Update on Brother Kevin Doerge

July 2024 Update from Brother Kevin Doerge:

In August of last year, after two years of novitiate, I professed vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a member of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. The year following first vows in our community is an apostolic year spent at one of our parishes. I was assigned to remain here at St. John Cantius parish in Chicago. I became more immersed in parish life, which included teaching CCD, training altar servers, organizing Lenten retreats, leading an all-night prayer vigil, decorating for big liturgical seasons, giving a Confirmation retreat, teaching Gregorian Chant, assisting with young adult ministry, and continuing to chant and serve at Mass. The highlight of parish life has been forming relationships with parishioners and becoming a part of their lives as they strive to grow in relationship with Christ. I also continued my studies in Philosophy and Latin as organized by my superior. These things all flow from our primary vocation, however, which is communal life revolving around prayer, especially that of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Divine Office. Fraternity, shared meals, and manual labor are other integral parts of our lives in community which continue at all stages of our religious life.

I am also privileged to have an opportunity to participate in two pilgrimages this summer with fellow brothers and parishioners. I was in Fatima the first week of July. At the end of July, I will be walking 80 miles over five days in the Upper Peninsula with the teenage girls at the parish.

My next step is to renew my vows on August 14. After this, I depart for Mundelein to begin seminary studies. I will begin with two years of Philosophy followed by four years of Theology. God-willing, I have six years of seminary before being ordained a priest. I look forward to studying and forming new bonds with fellow seminarians of the Chicago archdiocese.

I thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

Pax Christi,

Br. Kevin Doerge, SJC