CMM Brothers in Namibia>

The Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, (Brothers CMM), was founded by Archbishop Johannes Zwijsen on 25th August 1844 at Tilburg, The Netherlands.

One of the first acts of Joannes Zwijsen was to bring together a small group of Sisters whose task it was to educate poor girls (1832). This small group of Sisters developed very soon into the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy. The activities of the Sisters included, besides education, also other works of charity: care for the sick and old people's welfare work. Archbishop Zwijsen also saw the existing needs among boys and young men. This led to the foundation of a community of male religious: the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy.

Archbishop Joannes Zwijsen wanted, as is shown by the name he gave to these two congregations, to give mercy a central place in the life and work of the Sisters and Brothers. As patron saint he gave them Our Lady, under the title: Mother of Mercy and as second patron saint he gave them Saint Vincent de Paul. The founder had great admiration for Saint Vincent de Paul whose work for the poor, the ignorant and distressed in France in the 17th century, was inspired by merciful love.

The "Constitutions and Rules" of the Congregation of the Brothers obtained the pontifical approbation by decree of April 24th 1870. The revised constitutions desired by Vatican II received pontifical approbation on January 27th 1989.

The Brothers CMM are working in Indonesia, The Netherlands, Kenya, Brazil, Belgium, Namibia, Suriname, California and The Dutch Antilles.

Br Gregoor van de Ven en br Arnulf van de Nieuwenhuizen arrived in Namibia on 2 February 1959. They had travelled by ship and landed in Walvis Bay. During the first year both taught at the Teacher Training College at Doebra, while Father H. Henning OMI remained the principal. In 1960 the brothers took over the school. In 1962 CMM established St Paul's College in Klein Windhoek. Ten years later the brothers opened the Canisianum, first in Okatana and later in Anamulenge. This was followed by a house in Katutura in 1985 from which centre the brothers were engaged in pastoral and social work especially among the youth. The latest foundation took place in Sambyu, Kavango. This was another secondary school, this time in the North East of the country.

Nowadays the formation house for candidates is in Windhoek North, but postulants are sent to Kenya to continue with their formation.

The mission OF CHRIST

We consider it to be our task to co-operate in building a more humane world, to devote ourselves to the Kingdom of Justice and Peace.

Concrete wants and human needs called our Congregation into existence.

MISSION OF OUR CONGREGATION

`The concern of our Congregation is especially directed towards youth.

Through education and other forms of guidance we want to help them to find their way in the world of tomorrow.

THE CHARISM:

Mercy and Brotherhood.

Dedication to work for the poor, more especially for young people. Through our belonging to Christ we desire to give form to our life and work.

His attitude of service should inspire us. The outlook he gives on the future should increasingly become our perspective.

OUR MISSION INVOLVES:

- EDUCATION

-AND OTHER FORMS OF GUIDANCE. (Attentively and generously we constantly try to understand the signs of the times).

WHERE WE ARE NOW SERVING IN THE WORLD.

The Brothers CMM are working in:
INDONESIA, KENYA, THE NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM, BRAZIL, NAMIBIA, CALIFORNIA, SURINAM, AND TANZANIA.

ADMISSION

An applicant must complete his grade 12 with a minimum of 20 points. For All those who want to join our Congregation is preferable that they must have reached the age of 18 years.

LEVEL

The Formation of Religious Brothers CMM has the following stages:

1. Candidate (No specific time/period)

2. One Year of Postulancy

3. Two Years of Noviciate

4. Five Years of temporal profession.

6. Final Profession.

OUR MOTTO

Mercy and Brotherhood.

REQUIREMENTS:

A CERTIFIED COPY OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:

- Baptism Certificate.