Community Life

Our Lord Jesus Christ in his life and mission taught those whom he called to himself that, a community of brotherhood is formed by those who listen to the word of God and act on it. We, the Franciscan Brothers of Hope, establish our fraternal life in community in communion with Our Lord Jesus Christ, as brothers who in response to the divine vocation, are united around the word of God and the Eucharist, and manifest in an existential way the mystery of eternal love, among ourselves and with our brothers and sisters in the world.

We build our fraternal life as a family of faith and love, as we follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who lived and encouraged a sense of brotherhood among the Friars and a life in harmony with all creatures.

The Fraternity is made up of Ndugus – a word that describes the depth of brotherhood and equality among us, that did not choose each other but given by God to one another. Each Ndugu as an essential member of the community, strives to build a bond of acceptance of himself and others to intensively cultivate a family spirit that is proper to the Franciscan tradition.

As Franciscan brothers of Hope, we embrace each other in fraternal love and build a community in a legitimately established house under the authority of a Guardian designated according to our constitutions. Our communitarian experience is enriched by the celebration of the Eucharist and the presence of the Blessed Sacrament which constitute the center of the community.

We maintain joyful spirit in our communities in such a way that each member, irrespective of race, colour, nationality or status, feels welcome. We strengthen our fraternal communion by observing common moments of prayer, sharing of meals, recreation.

In our communities, we achieve our objectives harmoniously and continuously by establishing community schedules, that guide our activities, by the collaboration of each member of the community. The schedules are approved by the General Superior.

Imbued with Franciscan spirit, we express our love for parents, relatives and friends by according them warm hospitality in our communities, and visiting them, during our one month annual break, except in cases of emergency and special situations with permission from the competent superior.
We take care of the sick, the elderly, the restless and faint of heart among the members, with all tenderness, understanding and love.

In the use of means of social communications, we oblige ourselves to observe discretion and discernment on its benefits for our study and mission, while we avoid any of its aspects that may endanger our vocation and discipline of our communities.

We reserve a section of our communities exclusively for members and at all times, and we preserve a serene atmosphere that enhances our constant awareness of God’s presence in our midst.

Each brother is co-responsible for personal and communitarian growth. To this end, we:

• Treat each other with fraternal love of Christ
• Forgive and reconcile with one another without keeping grudges
• Make known our whereabouts and safeguard the good name of each brother and the community
• Share talents and gifts with each other and for the good of the community
• Preserve good reputation and esteem among ourselves
• Respect each other’s privacy
• Care for one another in times of need
• Promote dialogue, free and friendly sharing of opinions.

We maintain a close bond of unity with each brother in the whole Institute and with the central leadership as an expression of our love for Christ and fidelity to our charism by praying h other and through healthy communication.

In case of death of a brother, the burial takes place in a cemetery of the territory in which the community he was assigned or temporarily attached is located. Moreover, the Institutes cemetery for deceased brothers from the Eastern Africa region is in Karai – Naivasha, as much as this is possible. The family of a departed brother, in consultation with the General administration of the Institute, may be allowed to lay to rest a bro eir family cemetery at their own expense.