Our European Province is pure bliss and thanksgiving to God for the diaconal ordination of our Lithuanian brother, Elijas.

One of our youngest brothers, after spending the past three years studying theology in Burgundy, France, at Rimont, he received a mission to return to his home country. He was ordained by His Eminence, Cardinal Audrys Bačkis, Emeritus Bishop of the Diocese of Vilnius. On that sunny and warm Saturday, 20th of September—unusually pleasant for that time of the year—Brother Elijas was surrounded by his family, friends, and, of course, the Brothers and Contemplative Sisters of Saint John, who live just next door to the Brothers’ Priory.

The Mass was scheduled for 10 a.m., but the liturgical preparations began well before that. Numerous altar boys were present at least 45 minutes prior, well-dressed and ready “for liturgical action.” The Parish Church was already adorned with flowers, enhanced by the sun’s rays falling on the altar’s white cloth. A few minutes before the start of the Mass, the pews were full, with everyone awaiting the bishop and priests to enter in procession.

His Eminence delivered the homily. What did he say? I do not have a clue—unfortunately, I don’t know Lithuanian. However, judging by the tone and modulation of his voice, the way he looked at the crowd, and especially at Brother Elijas, I can confidently say that he spoke as a true pastor, even as a true father—one who cares deeply for those under his guidance and strengthens them through his teachings. One of the most uplifting and beautiful moments of the celebration came after the candidate expressed his obedience to the bishop and received these words of blessing: May God Himself accomplish in you what He has already begun.

Diaconate, priesthood, or any vocation in the Catholic Church is not an end, but a journey—a path we are called to follow. We embark on that path with the understanding that we are called by One who is stronger, wiser, and more faithful than we could ever be. Therefore, there is no need to worry about whether we can complete the journey because He will be there to accomplish what He has already begun in us and with us.

After the liturgical celebration concluded, we all gathered outside for a convivial time, sharing food, drinks, pictures, and plenty of joy. The next day, being a Sunday, Brother Elijas officiated as a deacon at his first Mass, thus beginning his ministry of service to the Word and the Bread of God. While he is surely praying for each of us, let us also remember him in our daily prayers, so that he may remain a faithful servant of the Lord and His people.

Brother Vladimir Bortos – Bucharest

Brother Yakob’s ordination to the diaconate took place on Saturday 7 September in the parish of St Antony of Padua, London (England), in the presence of the Most Reverend Alan Williams, Bishop of the Diocese of Brentwood (London). Brother Leopold tells us.

D-day has arrived!  

It’s Saturday September 7th, 2024, and Saint Antony’s parish is in celebration. Because today is the diaconal Ordination of brother Yakob. The library of the brothers has been transformed into sacristy. Brother Yakob himself is attending to the needs of the visiting brothers and priests, anticipating his ministry of service. From Ethiopia have travelled the deacon-to-be’s sibling, Abba Tesfaye Bishamo, who paved the way in the family – having been a priest for the last 22 years! – together with some friends and also brother Philippe-François, the superior in Addis-Abbeba. The Netherlands aren’t badly represented either: apart from brother Ignaz-Maria, our Provincial, and brother Richard-Maria from Utrecht, Abba Petros Berga, Apostolic Visitor for the Ethiopian Catholics in Europe, has come from his parish close to Amsterdam. And from all around London had come a fair number of Ethiopian friends, priests and laity alike.  

I testify that he has been found worthy!  

Picking up on br Ignatius’s presentation of the candidate, which suggested that brother Yakob had been a trailblazer and pioneer of the Ethiopian brothers in the Congregation, Bishop Alan Williams turned our eyes towards Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith [Hebrew 12], reminding us how Saint John himself was progressively perfected throughout the years. Bishop Alan also witnessed how, during his own life and ministry, he had constantly experienced the action of Jesus Good Shepherd bringing back the lost sheep. He reminded us also that Saint Antony’s charism was to be the patron of the lost, and exhorted our brother to do the same. 

Rejoice O Mary Heavenly Queen 

After communion, Abba Petros led a venerable Marian chant and dance, sung in Ge’ez, the liturgical language in Ethiopia, which he was kind enough to translate for the uninitiated. After Mass, the gardens behind the priory hosted a pleasant party full of Ethiopian flavours and rhythms, under an unusually clear and sunny London sky. The day ended – how else, on such a joyful day? – with more dancing.  

Brother François-Xavier CAZALI, Prior General ;
Brother Ignaz-Maria, Prior of the Province of Europe ;
the Brothers of Saint John and the families of the Brothers are pleased to inform you of the diaconal ordinations of the following Brothers

Yakob DESALEGN BISHAMO (Ethiopia)

On Saturday 7 September in the parish of Saint Antony of Padua, London (England), by the Most Reverend Alan Williams, Bishop of the Diocese of Brentwood (London).

Elijas BUTKUS (Lithuania)

On Saturday 21 September at 10 AM at the priory of the Brothers of Saint John, Vilnius (Lithuania), by His Eminence Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis (Vilnius).

Brother Marie-Alexandre Dallaporta, professor at the Studium of theology in Rimont, defended his thesis on May 3, 2024, at Catholic university of Paris. It was awarded magna cum laude (very good). Here is the presentation of the thesis from the author.

This is a thesis in patristics, directed by Professor Charbel Maalouf, and entitled : “The providential Trinity : Athanasius of Alexandria’s contribution to the Trinitarian and Christological theology of providence “. In the context of a contemporary theology seeking to renew its discourse on providence and divine action, this study sets out to show the contribution of an author of the IVᵉ S, Athanasius of Alexandria. While the latter is recognized as one of the Church Fathers whose work is decisive for Christology (one of the first Christian authors to have written a treatise on the Incarnation) and Trinitarian theology (his participation in the Council of Nicaea in 325 and his constant defense of the divinity of the Word in the face of Arianism), he has been little studied for his conception of divine providence. However, one passage from his work, the Treatises against the Arians, has prompted and guided our research, the one in which he states:

This excerpt is to be understood in the context of a Christological reflection on certain difficult passages of Scripture (those relating the agony, ignorance or receptivity of Christ…), which Arianism used to show that the Word could not therefore be of a divine nature. For Athanasius, on the other hand, the receptivity of the Son (Mt 11:27) must be understood from both the eternal and temporal points of view, based on the unity of nature between the Father and the Son and unity in the exercise of their providence. Hence the question that drives our research: is this an isolated statement, or does it shed light on the way in which Athanasius can link, in his theological reflection on providence, a Christological and Trinitarian affirmation ?

After making a detailed study of the use of the term providence (pronoia in Greek) in Athanasius’ entire work (1st part), our study proposes to show different aspects of this contribution to Athanasius’ theology.

Firstly, in the way his apologetic works attribute providence to the Logos, his theology is based on a philosophical discourse (2d part). Among the various influences, we have highlighted Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish author of the 1st century, who draws on both philosophy and Sacred Scripture to discuss the role of the Logos in relation to creation.

Secondly, in the face of the Arian heresy, Athanasius elaborates a specifically Christian discourse on providence in the biblical hermeneutics of his doctrinal works (3rd part). Using Johannine verses on the unity of Father and Son (Jn 10:30, 14:9…), as well as the book of Proverbs on Creative Wisdom (Pr 8:22-30), he shows that, while respecting their distinction, Father and Son are one in the exercise of providence. The Son appears as the heir of the Father’s goods (Hb 1:3), the one who receives them but also distributes them in this unity with Him.

Athanasius’ contribution is also assessed within the patristic tradition (4th part). The Alexandrian is situated in continuity and discontinuity with the ante-Nicene Fathers (Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Origen). Faced with the Arian heresy that reduces the Son to a mere intermediary or instrument of creation, and Origen’s position that affirms the unity of the Father and the Son, but considers the latter above all as an efficient minister of providence, Athanasius gives full scope to the Son’s mediation in providence, considered above all from the point of view of the immanent unity between Father and Son. Thus, the Son appears one with the Father in our divine election, being himself the Will of the Father in his person.

Athanasius’ thought also paved the way for later developments in patrology, notably by Gregory of Nyssa and Cyril of Alexandria (5th Part). These authors clarify the place of the Holy Spirit in the sanctifying and divinizing action of the divine persons. Nevertheless, Origen is the most explicit on this point, since he is the only one among the Fathers, subject to a possible addition by his Latin translator Rufinus, to use the expression Providentiam Trinitatis. In his commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, he affirms how, in the Holy Spirit, divine providence is in all things.

A final contribution is highlighted in the fruitful links between his doctrinal theology and his spiritual theology. Athanasius’ works such as Apology for his Flight, the Festal Letters and the Life of Anthony bear witness to the way in which the Christian is invited to combine human prudence and abandonment to providence, and how, by allowing himself to be taught by God, he participates in the knowledge of divine designs.

At the end of this study, we outline some of the avenues opened up by Athanasius’ thought in relation to questions posed by contemporary theology. The latter seeks to better grasp how Christ, in his humanity, was able to receive and live according to paternal providence. It also underlines the incomprehensibility of the divine plans for the Son, who lives them in obscurity and distance from his Father. Conversely, Athanasius, and Alexandrian theology in general, have rightly been criticized for not focusing enough on Christ’s humanity, as the question of his soul was still underdeveloped in his time. Nevertheless, the insistence of Alexandrian theology on examining divine providence in the light of these Trinitarian and Christological questions, prompts us to examine how the Son, who is one with the Father in the eternal decision concerning our salvation, was able in his will and human nature, even in the trial of agony, to live this unity with the Father’s will.

At their last General Chapter in November 2022, the Brothers of Saint John voted to decentralise their governance, with the different regions acquiring the status of Provinces. The whole Congregation is currently experiencing its first Provincial and Vice-Provincial Chapters during which the elections of their Provincials Priors are taking place.

– Province of France: from Saturday 7 to Friday 13 January 2023 at Notre-Dame du Chêne (72),
– Vice-Province of Asia-Oceania: from Saturday 7 to Friday 13 January 2023 in Cebu,
– Province of Europe: from Tuesday 10 to Tuesday 17 January 2023 in Marchegg,
– Province of the Americas: from Monday 16 to Saturday 21 January 2023 in Mexico City,
– Province of Africa: from Monday 30 January to Tuesday 7 February 2023 in Simbock.

With this decentralisation of their governance, the brothers want to implement part of their reform which consists in being closer to the needs of the priories and in making their structure less pyramidal in order to favour more participation in the decisions. The new Provincials and Vice-Provincials Priors will have direct authority for the governance of their Provinces, including the assignment of brothers who are affiliated to them or made available by other Provinces. The role of the General Prior is therefore to watch over the unity, spirit and life of the whole Congregation in its international dimension.

We entrust the continuation of these first Chapters to your prayers.

Provincial Chapter of France

Brother Henri-Dominique de Certaines was elected Provincial Prior of France on 10 January, during the first Provincial Chapter of France. Brother Henri-Dominique entered the novitiate of the Brothers of Saint John in Saint Jodard in 2006 at the age of 21. After his simple profession in 2008 and his theology studies, he did his apostolic internship in Cameroon as Vice-principal of the Vogt College in Yaoundé. He took his perpetual vows in 2012 and was ordained a deacon in 2014. He will then be for two years curate (right-hand man of the prior) of the formation house of Saint-Jodard (42). After his ordination to the priesthood in 2017, he was sent on mission to Lomé in Togo to work in the university parish. Elected prior in 2019 of the priory of Saint-Quentin-sur-Indrois, in the diocese of Tours, he returned to France.

Download the final message of the french Provincial Chapter in french

Vice-Provincial Chapter of Asia-Oceania

In accordance with the wishes of the brothers of Asia-Oceania, the General Chapter of the Congregation (October 2022) asked the Prior General to establish this vicariate as a “vice-province”, in order to ensure that they have the necessary means for the mission and a sufficient number of formators for vocations. Brother Justin Lee was elected Vice Provincial Prior of Asia-Oceania on January 9, at the first Vice Provincial Chapter held at the Novitiate in Cebu City, Banawa. Brother Justin joined the Brothers of Saint John in 1999 and, after his formation, was assigned to Cebu from 2006 to 2017. He now lives at the priory in New Zealand. A vice-provincial assembly preceded the Chapter, which meant that all brothers, regardless of their stage of formation, were called to participate. For the Chapter, only a few delegates represent the vice-province and will have to choose their Province.

Download the final message of the assembly that preceded the Chapter

Download the final message of the Vice-Provincial Chapter of Asia-Oceania

Provincial Chapter of Europe

Provincial Chapter of the Americas

Provincial Chapter of Africa

The brothers of the Africa Province gathered at the Studium de philosophie in Simbock, Cameroon, for their first Provincial Chapter from 30 January to 6 February 2023.

The Chapter was marked by the deliberations for the elections of the Prior Provincial and his Council. The following were elected: Brother Côme-Emmanuel, Prior Provincial of Africa; Brother Joseph, Provincial Officer in charge of Formation; and Brothers Gilbert (Vicar Provincial), Joseph Marie de la Trinité (elected), Théodore de la Croix (appointed) and Thibault (elected) as Councillors.

Download the final message of the african Provincial Chapter in french

The Brothers of Saint John of the Province of Europe are happy to announce the election of our new and very first Provincial Prior, Brother Ignaz-Maria Ringhofer!

Brother Ignaz-Maria was elected today, January 12, by the capitulants of the Provincial Chapter of Europe, held in our Priory in Marchegg, Austria. Brother Ignaz-Maria entered the Brothers of Saint John in 2000 and was ordained a priest in 2009. He was assigned in our priories of The Hague and then in Utrecht before he was serving as councillor of the Prior General for the last three years. He lives currently in our priory in Utrecht.

Let us pray for our new Provincial Prior.

Brother Jurek was elected Counselor and Brother Athanase Provincial Head of Formation.

Download the final message of the European Provincial Chapter

After having renovated the exterior side of their presbytery 2 years ago, that covered part of their guesthouse, the Brothers of St John in Austria are now tackling the interior by transforming the reception, with the restrictions imposed by the pandemic into an opportunity for improvements.

In conjunction with experts from the diocese of Vienna – because the German-speaking organization provides diocesan departments for almost everything – they launched a call for tenders. On 1st March, work began, overseen by a building engineer from the diocese. Among the works  – all the plumbing – and upgrades, like bathroom fixtures in bedrooms, new flooring and paint.

The brothers roll up their sleeves.

To keep costs down, the brothers also rolled up their sleeves. Helped by a few friends, they set out to install a new kitchen, living room and dining hall for guests. A computer room will also be created at the priory. These works bring back memories for many brothers from their community days in Rimont! A mention also goes out to the diocese who have promised the brothers a small grant, and the parish who own the building, will also put their hands in their pocket.

It goes without saying, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders work in vain” (Psalm 126). So the Brothers of Saint John in Marchegg have entrusted all these works to Saint Joseph to whom they pray daily! They hope to be able to receive guests for this summer’s inauguration.

For those who are not afraid of the Goethe language…

Do you seek to escape reality? To what end? Br. Francis of the Child Jesus, author of the new book “The Theological Landscape of Middle Earth”, has joined Trending with Timmerie to discuss the world of fantasy, J. R. R. Tolkien, and theology. They discussed the role of beauty, truth, virtue and myth in fantasy, why the Lord of The Rings is such a beloved story and how various characters from Gandalf to Sam play a Christ-like role. Finally, Br Francis told about his youth in Soviet-occupied Lithuania and how he participated in the historic Baltic Chain that liberated eastern Europe.

Click here to listen the radio program

On the 31 August and 1 September, the Brothers in Austria celebrated 25 years since their foundation in Marchegg. Over two sun-filled days they gave thanks to the Lord for all the good things He has helped to grow over the years there.

The celebration opened with a musical comedy on the biblical figure of Ruth, which Br Antal wrote and presented with the children of the “Kisi Club Marchegg”. Following the First Vespers of Sunday, everyone listened to music from the choir “Adoramus”, who came from the Brothers’ priory in Vilnius and were joined by soloists from Germany, Belgium and Spain: “an apt celebration and concert for the vicariate of Europe!” as the brothers said. The evening followed with a traditional “Heuriger”, an Austrian wine celebration.

The high point of the jubilee was undoubtedly the presence of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, who has been a long-time friend of the Brothers and who celebrated the Sunday mass in the conventual church – there were no empty seats! During his homily, the Cardinal evoked another anniversary: on 1 September, 1939, just 80 years ago, the Germans attacked Poland, triggering the Second World War. In words that were very personal and fair-minded, he reminded us just how much war, discord and sin in general leave man deeply wounded. He thus insisted on the vocation of every Christian, and in particular the Brothers and Sisters of Saint John in the current context of the Church, to live the beautiful vocation of intimacy with Christ. Before continuing with a beautiful meditation on true Christian humility, he added: the “heart of the Johannine vocation” consists in constantly “offering and revealing this friendship with Jesus to every man and woman“.

Following a large meal served al fresco and accompanied by traditional Austrian music, there was time to listen to performances from different local choirs and testimonies given by some of the brothers who have lived in Marchegg over the past 25 years.

With the Brothers, we can say, “Thanks be to God for this beautiful jubilee lived in friendship and in faith.”

Click here to visit the German website for the Brothers in Marchegg

In 1994, as well as the foundation in Orléans in France, the Brothers of Saint John were sent (and guided by Cardinal Schönborn in person) to Austria, in order to found a priory in Marchegg, a town on the border with Slovakia, situated between the two capital cities of Vienna and Bratislava.

On the weekend of 31 August – 1 September, 2019, the Brothers of Saint John celebrate 25 years in Austria. Cardinal Schönborn presides at the Sunday Mass on 1 September.