St. John’s University Campus Ministry sponsored its third annual Brothers/Sisters’ Nite to let students see, meet and pray with religious sisters and brothers serving the local Church in Brooklyn and Queens.

Representing 14 congregations, 51 religious brothers and sisters gathered together in St. Thomas More Church on the Jamaica campus on a recent Sunday evening for Mass followed by a meet and greet over pizza.

The event was coordinated by Marist Brother Mike Sheerin, campus minister for faith formation and leadership at St. John’s.

Among those in attendance were representatives from the Marist Brothers, Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, Brothers of the Sacred Heart, De LaSalle Christian Brothers, Marianist Brothers, Capuchin Brothers, Daughters of Charity, Daughters of St. Paul, Daughters of Wisdom, Little Sisters of the Poor, Sisters of Life, Dominican Sisters of Amityville, Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, Precious Blood Sisters and Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary.

Sister Bethany Madonna, a Sister of Life, shared her vocation story with the students after Communion. She reflected on understanding discernment as a prayerful exploration leading to a better understanding of her life’s call to follow Christ as poor, chaste and obedient.

After the event, many students commented on how they enjoyed spending time with the religious sisters and brothers and how happy the religious are in their lives. And one young man even noted how helpful the conversations were in clarifying his own vocation.

(Photos courtesy Brother Mike Sheerin, F.M.S.)