The Brotherhood of Saint Gregory is a community of
friars within the
Anglican Communion. The community's members, known as ''Gregorians'', include clergy and
laymen
In religious organizations, the laity () consists of all members who are not part of the clergy, usually including any non-ordained members of religious orders, e.g. a nun or a lay brother.
In both religious and wider secular usage, a layperson ...
. Since 1987 there has also been a parallel order of sisters, the
Sisters of Saint Gregory.
As a Christian community of the US
Episcopal Church, the community is open to both married and unmarried men in the Episcopal Church, its communion partners, and the wider Anglican Communion. As in other orders and communities, members follow a common rule and regular discipline of prayer, study, and service to the church. This modern way of religious life is rooted in ancient sources such as
Gregory the Great's ''Pastoral Care'',
Francis of Assisi
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi ( it, Francesco d'Assisi; – 3 October 1226), was a mystic Italian Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans, and one of the most venerated figures in Christianit ...
's ''Rule for All the Faithful'', and
Francis de Sales' ''Introduction to the Devout Life''. The community's motto is "
Soli Deo gloria" ("To God alone be the glory"), and its aim is to follow Gregory the Great as "servants of the servants of God" in both church and society. The brothers work in diverse fields throughout the world, living with their families, singly, or in small groups. A member of the National Association of Episcopal Christian Communities, the community comes together twice a year for prayer and discussion.
The community was founded on 14 September 1969 (
Holy Cross Day) in New York by
Richard Thomas Biernacki
Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'strong ...
, with the encouragement of a Roman Catholic order, the Sisters of the Visitation, and following consultation with other Episcopal communities. The community was formally recognized that same year by Bishop
Horace Donegan
Horace William Baden Donegan (May 17, 1900 – November 11, 1991) was a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and served as the Bishop of New York from 1950 to 1972.
Early life
Donegan was born at Cordella, the ...
of New York.
John Nidecker, a former White House speech writer, was a member later in his life. The community was a centerpiece of the award-winning documentary ''Changing Habits'' by Sara Needham. Ministries of the community have been the subject of local press reports in
Chattanooga
Chattanooga ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Located along the Tennessee River bordering Georgia, it also extends into Marion County on its western end. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, ...
,
Yonkers, and
Maitland, New South Wales
Maitland () is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle. It is on the New England Hi ...
.
References
External links
Brotherhood of Saint Gregory websiteThe Daily Office Online according to the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory Customary
Sisters of Saint Gregory websiteProvince 4 of the Brotherhood of Saint GregoryProvince 8 of the Brotherhood of Saint Gregory
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brotherhood Of Saint Gregory
Anglican orders and communities
Christian organizations established in 1969
Anglican religious orders established in the 20th century