By Bro. John Ulrich, S.M.

I am beginning my eighth year at Marist School and hardly a week goes by without someone calling me “Father.” Parents will approach me and say “Excuse me, Brother, but I’m not Catholic. Could you please explain to me the difference between a priest and a brother?” They are surprised when I tell them not to apologize, that many Catholics do not know the difference either.

During the first fifteen hundred years of the Church’s existence, virtually all religious orders were brotherhoods. Such founders as St. Benedict and St. Francis saw their followers as Brothers, a few of whom were ordained for the service of the others. Diocesan clergy traditionally served the needs of the wider Christian community, the diocese. Gradually, however, a series of changes took place that resulted in the majority of religious becoming priests and working in the active apostolate.

There are many orders of brothers within the Roman Catholic Church, as well as several mixed groups of priests and brothers in the same community. Some groups are made up solely of brothers. Other consist of mostly brothers with a few priests to care for the sacramental needs of the community. Some brothers belong to communities whose membership is made up predominately of priests. The Marists fall into the latter category.

In the Washington Province of the Marists we have one hundred and thirty-two members, eleven of whom are brothers. As Marists we live a common community life: the rule is the same for all, priest or brother. Our vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience are the same; what binds us together is our common Marist life. The difference is one of function within the Catholic community: priests are ordained, while brothers are not. Brothers have no sacramental function in the Church. Technically, we are laymen with religious vows. We do not say Mass, hear confession, witness marriages, etc. A man chooses to be a brother because he feels called to serve the Church and desires community life, but does not feel called to ordination. This decision is a personal one.

I chose to be a brother because I wanted to put my talents at the service of the Church on a full-time, permanent basis. I wanted a Gospel-centered community life, sharing with men who have similar goals and aspirations. I wanted the support of working as part of a team, but I did not feel called to sacramental ministry as an ordained priest. The decision in no way reflects adversely on the priesthood nor on me personally. Simply stated, I am doing what I feel the Lord is calling me to do.

Community life forms an important part of our Marist life. We strive to give and receive that mutual support that accompanies fraternal living. We pray, work, laugh, and worship as a community, while remaining very much individuals. Our religious life, with its non-materialistic orientation, stands in opposition to the consumerism and status-struggle which claims so much of the world’s attention and energy. Our life is, in many ways, counter-cultural: it stands as a sign of contradiction to much that contemporary society considers important. With its attempt to set a balance between thought and action, work and prayer, person and community, it opens up genuine options which lead to a life of fulfillment and peace.

At the center of this life is God. It is here that meaning, integrity, and happiness are found. My life as a Marist is a happy and fulfilling life, and I am at peace with my decision to serve the Church as a Marist Brother.