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's Formation Program

Brother candidates attend the Formation Program at the Maryknoll Formation house in Chicago Illinois.  Since Maryknoll Brothers bring a wide range of talents to mission work, they follow a more flexible course of education requiring a minimum of 24 credits in religion or theology but also the option of the graduate MDiv degree.  The training for a brother candidate is designed to develop his interests, talents and language skills for insertion into mission apostolates.    Normally a Brother candidate is in training for six years prior to his mission assignment. 

 

In Chicago, the Initial Formation Program includes academic requirements and skills training for pastoral ministry which enhances a candidate's personal desire to reach out to others in cross-cultural mission apostolates.  Brother candidates Attend Catholic Theological Union and earn 24 credits in theology.  They also develop individual aptitudes for contributing to mission work. 

Founded in 1968, the Catholic Theological Union is the largest Roman Catholic graduate school of theology and ministry in the United States.  Students, seminarians and Brother candidates from 32 different congregations and religious societies receive their formal education and training for ministry and mission at this school.

Pastoral care at hospitals and homeless shelters is integrated with work in the classroom.   With supervision, a Brother candidate learns to grow in a way that will serve him for a lifetime of ongoing education.  He will learn to listen, to access spiritual needs, and to offer a healing presence – towards himself first and then towards others in ministry.  The personal foundation for all aspects of his formation is a constant conscious friendship with Christ which is fostered in a community of Maryknollers who live and grow in maturity together. 

First Year

Upon admission into the Initial Formation program the first year Brother candidate participates in a “spiritual” or “novitiate” year.  During this year he gains familiarity with the literature of spirituality; participates actively in pastoral ministry; consults regularly with a spiritual director; joins other novices in the Chicago vicinity one day a week for topics of interest; and follows a special schedule of prayer and Maryknoll history sessions with his formation director.  Each year a candidate’s progress is monitored by mentors on a Review Board who recommend him to the Superior General for the next step on his path to becoming a temporary member, and finally a permanent member, of Maryknoll.  
 

Second Year

Brother candidates pursue the education that suits their interest and aptitudes for contributing to mission work.  All continue to learn by community living, pastoral ministry, and reflection on topics of interest. 
  

Third year

Brother candidates continue with course work suited to their development as discerned together with his formation director.    A candidate may make a request to the Superior General of Maryknoll to make a temporary (one year) Oath to Maryknoll at the end of this year.  A Review Board contributes its recommendations also for the Superior General to consider. 
 

Forth & Fifth Years

Midway through the theological curriculum at CTU or other formation course work all Maryknoll candidates spend two years in the Overseas Training Program (OTP).  In this program they live and minister in East Africa, Cambodia, Bolivia or another site where Maryknollers are active in mission work.  It involves language learning, pastoral ministry with other Priests and Brothers, and a program of supervised learning. 
 

Sixth Year

Back from overseas, and in Chicago again, candidates return to the formation community and their theological or other curriculum of studies, but with added awareness of themselves as growing persons and ministers.  In this year a candidate can request to take the major step of Permanent Oath to Maryknoll.  The Superior General looks for Review Board support in this major step.  After Permanent Oath, a Brother candidate receives a mission assignment overseas.