MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS MAKE SOLEMN VOWS OF POVERTY, CHASTITY AND OBEDIENCE.
Some religious orders are apostolic (active in the world), some monastic and some cloistered. The cloistered communities do not live and minister actively in the outside world. Their life and work of prayer is primarily contained within their monastery setting.
While Diocesan priests minister within a geographical area, Religious Order priests may be sent to various parts of the United States or in other parts of the world. This depends on the different areas where their Order has communities.
In some men’s religious communities, some of the members are ordained to the priesthood and some are not. Those who are not ordained are called “Brothers.” Both the priests and brothers within these communities are equal in their membership.
The process of joining a religious community actually takes some time and involves several stages. The first step would be to make contact with particular religious orders and to attend events such as “Come and See” and reflection days that they offer for discerners.
Some examples of communities of men religious are: The Order of St. Basil (Basilians), the Dominicans , the Jesuits, the Josephites, the Somascans, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), the Carmelites, the Franciscans… just to name a few.
Religious Communities for Men
Founded in 1822 in France by ten diocesan priests to educate youth and prepare candidates for the priesthood, the Basilian Fathers are inspired by the life, teaching, and example of St. Basil the Great. Our spirituality is best characterized by a blend of values from the diocesan priesthood and religious life. Our primary work is education and evangelization within parishes, campus ministries, schools, and colleges. Guided by the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, we teach and preach in imitation of Christ the Teacher. We currently serve in Canada, US, Mexico, and Colombia.
For more information, contact the Directors of Vocations
Fr. Kevin Mannara, CSB and Fr. Eduardo Rivera, CSB
416-653-3180 ext. 174
We are a Roman Catholic community of priests, committed to living and ministering together as brothers in the Lord. We are called to the ongoing renewal of the Church through a dynamic evangelization in the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit.
We proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all we are called to serve, with special attention to parish communities, the poor, youth, and those alienated from the Church.
Fr. Allan MacDonald, C.C.
613-728-1736
199 Bayswater Ave. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Y 2G5
International Community of priests and brothers serving the poor and marginalized –“Where the Spirit leads us”
Br. Michael Suazo, C.S.Sp.
(412) 831-0302
4805 Calhoun Road Houston, Texas 77004
6230 Brush Run Road Bethel Park, PA 15102-2214
In the footsteps of Saint Dominic and inspired by the charism of Saint Martin de Porres, we friars preachers embrace the mission of Jesus Christ to proclaim the Kingdom of God for the salvation of souls to a changing world. Grounded by our common life and study, we commit ourselves to proclaim God’s Word in pulpits and in print, in classrooms and in the media, in the Southern United States and beyond.
Fr. Francis Orozco, O.P.
(504) 837-2129
P.O. Box 8129 New Orleans, LA 70182
The friars of St. John the Baptist Province are members of the Order of Friars Minor, A Franciscan brotherhood founded in the 13th century by St. Francis of Assisi. We serve the People of God as Catholic brothers and priests devoting our lives to the search for God in a communal life of poverty, prayer and service to others.
Fr. Richard Goodin, OFM
513-218-3547
4206 S. MacGregor Way Houston, TX 77021
Facebook: @becomeafriar
Twitter: @becomeafriar
Instagram: @becomeafriar
Passionists are a community of Roman Catholic priests, brothers, nuns, sisters and laity who proclaim God’s love for the world revealed through the Passion of Jesus Christ. Founded in 1741 by St. Paul of the Cross, today we preach this message of compassion and hope in 59 countries throughout the world. Passionist priests and brothers of Holy Cross Province form one of two U.S. provinces, serving in the Midwest, South and Western United States.
Fr. Ronan Newbold, CP
713-464-4932
773-272-6056
Holy Name Passionist Community 430 Bunker Hill Rd. Houston, TX 77024-6308
(The Josephite Fathers and Brothers)
An interracial community of priests and brothers who work in the African American community. We are a Community of Apostolic Life, in fact, the only religious community of men in the Roman Catholic Church who are engaged exclusively in this ministry to African Americans.
Rev. Peter C. Weiss, S.S.J.
Bro. Louis, S.S.J.
202-832-9100
1200 Varnum Street NE Washington, DC 20017
We are a missionary community of priests and brothers. Our charism is reconciliation and spiritual renewal
Driven by the desire of Jesus’ heart to set the world ablaze, the priests of the Legionaries of Christ support each other and work in communion with other Regnum Christi members in their mission to reveal Christ’s love to people, form them as apostles, and launch them in their God-given mission in life and in the Church. Legionaries go out as missionaries in today’s world. With great charity, joy and zeal, they invite people into the adventure of living for Christ and transforming the culture around them through youth work, education, parishes, missions, the sacraments, and spiritual direction. They are a religious congregation of priests and seminarians and part of the Regnum Christi Federation. They live in communities and make vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Fr. David Parker, Jr. LC
832-745-9586
3202 Wildcandle Dr., Spring, TX, United States 77388
Overseas Missions
We are a community of Catholic missionary Priests and Brothers strictly from the United States whose sole purpose is to work overseas sharing Gospel values and Christ’s message with the people, cultures, and religious traditions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. If you have a strong desire to share your faith and talents with people in other countries, we invite you explore career opportunities in Mission as a Maryknoll Priest, Brother, Associate, or Short Term Volunteer.
Fr. Gerry Kelly, MM
713-529-1912
2360 Rice Blvd. Houston, TX 77005
“Men of Heart-inspired to inspire others”
The Redemptorists are a religious congregation of Catholic priests and Brothers founded in southern Italy in 1732 by St. Alphonsus Liguori, C.Ss.R. Like the first apostles, the Redemptorists’ task is to bring the message of salvation to all people, especially those who have been spiritually abandoned.
Rev. Luong Uong, CssR
832-752-9520
Denver Province 1027 E. Hyde Park Blvd. Chicago, IL 60615
For nearly 500 years, Jesuit priests and brothers have been inspired by the vision of St. Ignatius Loyola to love and serve God as companions of Jesus. They seek to find God in all things, to listen with a discerning heart, and to do all things for the greater glory of God.
Sharing the Church’s mission of spreading a faith that promotes justice, the Jesuits of the New Orleans Province serve the people of God in the southern and southwestern United States and abroad by preaching, teaching, healing, and reconciliation.
Fr. Flavio Bravo, SJ
8900 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77036
“Proclaiming God the Father”
In cooperation with dedicated laypeople, the Somascans run and staff residential treatment centers, rehabilitation centers for drug addicts, group homes, shelters, etc. They educate individuals and families to become sensitive to these issues.
They foster human promotion, evangelization, and Christian formation through schools, technical and training centers, youth centers, parishes, retreat communities, and foreign missions. In all of these endeavors, they work to build communities of faith and love.
Fr. Remo Zanatta, CRS
610 W. Melwood St. Houston, TX 77009