The Province have made vocation promotion a priority

Brother Seán Sammon, S.G. visited the Province of the United States of America October 18-28. He was accompanied by Brother Don Neary. For the first part of the visit, Brother Ernesto Sánchez, Director of the Bureau of Vocations, was also present. At the request of the Province, the theme of Brother Seán?s visit focused on vocations and renewal. He met with the Brothers, groups of laity and young people in Miami, Florida, Brownsville, Texas, Chicago and the New York/New Jersey areas.

During his meeting with young people, Brother Seán asked direct questions concerning the lack of vocations to the religious life in general in the United States. The answers from the young people included the influence of the media, lack of support from parents, the emphasis on individual success and no talk of sacrifice. An interesting dimension was the fact that fewer seem to offer a personal invitation to religious life than in the past. The Brothers of the Province have made vocation promotion a priority during the new term of the provincial government.

The Province of the United States of America came into existence three years ago with the restructuring of the former Provinces of Esopus and Poughkeepsie. There are presently 201 Brothers in the Province. The Marist Brothers have served in the United States since 1886.