VOCATION DISCERNMENT 3 KEY QUESTIONS (first one: WHAT GIVES YOU JOY?)

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12 Things I Wish I Knew at 25 by Fr. James Martin, SJ

1.) So I'm 50 today, and I'm going to tweet what I wish I knew at 25. First up: Stop worrying so much! It's useless. (I.e. Jesus was right.)
 2.) Being a saint means being yourself. Stop trying to be someone else and just be your best self. Saves you heartache.
 3.) There's no right way to pray, any more than there's a right way to be a friend. What's best is what works best for you.
 4.) Remember 3 things and save yourself lots of unneeded heartache: You're not God. This ain't heaven. Don't act like a jerk.
 5.) Your deepest, most heartfelt, desires are God's desires for you. And vice versa. Listen. And follow them.
 6.) Within you is the idea of your best self. Act as if you were that person and you will become that person, with God's grace.
 7.) Don't worry too much about the worst that can happen. Even if it happens, God is with you, and you can handle it. Really.
 8.) You can't force people to approve of you, agree with you, be impressed with you, love you or even like you. Stop trying!
 9.) When we compare, we are usually imagining someone else's life falsely. So our real-life loses out. Ie, Compare and despair.
 10.) Even when you finally realized the right thing, or the Christian thing, to do, it can still be hard to do. Do it anyway.
 11.) Seven things to say frequently: I love you. Thank you. Thank you, God. Forgive me. I'm so happy for you! Why not? Yes.
 12.) Final 50 y.o. lesson: Peace and joy come after asking God to free you--from anything that keeps you from being loving and compassionate.

Emmanuel Community, Kigoma, Tanzania (Bro. Chrisantus Rwehikiza)

 Christmas has come in a very special way to us, first we had a celebration at Maendeleo where our guests are always special and will remain to be that way. Why are they coming to us, our mere words can’t explain this. Is it because of our hospitality, serviceability, availability ……. I don’t really know, it can be yes but I think it’s more than that. As human beings we name every event that has touched our lives most, the truth is that still we remain limited, God is the only one who has an answer for this.

Our guests do not come on our invitation; they come on their own as a trial then they stay, they feel that they experience something different comparing to where they come from. Do we give something special certainly not but the atmosphere, the welcoming environment, and probably something more than this makes them to stay and feel to be at home.

The beauty of this community is the presence of Clavery “Mwenyekiti”, the presence of Mwalimu, the presence of Khamis, Julius, Boaz, etc. this is what makes a complete community, a community where you find people of all characters, the weak are there the strong as well, all these are complementing each other.

I wish to thank the brothers of Emmanuel community in a very special way for the practical organization of this event, an event where most brothers from Bangwe, Kihinga, Aqua and Maendeleo itself were present, at least for all of us it was an occasion to go back from the time we knocked at the door of Maendeleo expressing our desires to serve God. Maendeleo for most of us is a place where we gained momentum, where we decided that really we have to continue, and for many of us it will remain as a process something which is not static but dynamic which means it will grow from time to time and mature.

 The presence of the associate members is another element which is growing in this same direction, where the needy are not seen as strangers but people searching for the sense of belonging, looking for someone who can really listen and create an environment of friendship, an alert that tells us that as brothers we’re not alone there are other people men and women who are ready to support us. Some came with their families, to me it’s like showing their children a second home, a second family, a family where they will feel to be at home. This act remains in the minds of these children, they will always join us even during the absence of their parents.

Young Founders...

Brother General - New Year's Message

Rome, 25 December 2010

Beloved Confreres, Associate Members, Staff Members and Friends of the Brothers of Charity,

Following this commemorative year, during which our Founder Peter Joseph Triest was put in the limelight on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of his birth, all eyes will be on Congo in 2011, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first arrival of brother-missionaries in Lusambo on 8 September 1911. A new page was turned in the Congregation’s history book because, as of that moment, a missionary dimension was added, indeed through the classic apostolic works in education, in the care for persons with disabilities and in mental health care.
During these 100 years, the situation in Congo changed considerably and on so many levels. Today, there are only a few brother-missionaries left and all apostolic works have been taken over by local Congolese brothers, who try to perform and continue this task with enthusiasm. The former Belgian Congo became Zaire 50 years ago, and not long ago it changed its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country experienced many difficult situations; it was politically unstable and plagued by corruption. The view of missionary work has also changed over the course of these 100 years. However, when we read the words of Bro. Gabriel, our pioneer in Congo, we cannot escape the impression that pure missionary work and development aid were already very much attuned with the brothers in the early days. Of course, they went there as missionaries and they were hoping to help do the work of conversion, however they put their main focus on developing man as a whole, through education and care for the sick and for persons with disabilities. The appeal “Man’s complete development and the development of all mankind” from ‘Populorum Progressio’ was already answered and put into practice by the brothers at a much earlier stage.

Today, this development is the Congregation’s core business, so to speak, both in the North and in the South. The charism continues to encourage and to call on everyone: brothers, associate members, and staff members, to help promote and restore the people’s human dignity through teaching, education and care, without distinction but with a preferential option for the poorest of the poor and for those who are hurt in their human dignity. Every one of us is called to be critical of the activities that we develop and to wonder whether they are still in line with the Congregation’s charism. This also involves the motivation from which we organise these activities and the objectives that we strive to achieve. In short, it is always about the love of God that we wish to share through the love of the neighbour, and by doing so we want to bring hope into the lives of people who often experience so little love and, as a consequence, have lost perspectives in this life. The Saint Vincent region’s general mission concludes with: “In this way, we want to improve the quality of life and contribute to a more humane society in which there is room for the poor and the weak. By this unconditional commitment, we hope that all whom we meet on our way see a reflection of God in us and may experience the joy of the resurrection in their life.”
This general mission is certainly not tied to this particular region; it will continue to be an encouragement in all places where we live and work. In all places, we must ask ourselves whether the work that we do, the development that we bring, is still rooted in divine love. After all, we cannot deny that there is a vital difference between philanthropy, which involves a general provision of relief, and that which we do today with so many people, and charity, in which love is the foundation and in which the face of Christ himself lights up in the encounter with the concrete neighbour whom we aim to help. The latter might be the most challenging element

Christmas Letter - Region Our Lady of Charity - USA

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Father Peter Joseph Triest, the founder of the Brothers of Charity. He looms a large figure in our lives and we earnestly pray for his beatification. Our Congregation continues to grow with a new Novitiate for Asia opened in the Philippines, and new foundations planned in Central African Republic, Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Indonesia (Flores), Peru (Ayacucho) and Canada (Edmonton). We are amazed by the movement of the Holy Spirit among us!

We welcomed a number of visitors during the year in our Washington DC community - many from Belgium as well as Brother Andre from Brazil. Brothers Dominic from India and Eric from Rwanda continue studies at Catholic University of America in Nursing and Information Technology respectively. Br. Eric participated in some mission talks in Philadelphia and Br. Dominic spent a month during the summer at Triest Hall helping with manual work. Rumor has it he is very handy with cement and trowel! He was able to join Brothers Aurel and John in a tour of our former locations in Boston and Maine, along with a visit to our cemeteries there. Br. Donald continues to ably direct both our Province and our DC house. Br. Venance, who completed his BSN in May (and passed his RN boards!) is busy gathering volunteer experience in mental health and is slated to work in a project we are planning and developing in DC. Also, our 8 Associate Members renewed their promises August 14th  in Washington. They carry on assisting us in many valuable ways.
Brother Bill continues to divide his time between Washington and Philadelphia. He has transferred from social services to pastoral care at St. Francis Country House (Darby PA) where he is in his 15th year. All of this in spite of some significant health issues he faced this year.
Lots of news from Triest Hall in Philadelphia.  Many visitors were welcomed here, most notably one of our Brothers and an Associate Member from Belgium for one week. Sisters Kathleen and Ruthann from Kentucky were with us for another week. We have a new resident, John, who delights us. Added to our staff of Brothers Michael, John and Denis is Br. Aurel (Philippines) who joined us in January. He was with us 10 years ago. Marcia still juggles many tasks and she now has Mike K and Jeanne who have joined us part-time. We already feel the added advantage of more helpers and it couldn’t have come at a better time. A few of the residents are facing challenges from ageing and other situations that translate into more intensive care. One spent 2 months in the hospital and rehab. Brother Mike finds himself so often in the local ER room that they are considering naming a seat after him! In the midst of all of this we maintain an optimistic attitude. Interestingly, the residents have not lost their love of water; this year we found yet another new boat ride on July 4th~ this time in Atlantic City! We are blessed with many dedicated volunteers of all ages. Dave, in addition to his teaching at McDevitt, helps organize many of our student volunteers.
St. Vincent Mission in Kentucky is busier than ever. The economic downturn has hit that area very hard and they are seeing many more requests for assistance. We sponsored 2 crafts shows in Philadelphia parishes for the mission’s David Appalachian Crafts. Both were a great success! Br. John will accompany a group of students this coming summer for a service week. Br. Mike continues his much valued position on the board of directors.
Looking back over the year, we are reminded of your tremendous personal sacrifices that allow us to push forward in our efforts to serve. We are continually faced with the challenge of meeting mounting costs, pressing new needs, and we count on your generous response, particularly to this Christmas letter. We are particularly mindful that the “economic upturn” seems nowhere in sight, so we are especially grateful and offer our deepest thanks for your constant generosity.
Throughout the more sobering moments of this year, everywhere- and no less so here, there have been many little miracles and some great miracles as well. When pondering the meaning of Christmas, perhaps it’s the time to renew our hope in the many miracles that come freely to us. As Father Triest spoke of our mission to be “gods on earth”, we now celebrate that mission of Jesus- our God come to earth. This is the great gift of Christmas.
A Blessed Christmas and New Year to you!  Bro. John Fitzgerald Regional Superior

What was Bro. General René Stockman doing at the end of the year 2010?

On the 15th of November, we arrived in Manila and immediately we continued for Baguio, where the regional superiors and the responsible brothers for the formation in Asia were gathered for a full week session on our new formation plan.  We were asked to give two days sessions about the importance of the pastoral care for vocation and formation in our congregation and also to deepen our charism with the participants and the links with our formation plan.  The atmosphere in the group was marvelous and all the participants had a very good exchange between them.  Later on, a group of specialists came to guide the brothers about spiritual guidance in formation.  We really hope that the formation plan that was finished last year can become an important instrument in our work of formation in the congregation.  We thank Bro. Joel Ponsaran, general assistant, for the organization of this session and Bro. Gary, regional superior of the Philippines, for his hospitality. Back in Manila, we had a meeting with a group of parents of young adults with autism, in order to see the possibility to start a new initiative for this group.

The 20th of November, we returned to Belgium for a few days, where we gave a conference about Father Triest at the occasion of the celebration of 175 years of existence of the Sisters Childhood Jesus.

From the 24th until the 26th of November, we had our annual meeting of the general superiors in Rome, with a private audience with the Holy Father on Friday.  The Pope developed a clear vision about consecrated life, totally in line with “Vita consecrata” and with a strong appeal to be faithful on our spiritual development through a strong prayer life.

On the 27th of November, we had to go back to Belgium to give a conference about hospitality on the occasion of the inauguration of the new “restaurant” of our Triest house.  We were informed about the great need of homeless people for the moment, and due to the cold temperature we had at that moment, everyone understood how severe this problem was.  Every night, more than 20 homeless people find a bed in our Triest house!

On the 28th of November, we celebrated in our community in Rome our rector Rev. Dirk Smet who was nominated ‘Monsignor’, a real honor for himself, for the Belgian College but also for all of us.  The day afterwards we had a meeting with the catholic NGO’s, organized by the Secretary of

Cristo Sana Home for Children Nicaragua

Community House

Chapel extensible

Chapel patio

Children Home

Outing

War in USA: Wealthiest VS Middle class

Come to Jesus

Morning prayer...

Six ways to make people like you (Dale Carnegie)

1.    Become genuinely interested in other people.
2.    Smile.
3.    Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
4.    Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
5.    Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
6.    Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely.

"Being" inspires the quality of "doing"

We laugh at people who are stigmatized workaholics, those for whom work has become an addiction, a way of loosing themselves in activity. We like doing and realizing things because it gives us a feeling of usefulness and importance, we even feel good when we feel tired. Work is a smokescreen hiding us from the complicated elements like inspiration, vision, and finally true quality.


When we loose ourselves in mere work, when there are no moments of honest reflection and prayer about motivation, the meaningfulness, the vision and the higher inspiration, we do work but we don't inspire, we don't liberate, we don't learn people to make life meaningful, to love and to enjoy it.


We are unable to give what we ourselves don't posses. When our being is not filled with the spirit of the Gospel, when we are not living out of the person of Jesus Christ, our doing will not reflect the very essence of our mission.
Take care of your inner richness; your being and your doing will change the face of the earth.
                                ***  Br. Bernard Heylen  ***