Why I Support the Brothers

FR. MICHAEL ZIMMERMAN

Listening to Father Michael Zimmerman’s description of his years at Boston University is to hear the story of God inviting a young man to follow Him.

“I started to feel a stronger call to religious life during the spring of my sophomore year in 2009,” said Father Michael, who was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston in 2017. “The Brothers ran BU’s Catholic Center, and it was there that I experienced their joyful witness. Their spiritual direction during my four years at BU helped me to discern becoming a priest.”

Father Michael is among more than one hundred men and women who have entered the priesthood, seminary or religious life following their experiences in one of the Brothers’ campus outreaches over the past 40 years.

Today, Father Michael is assistant Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Boston as well as an adjunct Scripture Professor at St. John’s Seminary. In 2020, he wrote and produced “Scivias” (Know the ways of the Lord), a thought-provoking discernment guide composed of 27 videos, each approximately five-minutes in length and viewable at Vocations Boston’s YouTube channel.

Why does Father Michael support the Brothers?

“It’s to show my gratitude to the Brothers and to God,” said Father Michael. “I believe in the Brothers’ mission of working with college students. What they do in campus ministry, they do really, really well. The Brothers did a lot for me and remain a big part of my spiritual life.”

Thank you, Father Michael, for your generous support and for evangelizing alongside us to bring God’s word to college students!

FR. LEW PAPERA

It’s quite possible Father Lew Papera holds the distinction as one of the earliest supporters of The Brotherhood of Hope.

Thank you, Father Lew, for your loyal support all of these years!

Father Lew was a young diocesan priest in New Jersey when the Brotherhood began in the early eighties and was immediately impressed with how the Lord was leading us.

“In the beginning I supported the Brothers out of friendship, but later I increased my giving as I witnessed the fruitfulness of their vision. They were building upon rock not sand,” said Father Lew. “I even took it as a positive sign in the early years when the Brothers faced rejection and obstacles. It reminded me how the Lord had tested Saint Francis as he formed the Franciscans. If it is God’s work, no forces will stop it.”

Now 82 years old, Father Lew is a retired priest in the Archdiocese of Newark, where he actively assists several parishes as well as provides spiritual direction to individuals. He also remains close to the Brothers and frequently celebrates the Lord’s Day with our New Brunswick household.

“Whenever I spend time with the Brothers or read their newsletter, it brings me joy to see how their mission has expanded over the years,” said Father Lew. “I look at my financial support as an investment in what God is doing. And I believe I have made a good choice with the Brothers. I am much richer.”