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THE PURPOSE FOR FOUNDING BROTHERS OF ST. JOSEPH.
Fr. Witte wrote a pastoral letter as a founding note of the congregation to all parishes on 14/5/1945. The subject matter of this letter was NATIVE BROTHERS, (Circular No 9, CM. Nyeri, 14/5/1945).
In the founding letter, he addressed the kind and future the Brothers would live and he also noted challenges that were experienced before with native congregations to avoid any mistake in the future of using native Brothers and sisters as slaves or house boys and quoted Pope Pius XI on “Rerum Ecclesiae”.
The aim of the Congregation was, in the words of Fr. Witte, “that everyone will be a catechist, and besides, according to their aptitudes and inclinations, each will be taught a useful trade in the workshops. At the same time schooling will not be neglected, to complete at least a solid elementary Education. Brothers were to help in the parishes and assist priests”. He also noted that the Brothers were to be self-reliant and they should be instrumental in bringing change in society.
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What do you want to learn today?
To live and witness the Gospel through a life of consecration
To support the pastoral mission of the Church
To promote human formation and education
To uphold the values of work, discipline, and self-reliance
To participate in the work of evangelization and missionary outreach
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Stages of Formation
Formation
From the beginning, the founders of the Brothers of St. Joseph envisioned a congregation of humble and dedicated men who would serve the Church through prayer, work, and community life. Formation, as they designed it, was meant to nurture simplicity, faith, discipline, and total availability to God’s mission.The early Brothers were formed within the community itself, under the close mentorship of senior Brothers and spiritual directors from the founding missionaries, the Holy Ghost Fathers, who emphasized hard work, obedience, and prayer as the core of the Brothers’ identity.
Over the years, as the congregation grew in number and maturity, the formation system was gradually structured to meet the spiritual, human, and apostolic needs of modern religious life—without losing the original spirit of the founders. Today, the formation program still mirrors that initial vision: it seeks to form brothers who are rooted in prayer, grounded in community life, disciplined in work, and zealous in service to the Church and society.
Formation in the Brothers of St. Joseph is a gradual and lifelong process encompassing five stages: Residential Aspirancy, Postulancy, Novitiate, Juniorate, and Ongoing Formation.
In the spirit of our founders, the aspirancy introduces young men to the simple, prayerful lifestyle of the Brothers.
The aspirants live within the community, sharing in its prayer, work, and fraternal life. They receive catechesis, spiritual direction, and moral guidance, while learning the values of humility, service, and manual laborthe same virtues that characterized the first Brothers of St. Joseph. This stage is residential and located at the Mother House, where the young men experience firsthand the spiritual atmosphere of the congregation’s cradle.
The postulancy deepens the discernment process and helps the candidate to integrate faith and life in community.
Here, emphasis is placed on self-knowledge, prayer life, and the practice of Christian virtues. The postulants continue to reside at the Mother House, where they participate in community responsibilities, basic theological instruction, and apostolic exposure.
This stage preserves the founders’ emphasis on learning through daily living—formation that happens by doing—but now enriched with structured guidance, mentorship, and academic input.
The novitiate represents the heart of religious formation. Following the long-standing tradition of withdrawal and deeper reflection established by the founders, the novitiate is located in a separate, quiet environment suitable for spiritual maturity.
JUNIORATE After the novitiate, the junior brothers enter the juniorate, where formation becomes more apostolic and academic.
They pursue further studies, develop professional and pastoral skills, and engage in apostolic experiences within communities and institutions of the Brothers.
This stage reflects the founders’ original desire that the Brothers be “men of service, competence, and faith.” While remaining grounded in prayer and community, the junior brothers are trained to respond to the pastoral and social challenges of today’s world.
The founders saw formation not as a phase but as a way of life. In that spirit, ongoing formation has become a formalized process within the congregation.
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Through regular retreats, renewal programs, academic advancement, and workshops, the Brothers continue to renew their commitment and adapt to new pastoral realities.
Ongoing formation helps each Brother to remain spiritually alive, professionally competent, and faithful to the charism of the congregation throughout his life.
To date Brothers of St. Joseph strive;
To live and witness the Gospel through a life of consecration
The Brothers dedicate themselves to God through the vows, committing to a life of prayer, fraternity, simplicity, and service in the spirit of St. Joseph.
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