How to Learn About Becoming a Brother in SSJE

The Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE) points people considering monastic life to its “Become a Brother” section, where you can start with short videos of brothers describing why they came to SSJE. The site describes the community as “a community of men giving our whole selves over to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” with a common life “shaped by worship, prayer, and our Rule of Life.” Use these pages to understand the vocation and the community’s rhythm of life before taking any next step; the site does not publish a detailed admissions process, so treat what follows as a guide to what is actually available.

Start with the brothers’ own accounts

The homepage features a vocations video teaser and a link to watch more brothers reflect on why they came to SSJE. This is the most direct way to hear the call described in the community’s own words. As you watch, note:

• What drew each brother — the site frames the community as “critically engaged with contemporary culture,” so listen for how men describe balancing monastic tradition with the world they came from.
• The shape of the life — worship, prayer, and a shared Rule of Life are named as the core, not an add-on.
• The language of call — the homepage speaks of “the call that draws us onward day by day,” which is the community’s own framing of vocation.

Read the community’s self-description closely

The “Welcome” text is short but dense with claims you can check against the rest of the site:

Use the site’s other entry points to test the fit

The homepage groups three actions together: Worship With Us, Book a Retreat, and Become a Brother. The first two are practical ways to experience the community before pursuing vocation:

• Worship With Us — attending worship lets you see the liturgical life the community says shapes it.
• Book a Retreat — a retreat at the monastery or Emery House is a lower-commitment way to spend time with the community and its rhythm.
• Become a Brother — the vocational path itself.

The site also lists news items such as “Br. Jamie’s Initial Profession of Vows” and “Brothers on Mission, 2026-2027,” which show the community’s life cycle and current activities. Reading these gives a sense of what brothers actually do.

What the site does not tell you

The available material does not describe application requirements, age limits, formation stages, or timelines for becoming a brother. It also does not state costs or eligibility rules for retreats or vocations. Do not assume any of these from the site; if you need them, they would have to come from the community directly.

A practical sequence

1. Watch the vocations videos linked from the homepage and note what resonates and what raises questions.
2. Read the “Become a Brother” section in full, along with the pages on the Rule of Life and the community’s worship.
3. Attend worship or book a retreat if you are able, to experience the life the site describes.
4. Follow community news (professions, missions, community reports) to see how the life plays out over time.
5. Revisit the call language — the site frames vocation as daily discernment, so give the question time rather than treating it as a single decision.

The site’s own summary is the best test of fit: a life of worship, prayer, and a shared Rule, lived in community and engaged with the wider culture. If that description draws you, the videos and the “Become a Brother” pages are where to begin.