
same as for those to be fathers.
What
really makes the difference? The brothers and fathers make their final
vows. The brothers are not ordained to carry on a sacramental work like
saying Mass, listening Confession, anointing the sick. When is a need they
distribute Holy Communion, in case of emergency they can baptize, they can
visit and pray for the sick. The brothers organize different services and
prayer meetings. In case of need they can also run a parish, especially to
do the administration work of the parish. Quite often they are involved in
doing the practical work as those mentioned above during the time of our
founder. Normally there is a different formation program for brothers.
Only the first stage is done together for those who are to be fathers and
brothers. Later the brothers have their own professional training, their
own spiritual and pastoral formation. After the basic formation and final
vows there are still plenty possibilities for higher study and different
courses according to the brother's interests and the needs of the
Congregation. The brothers are the same way missionaries like the fathers.
And similarly they go to work outside their own country. The brother's
vocation is equally important as the father’s vocation. It is not half
vocation as some people think. For God brother's vocation and father's
vocation have the same value.
We hope by now the brother
vocation is very clear to You, and You are able to recognize this vocation
if You are called to it. Don't worry if at the beginning your family and
your friends may not be able to understand exactly what is this vocation
about. But as time goes You may be able to explain and witness to them
your vocation as a brother. Be sure that today
our Congregation is so much in need of brothers in the whole world. There
is so much need for the brothers with good practical skills, with an open
heart and mind to serve others. Any yours skills and training
before entering the Society could be very useful.
Then if today You hear
God's voice calling You to be a brother, have the courage to answer his
call. The one who has chosen and appointed You to be a brother in Divine
Word Missionaries would give You enough graces to fulfill this vocation.
If You still have any questions or clarifications they are welcome, but
don't forget to pray and discern correctly.
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"May
the heart of Jesus live in our hearts and in the hearts of all
people"
- we greet you with the greeting and wish of our founder saint Arnold
Janssen. Our founder felt called by God to proclaim the Good News about
Jesus to all nations. So far our Congregation has spreaded to 70 countries
in the whole world. In some countries it has produced more fruits, but in
others less. As you aware today Christianity is still very much oppressed
in some parts of the world. Nevertheless the Gospel is still being
proclaimed everywhere. Of course in some places the number of missionaries
is sufficient in others there is a great cry for them. But those people
don't wait for any priest, for any brother or sister - they are waiting
for a pure witnesses of Jesus Gospel. It is not enough just to be ordained
a priest and later so quickly become "a big Khulu".
Jesus
Christ needs the messengers - missionaries - the men of service, with a
great commitment and full dedication to God's call. It was and it is and
it will be always better to have very few real witnesses of the Gospel,
than haying plenty useless workers. It was the same wish of our founder
and he was very strict during the time of acceptance to SVD, during the
formation and later after the ordination.
We are sure if he was alive
today he would have been doing just the same.
As you are
about to make your decision take enough time for your proper discernment
with very deep reflections. Don't feel if You don't join SVD then our
Congregation would be badly effected, don't worry. God has his own ways
and means of building God's Kingdom on earth. Normally' he does not demand
from anyone what is impossible. The one who is called by God would be
given enough graces and blessings to be fully successful. The vocation on
one side is a great mystery, on the other side is carried (as St. Paul
says) in the pot made of clay, which can be broken very easily. There are
so many influences and temptations in today's world. Even the most holy
man has to watch himself a lot and trusting fully the Lord at the same
time.
Jesus Christ has his own requirements and his own way of recruiting
candidates to be his disciples. You can find them very easily in the
Bible:
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"if
anyone wants to come with me....he must forget self, carry his cross
and follow me" (Mk 8:34)
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"for
whoever wants to save his own life will lose it; but whoever loses his
life for me and for the gospel will save it" (Mk 8:35)
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"if
a person is ashamed of me and of my teaching… then the Son of
Man will be ashamed of him..." (Mk 8:38)
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"whoever
wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of
all" (Mk 9:35)
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"love
the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul with all
your mind and with all your strength... and love your neighbor
as you love yourself..." (Mk 12:30-31)
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be
like salt and light for all mankind (Mt 5:13-14)
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"love
your enemies and pray for those, who persecute you" (Mt 5:44)
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"you
cannot serve both God and money" (Mt 6:24) "You have
received without paying, so give without being paid" (Mt 10:8)
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"Whoever
eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him"
(Jn 6:56)
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"Whoever
does not love me does not obey my teaching" (Jn 14:24)
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"Keep
watch and pray that you will not fall into temptations. The spirit is
willing but the body is weak" (Mt 26:41)
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"Remain
united to me, and I will remain united to you... you cannot bear fruit
unless you remain in me" (Jn 15:4)
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"…be
witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8)
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"whoever
loves his father or mother more than me is not fit to be my
disciple" (Mt 10:37)
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"You
must be perfect -just as your Father in heaven is perfect!" (Mt
5:48)
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"and
I tell you that anyone who leaves home or brothers or sisters or
mother or father or children or fields for me and for the gospel, will
receive much more in this present age. He will receive a hundred times
more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and
persecution as well and in the age to come he will receive eternal
life" (Mk 10:29-30)
After finding that you can respond to all Jesus' requirements you are
welcome to look at our
requirements
to join our Congregation of Divine Word Missionaries.
Our
requirements are very much in the line with Jesus requirements, but much
lower and very much easier.
By
now we wish you all the best in your discernment process. Be open and
sincere with yourself even if your decision at times is not comfortable
and painful, be ready for it.
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