Province of Canada
Willowdale is a mixed community, international, intercultural and interconfessional. Three Brothers live and share their everyday community life with a dozen university students from 18 to 35 «open to the religious dimension», but sometimes with very little Christian background. But it is not a matter of a group of aspirants to consecrated life. If one or another feels so called, the Brothers would be prepared to accompany him or her in that direction.
The group of young people, six boys and six girls, is very varied, both on the level of place of origin and on the level of religion. Six are Canadians, three from Québéc, and the other six come from different countries : France, Egypt, Colombia and Peru. They also come from different Christian religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, United Church and Coptic Orthodox. All see themselves as complementary. The Brothers provide a personalised and sporadic accompaniment. Some of the young people, living with personal problems, feel the need of confiding in someone. Once the tension is managed, accompaniment is from time to time and not on a regular basis.
The community is enriched by the presence of the young, the cultural and religious riches, and the feminine and masculine sensibilities of its members.
Willowdale lives anew in response to the horizons of the XXI General Chapter: a new way of being Brother, a new spirit of communion between Brothers and laity and a strongly significant presence among young people.