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 8^th 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.

"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:

• "if anyone wants to come with me....he must forget self, carry his cross and follow me" (Mk 8:34)

• "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)

• "if a person is ashamed of me and of my teaching… then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him..." (Mk 8:38)

• "whoever wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of all" (Mk 9:35)

• "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)

• be like salt and light for all mankind (Mt 5:13-14)                                        

• "love your enemies and pray for those, who persecute you" (Mt 5:44)

• "you cannot serve both God and money" (Mt 6:24) "You have received without paying, so give without being paid" (Mt 10:8)

• "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him" (Jn 6:56)  

• "Whoever does not love me does not obey my teaching" (Jn 14:24)       

• "Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptations. The spirit is willing but the body is weak" (Mt 26:41)

• "Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you... you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me" (Jn 15:4)

• "…be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8)

• "whoever loves his father or mother more than me is not fit to be my disciple" (Mt 10:37)

• "You must be perfect -just as your Father in heaven is perfect!" (Mt 5:48)

• "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.

  our requirements

      For one to enter our Congregation he must be ready with the following requirements: