A Seed is Planted

In late May of 1982, Michael and Paul and another former seminarian friend attended the National Charismatic Renewal Conference held at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana. During the closing Eucharistic celebration which was held on Pentecost Sunday, a ‘prophetic word’ was given which would ultimately change their lives. It went like this: “I am calling many of you to embrace a life of celibacy for My Kingdom. But you say you have looked and there are no places for you to go. I tell you that I am raising up new convents, monasteries and communities for you to enter. Go home and ponder these words.”

Even though Brother Michael never intended to found a community, we believe that the Holy Spirit gifted him, as Founder of our Brotherhood, with the vision, insight, leadership and determination to guide us through the early years of our existence. Several months after the conference, Brother Michael, at the age of twenty four, took some steps which eventually gave birth to a new religious community in formation in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This was the first such community of Brothers to come into existence in the history of the Archdiocese.