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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 Frank TenHoopen

 

Some years ago I had what some people would call a conversion. I would call it a change of heart and I would also like to say that God did it all not me.

 

I noticed it one day some years back when I was driving. I was humming a song, "Sing a new song unto the Lord". Then being alone I started to sing it, but what I sang was "sing a new song in me O' Lord." I stopped immediately but the song or words stayed with me. It was as if my spirit was begging God to be within me.

 

 Sometime later I notice that even scripture seemed to have upside down meanings. For instance, the story of treasure in the field; I was always taught that the treasure was my salvation and I had to sacrifice all to get it and keep it. Then one day I was reading it again and it changed. I was the treasure and God was the one who sacrifice even his son for me.

 

Since then and for years it has been the theme of my work for young people. We even have a mural of it painted. On top of all that I have been hearing about others with the same experience. You are the treasure in the field!

 

My work is rather simple. I run an office of Youth ministries for the Archdiocese of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. We do leadership training; education for life (AIDS Awareness but better). There are retreats all over the diocese and bible education. There are a lot of things and events that happen.

 

The archdiocese is large. We have 42 parishes and 85 secondary schools to take care of. I cannot do it myself, so I have teams of young people who do this for me. This is the key in this work. I enable young people to minister to each other. I am an enabler or animator. I joked once with the teams about doing so little. One of them said ,"Brother you spend a lot of time in praying to keep us going." So maybe I am a pray-er, too.