Priestly ordination

Brother François-Xavier CAZALI, Prior General;
Brother Côme-Emmanuel CODJIA, Prior of the Province Africa;
The Brothers of Saint-John and their families are pleased to inform you of the priestly ordination of brother

Antoine de Padoue TOURÉ (Ivory Coast)

On Saturday 5 July 2025, at 10.00am, at Marie Étoile du matin Priory, Riviera Palmeraie (St Viateur district, Abidjan) by His Eminence Monsignor Jean-Pierre Cardinal KUTWA, Archbishop Emeritus of Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

First masses : July 6, 2025 at 11:15 AM at Marie Étoile du matin Priory, Riviera Palmeraie (Saint Viateur district, Abidjan)
13 July at 9h00, Saint Luc Banabakintu parish, Adjamé, 220 logements.

Brother François-Xavier, Prior General;
Brother Côme-Emmanuel, Prior Provincial of Africa;
the Brothers of Saint-John and the parents of the brother are pleased to inform you of the ordination to the priesthood of brother

Paul-Clément DJON BISSES (Cameroon)

They invite you to participate or to join them in prayer at the ordination Mass presided over by His Excellency
Monsignor Jean Mbarga, Archbishop of Yaoundé;

Saturday 5 July 2025 at 10.00 AM at the Minor Basilica of Mary Queen of Apostles in Mvolyé, Yaoundé.

Ordinations to the diaconate

Brother François-Xavier CAZALI, Prior General;
Brother Côme-Emmanuel CODJIA, Prior of the Province of Africa;
The Brothers of Saint-John and the parents of the brothers are pleased to inform you of the ordination to the diaconate of brothers

Augustin BILAWA (Togo)
Dominique-Savio GALLEY (Togo)
Isaac-Thérèse ADJIVON (Togo)
Matthieu de la Croix KPANKPANA (Togo)

They invite you to attend or join them in prayer at the ordination Mass presided over by His Excellency Mgr Grégoire DRUOT, Bishop of Nevers, on Saturday 28 June 2025 at 11 AM at Notre-Dame de Rimont, Fley.

Perpetual Profession

Brother François-Xavier CAZALI, Prior General;
Brother Côme-Emmanuel CODJIA, Prior of the Province Africa;
the Brothers of Saint John and the families of the brothers are pleased to inform you of the Perpetual Profession of the following brothers

Pascal AGBESSI (Togo)
Vincent de Paul KOUADIO (Ivory Coast)

Mass will be celebrated at 10:15 AM on Sunday, 1st June 2025 at the Noviciate Notre Dame de la Providence (Lumen Valley Djamdè).

Alphonse-Marie-Charbel BODJOLLE (Togo)

Mass will be celebrated on the feast of Pentecost at 10:00 AM on Sunday, 8 June 2025 at College F.X Vogt chapel, (Yaounde, Cameroon).

Temporary Profession

Brother François-Xavier CAZALI, Prior General;
Brother Côme-Emmanuel CODJIA, Prior of the Province of Africa;
The Brothers of Saint John and the families of the Brothers are pleased to inform you of the temporary profession of the following Brothers

Antoine-Marie AWADE (Togo)
Benedictus OKABOUIO (Togo)
Paul de la Croix KPOBIE (Togo)

They invite you to participate or to join them in prayer at the profession Mass to be celebrated on the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday 31 May 2025 at 10am at the Novitiate of Our Lady of Providence (Lumen Valley, Togo).

Taking of the habit

Fidèle SODZEZO KOMI (Togo)
Doris NKONGOLO WA NKONGOLO (Congo)
Franck MACAIRE MBARGA (Cameroon)
Hubert Assèwi LAMBA (Togo)

Friday 30 May 2025.

Horizons in johannine spirituality

Contemporary biblical studies for exploring the spirituality of the johannine writings; selected and introduced by brother Gabriel-Mary Fiore.

Biblical theology

Over the past one hundred years, biblical scholars and historians of Christian spirituality have attempted synthetic summaries of the spirituality found in John’s Gospel. These syntheses call for more in-depth studies of the individual themes integral to the Gospel’s spirituality, like prayer and worship, ethics and community, contemplation and mysticism, discipleship and friendship. Quality research exists on those topics but often remains unknown and unexplored to all except experts in the field. The Horizons series seeks to bridge that gap, by bringing to a wider, non-academic audience thematic studies of interest for living out the spirituality expressed in John’s Gospel.

The essays included here explore the moral, spiritual, and theological teachings expressed in the Johannine writings (mainly the Gospel) from a perspective of biblical theology. Editorial introductions and questions for reflection will assist readers in translating John’s doctrines into lived spirituality. The selections for volume one address three questions vital for Christian life: How do believers become and grow as disciples of Jesus? What guidelines and insights does John’s Gospel offer for living out Christian faith in community? How do the Johannine writings inspire and enlighten Christian prayer and worship?

Authors contributing to vol.1:

Luke Hase – Sean S. Kim – Raymond F. Collins – Mark Zhakevich Andrew T. Lincoln – Mary L. Coloe – Stephen C. Barton – Johannes Nissen Dorothy A. Lee – Marianne M. Thompson – Richard Bauckham

Fr. Gabriel-Mary Fiore, CSJ is guest professor of spiritual theology at the Angelicum University. He teaches courses of historical and biblical spirituality in Rome and for other institutes of religious formation. He is author of Spirituality in John’s Gospel (Pickwick) and The St John Prayerbook (TAN, 2026).

Aletheia (École Saint-Jean) is a peer-reviewed journal of philosophy, theology, and spirituality published biannually in French since 1992 (ISSN 1242-0832).

Publication of ALETHEIA with the École Saint-Jean and the Family of Saint-John.

Buy the book

Election of the Prior General

Continuing the Reforms: the Brothers of Saint John renew their trust in brother François-Xavier Cazali.

Troussures (Oise- France), May 1, 2025

Gathered for their General Chapter, the Brothers of Saint John have elected Brother François-Xavier Cazali for a second term as Prior General of the Saint John Congregation.

In accordance with the Congregation’s constitutions, the new Prior General was elected by a qualified two-thirds majority vote. Since this is his second term, it will last for three years.

This election reflects the Brothers of Saint John’s collective commitment to continue the reforms initiated during Brother François-Xavier’s previous term: deepening the discernment of the charism, supporting victims of abuse, enhancing formation, liturgical evolution… This momentum aligns fully with the theme chosen for their General Chapter: “Yes, the life was made manifest, we have seen it, and we testify to it” (1 Jn 1:2).

Born in 1973 in France, Brother François-Xavier Cazali joined the Brothers of Saint John community in 1993. He made his perpetual profession in 1998 and was ordained a priest in 2001. He served for several years in Lithuania, where he held the role of superior. In 2016, he was appointed Vicar General of the Congregation and secretary of the SOS Abuse Task Force. Elected Prior General in 2019, he is now elected for a final three-year term.

“Through this term, which I wish to live not as a mere continuation but as a truly new mandate, I hope, with the support of future counselors, to ensure that the life of the congregation is not consumed by death but can pass through it, with Christ, in the light of the Paschal mystery. (…) I carry within me a confident inner resolve to already begin preparing for the future after this final term,” said Brother François-Xavier in his first address to the Chapter delegates.

The 44 Brothers of Saint John delegated to the General Chapter expressed their deep gratitude to Brother François-Xavier for his achievements during his previous term. They thank him for accepting once again this role in service of all. They assure him, on behalf of all the Brothers of Saint John, of their sincere prayers, fidelity, and obedience.

Press contact: communication@stjean.com

General Chapter of the Brothers of Saint John

“The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us”. 1 Jn 1:2

First session from 28 April to 10 May 2025

The Congregation of the Brothers of Saint John is preparing to celebrate its General Chapter; its first session will take place from 28 April to 10 May 2025 in Troussures (60). A second session will take place from 13 to 24 October 2025. 44 brother capitulants will take part.

A General Chapter on the theme of life

As part of the dynamic of the Jubilee that the Catholic Church is experiencing, this General Chapter is a time of grace and discernment for the Brothers of Saint John, who are also celebrating fifty years since their foundation.
In a letter addressed to the brothers of the Congregation last March, Brother François-Xavier Cazali, the current Prior General, underlined the choice of the theme of life for this Chapter. He invited the whole community to give thanks for what the Lord has given during fifty years of life, and to a time of renewal, listening to the calls of his Spirit.

Work topics

The first session of the General Chapter will be mainly devoted to electing the government of the Congregation, as the Prior General and his Councillors, as well as the General Responsible for Formation, have reached the end of their mandates.

In addition to this, the capitulants will address a number of subjects that are essential for the future of the Congregation, in particular :
– An assessment of the new organisation into Provinces three years after its introduction;
– The submission of the report of the Listening Mission, requested by the previous General Chapter in 2022. This mission, carried out by psychologists and listening professionals, took place from September 2024 to April 2025 with more than 200 volunteer brothers from the five Provinces. Its aim is to encourage the development of a culture of care and listening within the community. The report will present the key information collected for the development of the community, while respecting the anonymity of the brothers listened to;
– The activity report of the SOS Abus cell, two years after the publication of the To understand and to Heal Report;
– Continuation of the liturgical reform.

The work of the General Chapter will begin with two days of retreat guided by the Esdac (Spiritual Exercises for Apostolic Discernment in Common), placing it in a spirit of prayer, fraternal dialogue and openness to the Holy Spirit.

This Chapter represents a fundamental moment for the Brothers of Saint John, who are called to discern together the paths of the future in fidelity to their charism and to the Gospel.

Brothers of Saint John in numbers

– Number of brothers in the community: 414
– Number of priories: 48 priories in 21 countries
– Number of brothers in formation: 70
– Number of Provinces: 5 (Africa, America, Asia-Oceania, France, Europe)

Press contact: communication@stjean.com

Brother Marie-Élie returned to the Father’s house on Thursday, 23 January, in the morning after several days in a coma. Providence ensured that he was ‘surrounded by his two families,’ as his brother Jean and our brother Jacob kept vigil over him throughout the night. His funeral was held on Tuesday, 28 January at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Pierre Church in Chalon-sur-Saône, before his burial in Rimont.

Brother Marie-Élie entered the community in August 1984, at the age of 18. He spent forty years in the community, sent after his initial training to four of the current provinces: France, where he had been affiliated since the province was established (Chalon-sur-Saône 1992-94, Souvigny 94-97, Saint-Quentin 2001-2002, Murat 2002-2007, Corbara 2020-2021, Cotignac 2021-2022), Africa (Batouri on internship in 1988-90, and Yaoundé where he was Principal of Vogt College 1997-2001), America (Saint-Jérôme 2007-2009 then Terrebonne where the priory moved 2009-2014), Europe (Bologna 2015-2020 and Banneux where he had his last assignment from the summer of 2023).

He served his brothers as prior in Saint-Jérôme, Bologna, Corbara, Cotignac and Banneux, and also as advisor to the Prior General for two terms: from 2016 to 2019 with Brother Thomas – he was then Vicar of Southern Europe – and from 2016 to 2022 with myself – he was then Vicar of Southern Europe and Southern France, duties to which he devoted himself unstintingly.

The year 2022-2023 was a sabbatical year for him, during which he regained his strength with his family, at the home of his brother Jean and sister-in-law Sophie (where he was welcomed two years later for the last three months of his life). One of the first apostolic activities he was able to resume was accompanying pilgrimages to the Holy Land, the land where God became incarnate, for which he had a deep and infectious love.

Let us give thanks for his life given, for the good he does through his preaching, his listening, his humour, and in so many other ways.

From January 20-27, 2025, the Brothers of Saint John from the Vice-Province of Asia-Oceania gathered in Christchurch, New Zealand, for a momentous regional gathering filled with spiritual, intellectual, and fraternal experiences. The event provided an opportunity for deeper formation, vibrant exchange, and exploration of the Brothers’ mission in the region.

The gathering began with a fraternal outing to Akaroa, a picturesque town nestled on the Banks Peninsula. The Brothers were treated to breathtaking views of towering cliffs, the sparkling ocean, and playful sea lions. The charm of Akaroa, with its French heritage, offered a peaceful setting for the Brothers to bond and enjoy nature’s beauty.

The brothers spent an entire day immersing themselves in the fast-growing apostolate of the Brothers in Christchurch. The Senior Leadership Team, a group of lay friends working in close collaboration with the brothers, presented not only the different projects to accommodate the fast-growing parish but also the many initiatives of Evangelization and the schools the brothers take charge of.
Another special moment came with the visit of Bishop Michael and Bishop John, who shared their insights on the vocation of the Brothers of Saint John in New Zealand, particularly in the context of parish renewal and mission. Their talks highlighted the significant role the Brothers play in the New Zealand Church and emphasized the ongoing need for a deep, committed presence in pastoral renewal and evangelization.

The gathering also featured a two-day intensive session on Henri de Lubac, led by Br. Jean Damien, who recently completed his doctoral thesis on the influential French theologian. Through Br. Jean Damien’s guidance, the Brothers delved into de Lubac’s writings on evangelization and mission, exploring how his insights on atheistic humanism can inspire our mission today.

In addition to the enriching formation sessions, the Brothers enjoyed several outings in Christchurch, including visits to local landmarks and moments of shared fellowship in the city’s vibrant atmosphere. These outings allowed for deeper connection and conversation among the Brothers.

A key moment in the gathering was a day of prayerful reflection on the future of the Vice-Province. The Brothers spent time discerning, praying together, and listening to each other, seeking God’s guidance for the next steps in their missions. This reflective time encouraged each member to look ahead with renewed commitment and trust in their shared vocation. This day of prayer was concluded by the ceremony of oblature of five new oblates. Praise God for their “yes” and for the continued growth of our family!

The gathering culminated with a concluding Mass at the Christchurch Cathedral, marking the end of the event and celebrating the Jubilee Year. This liturgical celebration was a powerful moment of thanksgiving and solidarity, as the Brothers renewed their commitment to their vocation and mission.

Jubilee Year of the Universal Church, Jubilee year of the foundation of the Brothers of Saint John

On 5 January 2025, the feast of the Epiphany, the Brothers of Saint John entered the fiftieth year of their foundation. Resolutely turned towards the future, they give thanks for their community in which the Lord has called them to consecrate their lives to him by placing themselves at the service of the proclamation of the Gospel through their fraternal life and their apostolic mission.

In this Jubilee Year for the universal Church and for the Congregation, the Brothers of Saint John place their trust in the Lord: they give thanks for the good that comes from Him, ask forgiveness for their sins and limitations during these fifty years, and ask God for today the grace of discernment with humility and wisdom.

The 50th Jubilee will be celebrated in each province of the Congregation: Africa, Asia-Oceania, the Americas, France and Europe. The elective General Chapter to be held in April and October 2025 will also be an opportunity to celebrate this anniversary. The jubilee year will close on 27 December 2025, the feast of Saint John.

Confident in the Lord’s call, the brothers of Saint John unite themselves to the hope experienced by the whole Church in 2025. Following the example of the Magi, they place this special year in the joy of the vision of the star that guides everyone towards the Saviour.

 

The first edition of the Cebu Metropolitan Catholic Mass Media Awards took place on 30 September 2024 in Philippines. Among the many categories represented: television, radio, print and digital media, Brother Samuel Mary, alias Father Sam, won the award for Best Social Media Influencer.

Father Sam’s testimony following his victory

“If anyone had told me when I entered the Brothers of Saint John that I would end up being a social media influencer in the Philippines I surely would have laughed in disbelief. Impossible!

One thing I’ve discovered at the heart of my vocation is that God has a way of bringing his disciples out towards the peripheries in ways we would never imagine. For me, this has taken the form of an exciting and surprising adventure into the digital world.

My journey started in March 2022 when I posted a video of me giving a simple reflection on the Sunday Gospel in Cebuano* on TikTok. At the time I thought, “TikTok is all about dancing and doing stupid stuff in front of a camera… but why not give it a try, right?” To my surprise, this video went viral and got over 200k views in just two days. I couldn’t believe it! What surprised me even more than the number of views was that people, especially the youth, were drawn to this simple and authentic content about God and the Gospel. No fancy editing, no dancing, no challenges, only a young American priest speaking Cebuano and talking about Jesus.

I had been experimenting with evangelization on social media for a few years already but the potential I saw for evangelization in Cebuano after several viral videos left me and my brothers with a firm conviction that I had to make this one of my principal apostolates.

My current mission is to reach out especially but not only to youth who are far from the Church and who are too afraid to come back before many of their questions about Faith are frankly spoken of. The Philippines is a culturally Catholic country but the youth often find themselves torn between what they perceive as a shallow devotional expression of Faith of their parents and grandparents and the ideologies of the Western world. These youth naturally turn to social media looking for answers to their often deep questions and that’s where I try to be a listening ear and an encouraging voice for them.

After two years of work, I currently have almost 250k followers on TikTok, 224k followers on Facebook, and am beginning to grow a YouTube channel. I also started a podcast called “Bros Unscripted” where Br. Jerome and I are co-hosts. Almost all of the content I post is short-form video content (between 1-3 minutes) where I speak about topics related to the Faith in a relatable and light way. I hope to branch out into long-form content in YouTube, be more organized in the content I make, and reach out to overseas Filipino workers through online recollections and sessions.

Besides the frequent encounters with followers who love to take “selfies” when they see me after Church, in the supermarket, or on the street, I have made many new friends and connections through invitations to preach parish recollections and giving talks at major youth events both inside and outside the Archdiocese of Cebu. Youth have also found their way back to the Church through the apostolates of our priory which they end up visiting after watching my videos. I have made friendships with other content creators around the Philippines and have been blessed with their guidance, ideas, and collaboration.

My apostolate has been very well received and supported not only by my brothers but also the local Church. I was recently given the “Best Social Media Influencer” award at the Cebu Metropolitan Catholic Mass Media Awards. This award was part of a series of awards covering anything from journalism and books to television shows and websites. It covered the territory of ten different dioceses that make up the Cebu Metropolitan region.

A valuable lesson I have learned from being an “influencer” is that this type of work is much more difficult, time-consuming, and frustrating than I imagined. There is such a strong image of famous influencers having lots of money and easy lives but experience has shown me otherwise. Dealing with negative comments, making almost nothing through monetization, and the constant process of trial and error has left me wondering many times if all this work was really worth the effort. Finding a balance between keeping up with trends, knowing what my followers are looking for, and improving the quality of my content while keeping a healthy distance from the digital world isn’t always easy. Despite all the challenges I firmly believe that the mission to evangelize with social media is something that we youth or “digital natives” must take extremely seriously. I hope to encourage and even accompany many more content creators in the future.

I confide this apostolate to your prayers!”

* Cebuano is an Austronesian language spoken in the southern Philippines by around 16 million Filipinos in some of the Visayas islands and certain provinces of Mindanao.

Follow Father Sam

YouTube channel

On Facebook

On TikTok

Thanksgiving

Brother Yakob DESALEGN BISHAMO (Ethiopia) and Brother Elijas BUTKUS (Lithuania) have been ordained deacons with in view of the priesthood for the Province of Europe.

Yakob DESALEGN BISHAMO (Ethiopia)

Brother Yakob’s ordination to the diaconate took place on Saturday 7 September in the parish of Saint Anthony of Padua, London (England), in the presence of the Most Reverend Alan Williams, Bishop of the Diocese of Brentwood (London).

Elijas BUTKUS (Lithuania)

The ordination to the diaconate of Brother Elijas took place on Saturday 21 September at the priory of the Brothers of Saint John in Vilnius (Lithuania), in the presence of His Eminence Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis (Vilnius).

Brother François-Xavier CAZALI, Prior General ;
Brother Côme-Emmanuel CODJIA, Prior of the Province of Africa ;
The Brothers of Saint John and the familiy of the brother are pleased to inform you of the temporary profession of brother

Baudouin-Pio MEKOK (Cameroon)

The Mass of Profession will be celebrated on Sunday 22 September 2024, at 11am, at the Noviciat Notre-Dame de la Providence in Lumen Valley (Togo).