The Rule of the brothers and sisters is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should be troubled about nothing except this all encompassing rule. All that matters is that one be created anew. Gal. 6:14-15
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity need dedicated servants and handmaidens for Jesus. Come join us!
We are a Catholic-based community of celibate brothers, celibate sisters, singles who can marry, and families, called as a monastic and domestic spiritual family into deep love relationships with and in Jesus Christ. We share common work and recreation areas while retaining appropriate separate cloistered areas for each expression. Our primary founder is Jesus, our primary rule is Scripture, and our primary law is Love.
The members of the monastic expression live at the Little Portion Hermitage in Berryville, Arkansas.
One of the key words to describe our community is integrated. We balance contemplative and charismatic, stable (i.e., living in one place) and itinerant (i.e., traveling); solitary and communal; and eremitical and active ministry. Another major monastic integration is that of celibate single men and women, and families existing side by side without losing their uniqueness. It is exciting to see the radical gospel lifestyle at work for every state of life in one community raised up by the Spirit within the Church.
Most of the work we do at the Little Portion Hermitage consists of gardening, working in our bakery, office work, cooking, cleaning and maintenance of the grounds and buildings. Part of our life deals with the manual tasks of making the community as self-sufficient as possible. We give tours and simply be a loving presence to the hundreds of “pilgrims” who come to visit the hermitage every year.
Our life is a head-on confrontation with one’s personal relationship with Jesus and the reality of dealing with human sin and imperfection in oneself and others, as we strive for honest community openness in seeking to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Ours is a life of well-balanced prayer, study, work and service. Join us as we rediscover in our own day and time the origins of the New Testament, monasticism and religious life. When the first disciple asked about his way of life, Jesus simply said, “Come and see” (John 1:39). When speaking about the discernment of the genuine work of the Spirit, he says, “By their fruit you will know them” (Matt. 7:20). Rather than try to prove the work of the Spirit in our community, we feel more comfortable following the example of Jesus by simply inviting people to “come and see.” We believe that the fruit of the Spirit abounds in our community. So, come and pray with us. Work with us. Share in our joy!
Please take some time to prayerfully review the more detailed information about the
Monastic and
Domestic expressions. God may be calling you to our community!
If you feel lead to learn more about the Monastic expression of our community, please click
HERE to complete our online form.
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