It was a joyous celebration as Matthew Broeren, C.S.Sp., made his First Profession of Vows as a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Mass was held at the Spiritan Center in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, on Monday, July 22, 2019, with Matt’s family and friends supporting him as he participated in this important rite in his journey of dedicating himself to living the Gospel as a Spiritan. Following Mass, a celebratory dinner was held so members of the Congregation could welcome and congratulate him.

With his novitiate year of prayer and reflection complete, Matt will move from the Spiritan novitiate in Chicago overseas to Trinidad, where he will join the formation community under the guidance of Formation Director Fr. Gregory McLawrence, C.S.Sp., alongside other professed members in formation from Malawi, Puerto Rico, and Uganda.

Having studied philosophy, healthcare supply chain management and theology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in 2018. While in Trinidad, Matt will continue his theological studies in pursuit of a Master’s degree in Divinity at St. John Vianney and Ugandan Martyrs Seminary (affiliated with the University of the West Indies), followed by an overseas training program where he will immerse himself in the missionary work of the Spiritans. At the conclusion of his theological studies, he will be perpetually professed and ordained to the priesthood in preparation for his Mission Appointment, and join the thousands of Spiritans across the world sharing God’s word “to the ends of the earth.”

“My decision to (or rather sense of calling to) take vows with the Spiritans and become a part of the Spiritan story cannot be understood in the logic of humanism (which would leave God out directly) nor as an attempt to achieve some vague notion of moral perfection (which would still leave God out through failing to acknowledge my own sinfulness, my need for God and His mercy),” reflects Matt in the weeks leading up to his Profession. “Instead, it is a response to the very real promptings of the Spirit to follow, in love, the Rabbouni, Jesus the Christ, to ‘eat of the bread of life,’ to walk with those on the margins, and to share in Christ’s mission to call all to communion with each other and with the Creator, Abba.”

For more information on discerning a vocation with the Spiritans, please contact the Vocation Director, Fr. Honest Munishi, C.S.Sp., at (412) 831-0302.