The mission of our brotherhood

“Jesus Christ is the stable principle and fixed center of that mission that God himself has entrusted to man.” These words from Pope John Paul II’s first encyclical letter, Redeemer of Man, are the foundation of the mission work of the Brotherhood of Hope. We are a mission-oriented brotherhood, seeking to assist those who no longer practice their faith to retake it in a new or deeper conversion to the person of Jesus, and to experience the power of the Holy Spirit who was sent to us by Jesus us to lead us to the full truth.

As Brothers we want to participate in the New Evangelization of the Catholic Church. We know we need to grow in Gospel faithfulness ourselves by living the truth and offering it to others. As the Holy Father says in the same letter: “Being responsible for that Truth also means loving it and seeking the most exact understanding of it, in order to bring it closer to ourselves and others in all its saving power.” We experienced a “drive” of the Holy Spirit to let God’s word change us from within through prayer and fraternal charity and to go out to people in every situation we can to witness to the saving power of the Gospel and to challenge them to a personal commitment to Jesus.
 
What can such a little band of brothers do in the face of such work? We know we need only do what the Spirit prompts because there are many, many others who will add their responses to the Spirit’s promptings. And so we call out to you. Would you help us by listening to the Spirit’s call for the Truth to go out to so many who are destitute in spirit as well as in body? The Holy Spirit has a word for you, even now as you read this, an invitation, perhaps even a summons to personal holiness and devotion to the cause of Christ. Will you also help us by your prayers and support to be faithful to the same call? Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much. Thank you.

This article originally appeared in our Christmas 1993 newsletter.