We do not assume poverty or simplicity in any structural form. that is. we take no religious vow of poverty. Nonetheless. we find ourselves daily faced with the Gospel challenge. living in the midst of the wealthiest nation and in a ministry which often provides us with the best and richest. As we are in the world, we must learn to use its goods effectively in serving the people. In our modern technological world, we recognize that material poverty is subordinated to the legitimate obligations of our diocesan ministries. We are convinced that poverty must be an interior freedom, a freedom of heart, which makes us generous servants in the midst of this world's wealth. In recent years. the International Fraternity has challenged the U.S Fraternities to look at the people and places where all the brothers serve, especially those in third world countries. So many live out the charism of Brother Charles, the way of Jesus of Nazareth, to be one with the poorest people, to be one with all humankind. This is expressed clearly in the statement from the General Assembly of Algiers, 1982. where it says. "...we renew our choice to take the way of the poor. There are many ways to find it. It can be: 'for the poor, with the poor, like the poor' (L. Boff)...." The Fraternity should continue to foster a spirit of commitment to the poor, each one of us having to express clearly this service, in his own situation and following his own vocation." The consciousness of the world's poor in the International Fraternity holds a sensitivity and challenge for every U.S. brother. For some members, the Fraternity has helped them discern very difficult choices as to where God might be calling them to serve, accepting diocesan sponsored mission parishes, inner-city or poor parishes, or other parochial or non-parochial assignments which have demanded much sacrifice. Each of these choices, as well, reflect the call to live out the concrete concern for poverty in their lives. Perhaps, the longer one is with the Fraternity, the more one is drawn into the manifold aspects of Gospel poverty. How poor a means Jesus Caritas itself is to reach the Lord. How poorly equipped each of us is to accomplish the mission of Jesus on earth. Yet, our striving to address the reality of Gospel simplicity concretely and not theoretically leads us to embrace our total dependence upon Jesus in our personal lives. It draws us into a spirit of freedom and detachment regarding our human means for accomplishing God's ministry. Our very acceptance of our ministry and the people we serve allows them to become the very means for pastoral simplicity, our own way of being poor without illusion. As we face failures, accept sometimes very painful sufferings, and live with personal inadequacy or insufficient personnel or resources, we are led to embrace more fully the mystery of Jesus' self-emptying love. Often the Fraternity can help an individual member translate general concerns about lifestyle into concrete choices. in order to keep him from that self-deception which frequently accompanies money matters. For instance, any major expense or general use of our income might be examined together with the fraternity in the spirit of the Gospel. This will always be a sensitive matter for diocesan priests. We should not view this as getting permission to spend our money, but desiring to explore how we might best use our material resources for our wellbeing and for the mission of Jesus with the help of our brothers in Christ. Most U.S. Fraternities have not yet come to terms with nor explored in depth this dimension of pastoral poverty. Overall, this dimension of Brother Charles' spirituality remains for us a source of unease and discomfort. We continue to listen to the Spirit speaking to us through what happens within us, as well as through the mission of our Brothers throughout the world. How can we best be one with them, with Jesus among them? 

Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests -- An Overview of Spirituality and Method, (Fifth Edition, April 1987), sometimes called the 'American Experience'

 
John Stattmiller has learned how to reach Appalachian hill folks -- the same way you get to know your neighbor. Gradually, deliberately, over a period of time, with respect and without nosiness. Sitting on the front porch and waving to the neighbor across the road is a good way to begin. His method seems to work; when he was packing to leave for a new assignment the man next door brought him a whiskey bottle from his collection, one in the shape of a cowboy group as a memento. From a population that is suspicious of Catholics, that was a unique tribue says John. Do you have an observation, comment, or bon m6t to share with the brothers? Forward your tips so that another fraternity may benefit from it to webmaster.