Who We Are
Brothers Of The Holy Family
The Institute of the Brothers of the Holy Family, was founded in the diocese of Belley by Brother Gabriel Taborin, it is a religious Institute of Brothers, of a lay character, of pontifical right, approved on August 28, 1841. (C 1)
Emblem Brothers of The Holy Family
Our Founder
An Institute founded by Br Gabriel Taborin
Venerable Gabriel Taborin Poncet, SFS
Gabriel Taborin Poncet was born on November 1, 1799 in Belleydoux, diocese of Belley (France). At that time, France was experiencing the end of the revolutionary process that ended the Old Regime. Hostilities towards the Church had ceased and the favorable environment for living religion with freedom was progressively expanding. In this historical framework, rebuilding parish life and valuing education as a means of human and Christian promotion, Brother Gabriel Taborin founded the Congregation of the Brothers of the Holy Family in 1835.
The Congregation or Institute was approved by Pope Gregory XVI in Rome in 1841. Brother Gabriel’s intuition was that his religious should be Brothers at the service of the parishes and peoples, in the functions of teachers, catechists and animators of the liturgy. A mission lived by him since his youth in some places, among which is his hometown.
This was the intuition that led him to found an Institute of Brothers, the Brothers of the Holy Family. Pope John Paul II, on May 14, 1991, declared Brother Gabriel Taborin “Venerable”.
A religious life of Brother
The Institute of the Brothers of the Holy Family, was founded in the diocese of Belley by Brother Gabriel Taborin, it is a religious Institute of Brothers, of a lay character, of pontifical right, approved on August 28, 1841. (C 1)
Our religious life as a Brother has its roots in the very message of the Gospel: “You are all Brothers.” (Mt. 23.12).
It is about accentuating and bearing witness in the midst of the world to the strength of fraternity, the witness to the values of the Gospel and the radical imitation of the historical way of life of Jesus.
Brother Gabriel assumed this condition of Brother and died as Brother despite the strong influence of the clericalization of the Church at that time. He wrote to his Brothers: “You bear the sweet name of Brothers, do not allow them to call you otherwise. The names of dignities inspire and command respect; this, on the contrary, only suggests simplicity, goodness and charity.” (Br. Gabriel. Guide art. 112).
Brothers around the world
Brothers of the Holy Family - With a spirit and a spirituality inspired by the Holy Family
“The Brothers contribute to carrying out the plan of salvation through the spirit proper to the Institute, which is the spirit of the family. This spirit derives from the vital ties that united the members of the Holy Family of Nazareth and whose primary source is the Holy Trinity ”. (Constitutions 11)
We Brothers live in Community, led by our own way of living the Gospel and of proclaiming it. Our relationships are based on the “family spirit” that we live wherever we are.
We were inspired by the family life of the Holy Family in Nazareth. The response that Jesus, Mary and Joseph gave to the Father through prayer, work and love lived in everyday life invites us to live it in today’s circumstances.
Therefore, we Brothers are called to update and prolong the family dynamism of Nazareth, with a simple and active life, in all the circumstances of our life.
