May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, was also the first-ever Religious Brothers Day in the United States. May God bless all religious brothers, especially our own C.PP.S. brothers.
There are 23 C.PP.S. brothers who are members of the Cincinnati Province. They minister in parishes, at schools and colleges, as hospital chaplains, in support of our Precious Blood Community, and in many other ways.
Br. Antonio Sison, C.PP.S., described the vocation in this way: “Brothers are called to be sacraments of Jesus the Brother. A sacrament, in general terms, is a sign of the presence of God reflected in our lives—in initiatives that promote justice and human flourishing, in our relationships with each other and with the rest of creation, in art and creative endeavors, and indeed, in the prayers of the community. As we try our best to live the call of the brother, we are humbled to bring to remembrance the Nazarene who, in the defenseless power of vulnerability, companioned people—shoulder-to-shoulder—and listened to them as they searched for fragments of salvation in their lives. Like the moon reflected on water, we hope that in some modest way, we can be a reflection of Jesus, the Brother.”
Our Congregation has been blessed with the presence of religious brothers from its first days of ministry here in the U.S., in 1844. May God bless all religious brothers—we thank them for their service to the people of God today and always!