A trip like no other

The physical journey to Kolkata, India, to work alongside Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity can take more than 24 hours from some parts of the U.S. But it’s the spiritual journey of serving the “poorest of poor” alongside the Sisters that leaves a lasting impression.

Our Brotherhood has been bringing young men on this journey for five years. The trip is unique in only welcoming men open to considering a celibate vocation.

As our application states, “This is a vocational discernment trip. Those seeking comfort and pleasure need not apply!”

This challenge has inspired rather than deterred men on our campuses: 43 men have made the trek. Of these men, 23 are still moving toward a celibate vocation, most within our Brotherhood but another six are discerning the priesthood. That's more than half - praise be to God!

A spiritual partnership

Our Kolkata adventure is led by Br. Adam Neri and Br. Patrick Reilly, who have seen first-hand over the years the powerful effect the selflessness to “ serve the least of these brothers and sisters of mine” (Matthew 25:40) has on our group of men.

“The sisters look forward to the Brothers’ visit each year,” said Br. Patrick. “We are blessed by their invitation to play a role in the praise, worship, adoration and sharing that occurs during our time with them.’”

While there are Catholics who come to Kolkata, for a number of worldwide volunteers it’s the first time they are hearing the Gospel. We start simply by having conversations and building community.

“The fellowship that grows between us is so genuine, that when it’s time to leave there’s a receiving line to wish the guys good luck and God’s blessings,” said Br. Patrick. As a result a number a number of volunteers have experienced a conversion, returning to the sacraments or entering the Catholic Church.

The transformative power of Kolkata

As Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” During our mission, we join with volunteers from around the world to perform simple tasks of great love by caring for and feeding the poor, the sick and the dying.

Jason Brunswick, one of the men on our 2017 vocational mission, shares in his reflection, Wreck My Life, how he asked Br. Patrick after the first day, “’Did we just travel halfway across the world to hang laundry and do dishes?’ He smiled and told me that it would soon make sense. These small, humble acts of love defined Mother Teresa’s mission, and would indeed teach me as well.”

Each morning in Kolkata begins before dawn with morning prayer. We then walk a few blocks to the Missionaries of Charity motherhouse for 6 a.m. Mass. Our group gathers in a volunteer room with pilgrims from all over the globe before heading off to our service assignments for the day.

During a typical Mission, half of our group will serve at Prem Dan, a long-term convalescent facility for men. The other half of our group serves at a children’s orphanage.

Thomas Hammen, a senior at Florida State University who traveled on our 2018 mission, recounts in his accompanying reflection, Going Beyond Myself in Kolkata, “Our daily service at Prem Dan included washing clothes, shaving men, feeding the disabled, taking residents to the bathroom or simply sitting with them and holding their hands. I can still picture Br. Adam smiling, looking at me and saying, ‘Today you get to shave Jesus!’”

In the evening, our group comes together to pray and share our struggles, yearnings and awakenings from our day of service as well as our thoughts on where the Lord may be leading us through our mission experiences.

The Brothers’ vocational mission to Kolkata this year takes place May 8 to 23. Please pray for the Brothers and the six men on this year’s mission, that their hearts will be set on fire for the Lord.