The Tutti Fratelli group
are Religious Brothers living in Rome, representing several different Institutes,
who have been meeting since 2010 to
share their experiences and to drive forward a number of joint initiatives. We
have continued meeting regularly to be share our initiatives, particularly in
the matter of Formation.
On Saturday
afternoon, 6 September, the De La Salle Generalate in Roma hosted the 3rd
MEETING OF RELIGIOUS BROTHERS organised by the ‘Tutti Fratelli’ Group, attended
by 64 Brothers from 35 different countries belonging to 14 Congregations. The
Hospitaller Order of St John of God was represented by Brothers Leopold Faye from Senegal, Eric Folly from Togo,
Elías Reales from Argentina and Yimer Rodríguez from Colombia. The purpose of these meetings is to foster
intercongregational contact and communion within the Church.
The meeting focused
on the words of Pope Francis: “The new life which our Lord is offering us appears
disquieting and scandalously unjust to those who think that entering the
Kingdom of Heaven can be limited or reduced merely to blood ties or membership of a particular group, clan or culture”.
The Holy Father urged us to work on solidarity, to combat exploitation, and
never to remain indifferent to the sufferings of others. It is no part of God’s
plan, he said, for so many people to be poor, and he attacked the idolatry of
“power, career, money and the pursuit of human glory”. He reminded us that
“Jesus is calling us to die to our selfishness, our individualism and our
pride,” which will enable us to allow “the spirit of brotherhood to triumph, a
spirit in which everyone can feel loved because they are understood, accepted,
and appreciated for their dignity”.
The joyful climate
that reigned throughout the meeting helped us to experience some of the most distinctive
features of a Brother, such as simplicity, horizontal relations, the communion
of the Church, integration, and above all, brotherhood, because we have
understood that the vocation of the Brother is part of the response which God is
making to fill the lack of a sense of brotherhood which is damaging our world
today.
