“With the help of the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to a new Pentecost through ongoing personal and communal renewal as we seek to choose what is more conducive to God’s glory and the salvation of souls.”

— Vision, Servants of Christ Jesus

Featured

Fr. John Ignatius, Superior

Father John Ignatius hails from California, where he studied Philosophy and Theology at Loyola Marymount University. He taught at high schools in Los Angeles and Phoenix before moving in 1999 to Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Theology, worked for Student Life, taught theology, and co-founded the community in 2004. He completed his priestly studies at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, and was ordained to the priesthood in 2013.

Fr. Paul Kostka

Fr. Paul Kostka was born in Wimbledon, England, while his father was working overseas. He grew up in The Woodlands, Texas. As a sophomore in high school, he was called to the priesthood during a retreat with his parish. He studied Philosophy and Theology at Franciscan University, and was the first Servant to work at Bishop Machebeuf High School. He was ordained in 2013, and served at Bishop Machebeuf and the United States Naval Academy. Currently, Fr. Paul serves as the Catholic Chaplain at the University of Denver.

Fr. James Claver

Fr. James Claver grew up in Texas. He graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2007. Upon graduation, he served as a missionary in Honduras for a year and a half, before discerning to join the Servants in 2009. After teaching and coaching at Bishop Machebeuf High School for three years, he attended St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver and was ordained to the priesthood in May, 2016. He now serves as the Chaplain for the Augustine Institute located in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Br. Thomas Gonzaga

Br. Thomas was born near Chicago, Illinois, but grew up in New Orleans. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina displaced him and his family to The Woodlands, Texas, where he graduated from The Woodlands High School in 2012. Upon graduation, Br. Thomas moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he danced professionally for three years with Texas Ballet Theater. He professed perpetual vows on August 15th, 2022. He now serves as a Latin teacher at Bishop Machebeuf High School.

Br. Peter Xavier

Br. Peter was born and raised in Houston, where the Life Teen program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton helped him grow in relationship with Christ. He attended Texas A&M where his passion for ministry furthered as he became an Associate Youth Minister at a local parish. After serving as a Life Teen summer missionary he ran into the Servants in Poland and after witnessing Br. Thomas’ entrance into novitiate he began discerning the Lord’s call for his life. Br. Peter is a lover of movies, board games, and anything to do with basketball and baseball. He began novitiate in August, 2017 and on August 24, 2019 he professed 3 year temporary vows. Br. Peter currently teaches Theology at Bishop Machebeuf High School.

Br. Andrew Brébeuf

Brother Andrew was born and raised in Maria Stein, Ohio. Upon high school graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army as a Combat Engineer. Concurrently, he began studies at The Ohio State University. As he immersed himself in the Buckeye Catholic Community, he began discerning a call to the priesthood, leading him to change majors from engineering to philosophy. He met the Servants of Christ Jesus on retreats at Ohio State and as a counselor at Catholic Youth Summer Camp in Centerburg, Ohio. He began formation with the Servants in August 2019. On October 17, 2019 he was accepted into the novitiate and received the name Brother Andrew Brébeuf. He professed first vows on September 4th, 2021.

Br. Nathanael Campion

Br. Nathanael Campion was raised and educated in Columbus, Ohio, at Our Lady of Peace Parish, where he was inspired the examples of Dominican Sister Barbara Kolesar and his pastors to consider religious life and priesthood. After graduating from St Charles Prep, Greg pursued an Economics degree at Ohio State, where he also joined St Paul Outreach and served Catholic Youth Summer Camp at Damascus. After first meeting the Servants at Fan Into Flame, then at Damascus, Greg visited Denver twice, before graduating in December 2020, and joining the Servants in January 2021. Br. Nathanael made his first profession of vows on March 25h, 2023, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord.

Br. Levi Mary Pro

Br. Levi Mary Pro grew up in St. Laurence Parish, Sugar Land, Texas, and attended Strake Jesuit Prep in Houston. Fr. John and Fr. Paul served at his youth parish retreats, before he studied theology at Franciscan University and joined AMDG Household. Ignatian Spirituality, household brotherhood, and missionary outreach with Adore and Vagabond missions gave him opportunities to consider consecrated life with a missionary men’s community. After graduating in Summer 2020, Cameron was admitted to the Servants of Christ Jesus. Br. Levi Mary made his first profession of vows on March 25h, 2023, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord.

Br. Phillip Collins

Br. Phillip Collins was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri. He grew up in a non-denominational Christian household and attended St. Louis University High School, a Jesuit High School. While attending the University of Denver, he began seeking a relationship with God and discovered the Catholic Student Fellowship, where heI met the Servants and started to spend time with Catholics. After going through RCIA with Fr. Paul, Br. Philip was baptized, confirmed, and received First Communion on Easter Sunday in 2019. After graduating the University of Denver with a degree in Finance, he went on pilgrimage with the Servants and went on the 8 day Spiritual Exercises. Hearing God calling him to the Servants, Br. Phillip joined in the summer of 2021.

Br. Simon Faber

Br. Simon Faber grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where he graduated from Central Catholic High School and met the Lord in a personal way during confession in his junior year of high school. He studied mechanical engineering at Texas A&M and developed his relationship with Jesus through St Mary’s Catholic Center. During his junior year he discerned a call to the priesthood. In February 2021, Br. Peter Xavier and Br. Thomas Gonzaga served at a FOCUS Conference in College Station. Nathaniel witnessed the living gospel through the brothers’ zeal and radical self-sacrificing love for Jesus and his church. He spent a week in Denver with the community in April, applied in May, and joined the community in September 2021.

Formation

Our Formation Process Includes:

Annual Spiritual Exercises

Each Servant makes the 30-Day Silent Spiritual Exercises retreat once during formation and an annual 8-Day Silent Spiritual Exercises.

Month-long Poverty Pilgrimage

Each Servant takes a month-long poverty pilgrimage bringing along only one change of clothes and a bible. Servants have made poverty pilgrimages in Mexico, Italy, Spain, Canada and the California coast.

Holy Land Pilgrimage & Mission Trip

Each Servant makes a Pilgrimage and Mission Trip to the Holy Land, praying at the sites of Jesus’ life, and serving the poor of the Palestinian Catholic community in the West Bank.

Hospital Resident Chaplaincy

Servants spend four weeks ministering to the needs of the sick in a hospital. Servants have served at Santa Teresita Medical Center in California, supporting the Carmelite Sisters at their nursing home and working with North Kinangop Catholic Hospital in Kenya.

Manual Labor Internship

As part of formation, each Servant spends four weeks doing manual labor. Recent internships have involved supporting Life Teen Camps on their facilities, maintenance, landscaping, and janitorial staff and Serving the needs of the Lord’s Ranch apostolate in New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.

High School Teaching

Each Servant spends several years teaching at Bishop Machebeuf High School in Denver.

Spiritual Direction Training

Subsequent to his 30-day Spiritual Exercises, each Servant is mentored in providing spiritual direction and in leading the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola.

Third-World Missionary Immersion

Each Servant serves a full month as a missionary to a Third World country. Servants have been sent on third-world immersions to the impoverished communities of the Philippines, Mexico, India, Peru and Honduras.

St. John Vianney Seminary

Following prayer and discernment with his spiritual director and with the Superior, a Servant may apply for admission to St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver after he has become a professed member of the community.

Evangelical Poverty

How We Live out Evangelical Poverty:

We budget $1 per servant, per meal.

Each Servant has only 2-3 habits (uniform) and 2 pairs of shoes.

20% of our income is tithed. 10% to the poor. 10% to the Church (missions/parishes).

We reserve consumption of beef, alcohol and desserts to Sundays and Feast Days.

On Wednesdays we abstain from meat.

Friday is a day of fasting. Our meals consist of grains and water only.

We do not have cable, DSL or WiFi in our home.

We share all vehicles between the members of our community.

Each Servant is allotted $30 per month in spending money.

We waste no leftovers. All unconsumed food is saved and re-served.

A day in the life of a Servant:

DIFFERENT SERVANTS HAVE DIFFERENT SCHEDULES. BELOW IS AN AVERAGE DAY FOR A SERVANT DURING INITIAL FORMATION.

4:00 am - Rise

Servants who are teaching or in Seminary rise at 4:00 am to begin their Holy Hour at 4:20 am. A novice will typically rise at 5:00 am.

4:20 am - Holy Hour

Servants who are teaching or in seminary may begin their Holy Hour at 4:20 am. Novices typically begin Holy Hour at 7:30 am.

5:30 am - Breakfast

The community gathers for breakfast, which is eaten in silence. During the meal, one Servant reads aloud from the lives of the saints or other spiritual reading.

5:50 am - Divine Office & Morning Prayer

The Liturgy of the Hours is prayed together as a community before Mass or departure for seminary or apostolic ministry.

6:30 am - Mass

Weekday Community Mass is regularly at 6:30 am. The Servants in the High School apostolate, however, attend campus Mass at 7:15 am.

8:00 am - Apostolates & Seminary

Applicants, novices, and Servants are assigned to various classes, exercises and apostolates throughout their formation process. Click Here to learn more about our apostolates. In preparation for ordination, some Servants attend classes at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary.

5:30 pm - Vespers

Servants gather in the chapel for evening prayer. Servants who are assigned to cook will begin preparing dinner at 4:30 pm in order to be finished for 5:30 pm evening prayer.

6:00 pm - Dinner

Dinner begins with Thanksgiving for God's provision throughout the day. On Tuesdays the community welcomes different families for dinner.

7:00 pm - Recreation & Preparation

The time following dinner is a time for recreation, study and preparation for the following day. Servants involved in the University Ministry and High School apostolates will often sponsor student events and attend student activities after dinner.

8:00 pm - Compline

The community gathers in the chapel to conclude the day with night prayer.

Before Retiring - Daily Examen

Alone before retiring for the day, each Servant gives thanks for his blessings, asks the Lord's forgiveness for his faults, and determines how to amend his actions tomorrow.

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Apostolates

Community