Welcome to our website

 

Maryknoll Brothers are men who commit themselves to lifelong celibacy, prayer, community living, and ministry.  Bringing a wide range of talents to the missionary endeavor, they build missions and schools, work as teachers and administrators, develop agricultural and other life-sustaining projects with indigenous people, serve in health-related fields and contribute in numerous ways to the ministry of Maryknoll.  In the early days of the Church, the Apostles realized that they could not preach Jesus’ Word without the help of others who ministered in various ways in early Christian communities (Acts 6: 1-6). Although they do not perform sacramental Church ministries, Maryknoll Brothers witness to the Gospel through lives of service and prayer, proclaiming the Word throughout the world.

Brother Loren Beaudry

 

I was raised on a dairy farm in Albertville, Minnesota. In 1973, I graduated from Elk River high school. Prior to joining Maryknoll, I did various kinds of construction work, e.g., building and roofing houses and making cement tees for parking ramps. I was also an employee of Hoffman Engineering Company in Anoka, Minnesota, where I worked as a spot welder.

 

I am now a Maryknoll Brother. My years with Maryknoll have been both rewarding and challenging. I have had the privilege of learning another language and the experience of living and working in different parts of Africa. In 1995, I went to Mombasa, Kenya to start a program for street children, which is now called "The Grandsons of Abraham."

After working in the United States for several years in Maryknoll's Vocation Ministry, I moved to the parish of Nyangana in northern Namibia. There I have been again blessed with the opportunity of  working with the Youth of the parish in setting up an activities center and education programs.

 

When I first came to Africa I saw myself giving myself totally to the Africans. I was the one who was going to bring the “good news” to the people through acts of charity and a strong Christian belief. The gospel was going to be preached through my cultural values, Christian attitudes and beliefs.

As I reflect on my many years in Africa (1985 to the present day) I can only marvel at what I have learned from the Africans. My experiences in Tanzania, Kenya and now Namibia is that personal relationships is a very important aspect in African culture.

For example, when meeting another person there is a whole mess of greetings that we go through before asking questions or talking business. Also, when I speak they give me their full attention. Another aspect of African culture is their strong belief and faith in God. Most Africans live one day at a time. Their wages are only enough to buy their daily food. Yet their strong belief that God will provide never seems to diminish. I am ever so grateful to the American Catholic church for this opportunity of living and working in a foreign country.