When many people think of the Jesuits, they usually picture men in flowing chasubles, or clerical collars, preaching homilies, celebrating Masses, and carrying out other priestly duties. What may not readily come to mind is the other path within the Jesuit vocation – the Jesuit Brothers. These are men who have chosen a path that does not involve ordination, but everything to do with passion, faith and service with a desire for transforming the world. While Jesuit priests are generally well-known, Jesuit Brothers are the often-unsung heroes who have also shaped Jesuit missions in many places, through their resilience and sheer grit.

Jesuit Brothers, like every other Jesuit, take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Society of Jesus, but their formation does not lead to ministerial priesthood. However, this distinction does not make their work any less significant. The 34^th General Congregation (the highest decision-making body of the Society of Jesus) explains this clearly: “all members of the Society, in a variety of social and cultural situations, have been graced with the same call to follow Jesus poor and humble. We have all heard the same invitation to serve him in his Church; we have all been sent on the same mission” (GC 34, d.7, n.4).

Of the nearly 14,000 Jesuits in the world, 10,159 are priests and 768 are Brothers (as of 1 January 2024). The rest are Novices and Scholastics. A combination of factors is responsible for this comparatively lower number of Brothers – an inadequate understanding of the Jesuit Brother vocation, historical and contextual reasons, and a slightly distorted understanding of the Jesuit vocation that is predominantly overshadowed by the priestly ministry, among others.

In a significant step to deepen and promote more Brother vocations in the Society, Father General Arturo Sosa, on 31 October 2024, established an International Commission on the Jesuit Brother (ICJB). The ICJB builds on the work of the International Assembly of Jesuit Brothers (IAJB) which brought together 40 Brothers from diverse backgrounds in Rome in July 2022 for a week of reflection and prayer.

The newly-established Commission will focus on three core areas: the identity and mission of the Jesuit Brother to better formulate how Brothers embody the Society’s charism and life-mission in today’s world, the promotion of the Jesuit Brother Vocation within diverse cultural contexts and in a way that is understandable and attractive to young people, and proposing guidelines for the formation of Jesuit Brothers, taking into account their gifts and capacities, while ensuring the full transmission of the charism by which they are incorporated into the one universal body of the Society of Jesus.

While the mission of Jesuit Brothers might not require them to celebrate Masses or hear confessions, their innovative way of sharing in the Jesuit mission leads them to be present in a variety of settings, witnessing to God and bringing the Ignatian charism into classrooms, science laboratories, workshops, or community centres. Brothers are scientists, artists, activists, administrators, and artisans. They live out, in a special way, St Ignatius’s call to “find God in all things”, while working in unconventional but significant ways to build the Kingdom of God. With their grounding in spirituality, they are a bridge between the secular and the sacred, showing the world that one does not have to be ordained to the priesthood in order to have a faith-driven impact on society.

Perhaps one of the most inspiring examples of Jesuit Brothers is Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez, a 16^th century Jesuit whose sanctity shined forth even in his most humble job: he was a porter for 45 years at the Jesuit college in Mallorca, Spain. Alphonsus found a profound ministry in welcoming guests with respect, kindness and spiritual wisdom. Alphonsus himself was not a stranger to suffering. Before he entered the Society of Jesus, he had been married and had three children, but his wife and all his children died. Though inconsolable upon the death of his family, God led Alphonsus into an intimate relationship with Himself and taught him how to transform that experience towards radiating deep peace and humility towards everyone who passed through the college doors. By doing the ordinary, Alphonsus invited everyone towards the extraordinary, touching lives by being present and attentive. For this humble saint, holiness was in the details – not in a big title or job. All he needed was a door and a smile, and he opened the doors of the hearts of many.

In a world that celebrates titles and status, Jesuit Brothers stand out by reminding us of the beauty of simplicity. Their vocation proves that meaningful work, inspired by passion, a deep love of God and a commitment to service can create a lasting change. Brothers reveal that faith is more than words – it is a lifestyle that can be lived out by giving clear witness of the depth of consecration by the joyful and loving dedication of oneself to Our Lord. Jesuit Brothers are an integral part of the heartbeat of the Society of Jesus – steady, intense and constant, reminding us that beyond priestly roles, everyone is invited to respond to the call of God.