2010-05-02 22:39:30

A modern postulant (web exclusive)

1. A modern postulant (web exclusive)

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Written by Collegian Editor Kaitlyn Linsner

“I don’t care if you’re Catholic. If you believe in something and you’re happy, then go right ahead.”

22- year-old Tony Elfering has committed his life to becoming a Christian Brother. The brothers are a Roman Catholic order and are most known for encompassing the Lasallian mission.

“You don’t have to be a Catholic to be Lasallian,” said Christian Brother Joe Grabenstein who often spoke of the “Lasallian family” when referring to both the Christian Brothers and those influenced by their mission.  

According to Elfering, the brothers follow the model of “touching hearts and teaching minds.”

“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but I hated math and science [in highs school],” Elfering said. “But I loved religion, so why not sort of teach religion?”

Here lies the essence of the Christian Brothers. Unlike their French founder, John Baptist de La Salle, they are not priests. Like de La Salle, their primary purpose is education.

Over time, the Christian Brothers have established middle schools, high schools and universities all over the world teaching all subjects and concerning themselves with the availability of a good education, especially for the poor.

“I want to understand the poor,” Elfering said. “I want to give them an education to fight for themselves.”

All Christian Brothers have a similar philosophy.

“We value the effort that Lasallians make to liberate the poor from their different forms of poverty and we ask everyone to consider service of the poor and the promotion of justice as the heart and the main source of strength of the Lasallian mission in the world,” cited in the Report of the International Assembly of 2006 Associated for the Lasallian Educational Mission.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Elfering attended a Lasallian high school. The Christian Brothers strengthened his interest by combining two important aspects in his life, religion and education. Already very active in his community church as an altar boy and member of the church choir, Elfering wanted more than the life of a priest. He continued to talk to the brothers and soon wanted to be involved in their mission.

“We [Christian Brothers] don’t have to teach religion and we don’t say mass or hold church,” Elfering said. “We’re like a fraternity, completely focused on community.”

Directly after high school, Elfering traveled to Philadelphia, PA where he is currently in his final year as an undergraduate at La Salle University.

In addition to his undergraduate status, Elfering is also what the Christian Brothers community refers to as a postulant. Postulants are those in the process of becoming a brother. They make annual promises which are similar to the final vows taken by brothers.

Elfering currently promises to lead a life of chastity, obedience, simplicity (poverty) and association. Unlike some aspects of the Christian Brothers order, these vows have not changed over the years. Elfering prefers to disconnect them from religious connotation.

“It’s hard to actually follow the promises or vows if you put them strictly into biblical terms,” said Elfering arguing that it is more important to place his promises in the present instead of looking at them in the past through scripture.

 Elfering also acknowledged the misconceptions associated with his promises. He said many have issues with what he has agreed to, but to him, the promises already coincided with his own personal life choices, essentially making this decision easier. 

“Chastity is promising yourself to one person. Our [the Christian Brothers] body, soul and love is given to God. We are faithful,” said Elfering adding that he never had intentions of marrying anyway.

“I never saw any point to,” he said. “And it’s because of personal reasons, not religious or because of bad family history.”

The promise and later vow of poverty means the Christian Brothers do not receive a salary for teaching but instead have a $200 monthly stipend, which they can spend as they see fit.  

As the youngest, Elfering lives with six other Christian Brothers at the Jeremy house in Mt. Airy, PA.

One of Elfering’s housemates is 83-year-old Christian Brother Hugh Maguire who entered the order before the second Vatican council in 1962. His postulant experience was much different from Elfering’s.

“It was a different time,” Maguire said. “Now everything is much more personal.”

In addition to the increase in personalization over time, the Christian Brothers have confronted the effects time has had on the Catholic Church.

“Especially in America, [change] comes with this materialism and individualism,” Maguire said. “People don’t want to make long term commitments.”

Elfering agreed and then talked of his efforts to help modernize the Catholic Church. On many occasions, Elfering is in charge of evening prayer at the Jeremy house and presents a power-point.

“I focus on the psalms because they are the word of God,” Elfering said. “I also add meditation music and pictures based on the mood. We all either actively participate or other times just watch and listen.”

Being the oldest in Jeremy House, Maguire enjoys these modernized prayer services.

“Well sure I like it,” he said. “But I can’t do that.”

The other postulant in the house, 23-year-old Brendan Kelly also supports Elfering’s use of technology.

 “People are realizing it’s something that needs to be done,” Kelly said. “It’s something that will get more people involved.” 

Christian Brothers believe Elfering’s presence alone is helping both the Church and their Lasallian mission.

“To have a young person interested in us is rare,” Grabenstein said. “Our order could just die out, but we’re not like that.”

“Us Christian Brothers, we’re not afraid to take on new things,” Maguire said. “We have the spirit of faith and the spirit of zeal.”

Elfering remains zealous about education above everything.

“He’s [Elfering] wonderful,” Maguire said. “And he’s a serious student committed to what he’s doing.”

“We can have Bible wars forever,” Elfering said. “But I am interested in understanding and teaching. That’s what’s most important.”