The Missionaries of Charity Brothers

“He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness.”
(Mother)

The first call of a religious Brother is to a relationship of love with God – which then overflows into a love of neighbour as oneself. The word “Brother”, speaks of a whole world of relationships. We are brothers to each other and to the poor because Jesus has made himself a brother to each of us.

"Be only all for Jesus”
(Mother Teresa)

“WE MUST BE MEN WHO PRAY. If we do not pray, we are not brothers.”
(Br Andrew)

Religious life is often described as a particular way of following Jesus. In his earthly life, Jesus had many followers, and by far most of them lived their normal way of life but went to see Jesus when he came to their towns. They tried to understand his teachings and put them into practice. But he called certain others to follow him around on his journeys, to detach themselves from their families and their work, and to become fellow-workers with him in his own ministry.

Many theologians see religious life as a continuation of this form of participation in Jesus's own way of life. The vocation of the Missionaries of Charity Brothers is one of many different ways of doing this, “a way” among many. One of the reasons the Church values religious life, when it is lived radically and authentically; is that it shows what the power of God can do.

People know that by ourselves, we humans will always fall into arguments, divisions, factions. If there is a community of love, it is certain that something more than human is at work ….. the grace of God.

Religious Life

From the very beginning of the Church, there were men and women who set out to follow Christ with greater liberty, and to imitate him more closely, by practising the evangelical counsels (the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience). They led lives dedicated to God, each in his own way. Many of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became hermits or founded religious families.

The Vocation of Brotherhood

Could God be calling you?

If you are interested in finding out more about our life, begin by writing a little about yourself to the vocations director at the nearest Regional Centre (see contact page) We can then arrange for you to make a short visit to experience our way of life. Those who are accepted for entrance begin their formation with a one month experience followed by one or two years as a ‘Come and See’ (postulancy). This would be followed by two years of novitiate followed by five or six years of temporary vows, renewed annually, leading up to perpetual consecration. Candidates must be aged over 18 and (usually) under 30 years old, and in good health.
It is very important to remember that it is God who calls someone to religious life. We do not choose our vocation – rather, we respond to say “Yes” to God's choice for us.