Meeting of the Jesuit Brothers
The International Commission of the Brother’s Call has begun a three-year journey to deepen this fundamental calling.
The Roman Curia hosted the inaugural meeting of the International Commission on the Jesuit Brothers (ICJB) to follow up on the international meeting of the brothers in Rome last July 2022. This new initiative marks the beginning of a work and discernment process that will take place over the next three years. This commission, which reflects the diversity and universality of the Society, unites Jesuit Brothers from six Provincial Conferences: Africa and Madagascar, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia Pacific, Canada and the United States, Europe and the Middle East, and South Asia.
What is interesting about this commission is the participation of a nun and a lay collaborator of the Society, as well as two Jesuit priests who bring a broader and richer perspective to the dialogue about the Jesuit Brother vocation. This diverse composition reflects the spirit of collaboration that characterizes the way the Society operates in today’s world.
In this first meeting in Rome, the commission laid the groundwork that will address fundamental issues such as the identity and mission of the Jesuit Brothers in today’s world, the formation process, and the promotion of vocations. This meeting combines deep reflection, prayer, and Ignatian discernment as a follow-up to the 2022 meeting, which yielded many important outcomes.
The three-year extension of the commission’s mandate allows these issues to be discussed in depth, facilitating a listening process that includes the voices of Brothers and colleagues working from various parts of the world. This timeframe also allows for the gradual development of initiatives and the observation of their dynamics in different cultural contexts.
The work of this commission is very relevant as the Church seeks to renew its forms of presence and service in the world. The Jesuit Brothers, with their rich tradition of service in various fields such as education, healthcare, administration, and technical work, are important witnesses to the life of devotion in this modern world.
This three-year process, initiated by Father General Arturo Sosa, S.J., is an essential commitment of the Society towards the future of the Jesuit Brother vocation. The meeting in Rome marks the beginning of a good path to strengthen and renew the Jesuit Brother’s vocation for serving the Church and the world in this century.
This article is a translation of the article “Jesuit Brothers: Deepening this Essential Vocation“. This article was translated with adjustments by the SJ Provindo Secretariat Team on April 1, 2024.
