A Worldwide Brotherhood
Currently our community has more than 300 members worldwide, thus being a medium-sized congregation. Besides in The Netherlands and Belgium, where our congregation got started about one and a half century ago, we currently also have Brothers CMM in Indonesia, East-Timor, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Brazil, the United States and Surinam. Due to our presence in ten different countries spread over four continents, we truly are an international community.
A changing constellation
At the same time it should be stated that this situation has been changing quickly during the recent past: in the countries of the West, the number of brothers is decreasing, while there is growth in Indonesia, Kenya and Namibia. This has its consequences for our Board, and as well for the communities in which we live and the projects in which we work. Even more than in the past, we as Brothers CMM shall commit ourselves to our mission and our formation by means of teams in which various nationalities are represented.
International communities
New movements are coming about in international exchanges, going different directions: not only North-South, but also South-North, East-West and West-East. This gradually results in ever more international communities, where brothers from various countries are living together.
That has quite interesting aspects, but at the same time it also contains special challenges. Indeed, it is evident that we have to learn how to deal with differences in language and culture in relatively small living groups.
At given places we, as Brothers CMM, share our homes with others: associated members, friends from other congregations, house-mates and guests who stay for rather long periods of time. Also this is an enrichment and as well a challenge for our community-living.
40 communities worldwide
At the moment we have some 40 communities worldwide. It is impossible to describe all of them here in detail, but we do wish to give an impression of how and where we, as Brothers CMM, are present.
The Generalate Community in Tilburg
The Netherlands and Belgium
Indonesia and East-Timor
Kenya, Namibia and Tanzania
Brazil, Surinam and the United Stated
