2010-05-02 22:40:03

Declining numbers for Christian Brothers (web exclusive)

1. Declining numbers for Christian Brothers (web exclusive)

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Written by Collegian Editor Kaitlyn Linsner

Brother Edward Hofman is a vocational director of colleges and spends most of his time on the road. He travels to high schools and colleges talking to students who are potentially interested in becoming Christian Brothers. 

“Our students love us,” Hofman said. “But nine out of 10 couldn’t live like we do.

Perhaps this explains the decline in numbers.

                According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, the number of religious brothers in the United States in 1965 was 12,271. The most recent data states that in 2009 there are 4,863, which is 588 less than in 2005.

                “Well compare the numbers to the ’50s and ’60s, of course there is a huge decline,” Hofman said. “But interest is definitely heightened.”

                Hofman became a vocational director in 2003, and he said his two predecessors had a  much tougher time talking to people.

                “People would literally run away from them,” said Hofman, adding that now there are double figures of interested students on La Salle University’s campus in Philadelphia, Pa. Student’s commitment levels range from casual to serious, and Hofman will spend about six months talking to someone in order to gauge this.

                “We want you to make sure that before you try this, you know what you’re getting into,” said Brother John Crawford who teaches at La Salle University. 

                What a potential Christian Brother is getting into is typically a nine to 14 year process from the decision to enter the Christian Brothers order as a postulant all the way to final vows, which are a person’s final step in becoming a brother.

                “We don’t want this decision made based on smoke and mirrors,” Crawford said. “We don’t want to rush anybody into this but also don’t want to discourage.”

The next step in this recruitment process is living with a group of Christian Brothers. Two currently in this process are La Salle University students and postulants, 22-year-old Tony Elfering and 23-year-old Brendan Kelly.

                “Tony and Brendan are rare,” said Brother Bob Kinzler who believes there has been a lack in the number of college students entering the Christian Brothers order.

                “When I joined, it was more common for someone to come in during college,” Kinzler said. “For the last 10 to 15 years that really hasn’t happened.”

                Kinzler and Crawford acknowledge Hofman’s claim about increased interest but believe there is a difference between those who are interested and those who actually follow through.

                “The numbers are not at all increasing,” Crawford said. “We tend to get what we get.”

                Both Crawford and Hofman associate this change in numbers with a change in generations.

                “ I grew up in the baby-boomer generation, and we had a stronger sense of independence,” Crawford said.

                “I entered [the order] at 22,” Hofman said.  “Now people are entering later because of this attachment to family. There’s this failure to make a decision because it won’t be popular at home.”

                Crawford said that this generation has too many ties.

                “You have a harder time taking the leap, making the decision to do something. Like a text message, you’re all so networked in,” he said.  

                Because of these ties, Crawford believes making life altering decisions has become more complicated.

                “It’s very much more difficult now to say I can see myself doing this for the rest of my life,” he said. “You’ve had so much variety that it’s very hard to stick with one particular choice.”

                These cultural adaptations have given the Christian Brothers much to think about.  

“It takes a lot of time to look at yourself and us,” Crawford said. “We want people to become the person God wants them to be.”

Yet according to the data, the numbers are still low and the question arises of whether or not the Christian Brothers will keep declining.

“There’s time in our history that we’ve been down to six brothers in the whole world,” Kinzler said. “I don’t worry about dying out.”