A Little About Us:
• We were founded in 1987, by Mother Mary Angelica, PCPA, who also founded the Eternal Word Television Network.
• Our main friary is located in Birmingham, Alabama, next door to the EWTN headquarters. We also have a residence in Emmitsburg, Maryland, near Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, where our candidates for the priesthood study theology.
• Our community is a canonically recognized Public Clerical Association of the Faithful in the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, and we are listed in The Official Catholic Directory, published by P.J. Kenedy & Sons.
• Our religious family is composed of both priests and brothers, with an average age of 34 years old.
• Following a one year postulancy and a one year novitiate, friars make temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. (The vows are "temporary," because they expire after one year and must be renewed.) The temporary vows are renewed for at least three years and then friars are eligible for perpetual profession.
When they complete their novitiate and enter temporary vows, friars who are called to the holy priesthood begin their pre-theology training in philosophy, while those called to be consecrated brothers begin to participate more fully in the media and retreat apostolates and in serving the common needs of the community.
• Our apostolate is to preach and teach the Catholic faith, first, by our example, and when necessary, by using words. It includes using modern means of communication, such as: television, radio, the Internet and publishing; it also includes conducting spiritual retreats.
At this time, we focus our attention on: celebrating the liturgy on EWTN television and radio, leading spiritual retreats for visitors to EWTN and the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament (Mother Angelica's new monastery), and providing for the spiritual needs of the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration and the EWTN employees.
All of us also have other jobs around the friary, such as: cooking, cleaning, taking care of the sick friars, creating and laying-out our monthly newsletter and bookkeeping.
• During the school year, most of the friars take classes. In addition to those studying theology at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, the majority of the other friars study philosophy and complete their pre-theology requirements in our own school, which is accredited through the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.
Even members who do not feel called to the priesthood (and therefore are not working on their pre-theology requirements) may take classes, for example: studying Spanish.
• Although we keep quite busy, activity isn't the first priority for a religious. Instead, growth in holiness and a deepening prayer life are our highest priorities. So, we maintain a balance in our lives by spending approximately four and a half hours per day in prayer, including: daily Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, a community Rosary and a personal holy hour made in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Our schedule also includes one-half hour of spiritual reading each day.
• Spiritually, we follow the Franciscan examples of St. Francis of Assisi and Mother Angelica, especially their love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, their tender devotion to the Mother of God, and their fidelity to Church teaching. Our Constitutions are based on the First Order Rule of St. Francis (that is, the Rule approved in 1223, during St. Francis' lifetime.)
Each year, as a community, we renew our consecration to the Immaculate Mother of God, using the method of St. Louis Marie de Montfort — including the thirty-three day preparation.
• Living, working, praying — and playing — together, we help one another grow in holiness and develop talents and abilities needed to spread the Catholic faith and, God willing, save many souls.
