A community of men gathered together in the name of the Lord serving the people of UK and Ireland

Vocations

Interested in the life of a Servite Religious Brother / Priest / Sister? Watch our video here

Who we are

The Servite Friars are a community gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus. They live in communion with one another so as to be at the service of God and people drawing abiding inspiration from Mary, Mother and Servant of the Lord.

Our Order, a community of brothers in Christ, is sent to extend its fraternity today to all people divided by reason of age, nationality, race, religion, wealth, and education.

The Province of the Isles

In the year 2000 at their Chapter the Friars in England and Ireland agreed to come together to form a new Province The Province of the Isles. This was a new venture which saw the pooling of resources.

They engaged in Parish work, university Chaplaincy and lecturing, Prison work, Hospital Chaplaincy, care for the sick (especially those with cancer) and other forms of pastoral work.

The emphasis of the new Province was to be on the Servite Family of which the friars formed a part alongside the sisters, secular order, secular institute and the many other groups of helpers and supporters with whom we work together. Our ministry was to be collaborative.

This dream continues to this day where we stand by the cross of suffering humanity and like Mary bring Christ’s love and healing.

Commitment and Lifestyle

Like Mary, a Servite friar, priest or brother, is called to the same life of total commitment in his search for God, service and ministry to people whatever their need. This commitment is lived out in community. Fraternal communion characterises the Servite way of witnessing the Gospel. It directs our life, our work and our prayer.

Thomas Merton’s Prayer

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.