~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brothers Newsnotes April 2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you know the Board of Trustees of the Religious Brothers Conference likes to communicate with all Brothers two or three times each year. As this is our second opportunity this year, we would like to take the moment to bring the following items to your attention. Please keep in mind that RBC Members may have already received some of this information.
As we continue to celebrate the Easter Season, let us remember to pray for each other and for those to whom we minister.
Fraternally, The RBC Board of Trustees
CARA STUDY COMPLETED As you know, the Religious Brothers Conference (RBC) in collaboration with CARA has conducted a Study on Brothers in the United States. The last component to this Study was completed during this past summer. A few weeks ago we received the Final Report of that Study. The actual report is 317 pages long. If you wish to have a bound copy of the entire Study, you can contact CARA directly and they will arrange to mail you a copy. Their phone number is 1-202-687-8080. It is our intention to use the findings of this Study to assist us in developing future RBC projects.
RBC VOCATION PROGRAM RBC is also in the process of producing a DVD Program that would be used to help promote the Vocation of the Religious Brother. We recently received a "demo" for the first part of that project. The immediate reaction to this "demo" has been very positive. This "demo" will be piloted over the next couple of months. The final version of part one will be presented at our Convention this July. The final DVD version of part one, with lesson plans, will be available by September 2008. We hope to have the additional components of this project ready by our Convention in 2009. Data from the Study on Brothers that was conducted by CARA for RBC will help us as we continue this project.
Understandably funds are needed to continue with the production of this DVD Program. To assist us in this endeavor, RBC commissioned a painting of "Christ Our Brother" from Brother Michael Moran, CP. Prints of this painting are on sale and the proceeds will go directly into the RBC Vocation Program. Please check our website at www.brothersonline.org. You can then click on "Christ our Brother" in the left hand column to view and read about the painting. Order Forms are also available on our website.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL If you have not had the opportunity to renew your Membership for the 2007 - 2008 year, it is not too late to do so. Again, go to our website: www.brothersonline.org, in the left hand column on the Home page you will see Membership. Click on the word Membership and the various forms of Membership will appear. You can then download the appropriate form and mail it in.
Membership Fees support the mission and ministry of the Religious Brothers Conference.
RBC ANNUAL CONVENTION Thirty-Seventh Annual Convention July 25 - 28, 2008 St. Louis Marriott West Hotel St. Louis, Missouri
The theme for this Convention is "In Our Own Backyards: Challenges and Invitations for Brothers of the Americas." Our Keynote Presenter will be Allen Figueroa Deck, SJ. Fr. Deck is Director of the Office of Cultural Diversity in the Church for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In his presentations, Allen will touch upon "cutting edge issues" facing those in ministry.
Musicians and Composers from Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) will once again provide a workshop for those interested in Music Ministry. They will also assist with the Liturgies and Prayer Services throughout the Convention.
Participants may receive credit in Pastoral Ministry from the Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago. Details regarding credit will be included in the registration brochure. This brochure is available on our website. On the home page click on "08 Convention Summary", as you scroll down you will come to the prompt to download the Brochure.
There is a reduced rate for individuals who wish to come a day or two early and/or stay a day or two later. To take advantage of this discount you must make your reservation through the RBC Office in Chicago before July 3, 2008. Also, keep in mind that in order to receive the Early Registration discount offered to RBC Members, you must register for the Convention by June 6, 2008.
All Brothers and their colleagues in Ministry are welcome to attend.
A special welcome is extended to those post-college age individuals who are considering the vocation to the Religious Brotherhood.
The Religious Brothers Conference promotes the identity and vocation of Brothers.
Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ email: rbc@ctu.edu phone: 773-595-4023 web: http://www.brothersonline.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |