Bro. Matthew Warnez ministering at University of Minnesota after experiencing his own call during college

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — When Matthew Warnez first learned about the Brotherhood of Hope, a community of Catholic brothers whose primary mission is to evangelize on secular college campuses, he wanted to learn more. 

Now, the Metro Detroit native is in his third year with the Boston-based religious order. After completing a one-year novitiate, Warnez — now known as Brother Matthew — renewed his temporary vows with the community July 20, and will soon discern whether to make perpetual vows.

“Founded in 1980 in Newark, N.J., the Brotherhood of Hope today has 18 perpetually professed brothers and two dozen men in various stages of formation,” according to a news release. 

By evangelizing on six college campuses across the country, the community hopes to “help prepare the next generation to renew the Church,” according to Brother Ken Apuzzo, the community's general superior. 

The community seeks to facilitate personal encounters with Jesus through outreach events, small-group meetings, Bible studies, Eucharistic retreats, formation programs and personal interactions. The Brotherhood of Hope also works with local parishes and partners with Saint Paul's Outreach, a national Catholic campus ministry program, to serve on secular campuses. 

Brother Matthew currently serves as a campus minister at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, but members of the community also are represented at Northeastern University in Boston, the University of Massachusetts, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., Florida State University and the University of Central Florida.

“I was essentially attracted to their evangelistic zeal and their way of life together,” Brother Matthew said of his initial attraction to the community. 

Brother Matthew grew up in Grosse Pointe Woods and completed his sacraments at St. Joan of Arc Parish in St. Clair Shores. His parents are members of St. Clare of Montefalco Parish in Grosse Pointe Park.

After graduating from Grosse Pointe North High School, Brother Matthew attended the University of Michigan, where he studied mechanical engineering. But it was his experience with the campus ministry at the Ann Arbor campus that facilitated a powerful conversion. 

“I am grateful to so many who reached out to me and were able to challenge me to say yes to God,” Brother Matthew said, recalling those who invited him to become involved in campus ministry at U of M. “It changed my life, meeting other young Christians who were praying every day. They were very welcoming to me, and so charitable to whomever they met. They talked about Jesus as if he was a real person that they knew.”

Before coming into contact with the missionaries, Brother Matthew admitted he “had thought Christianity was mostly just a philosophy — a set of beliefs that one could choose or not, depending on one’s interest.” 

But, “these people were so in love with God that I couldn’t just stay where I was,” he continued. “I either had to choose God, or choose against God. I couldn’t stay lukewarm anymore.”

After graduation, Brother Matthew wanted to give to others what he had received during his time in campus ministry. Some of his friends recommended he look into the Brotherhood of Hope.

“I was curious about what such a group looked like,” he said. “I didn’t know if I was actually called to join them, but I at least wanted to serve with them.”

Brother Matthew contacted the order and learned they were open to accepting volunteer campus missionaries. He came to live and serve with the community for two years at Rutgers University, during which time he started experiencing a call to vocation.

“If you are being called, who is calling?” Brother Matthew asked, somewhat rhetorically. “Do you know the person who is calling? If you know that person, if you know that Jesus himself is calling you, and if you know that he calls you out of love, then and only then can you make an authentic response to his personal invitation.”

Brother Matthew is one of seven brothers to recently make temporary vows with the Brotherhood of Hope. The new brothers serve in various locations throughout the United States, but Brother Matthew is now living and working in Minneapolis as a campus minister through the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota.

The others who professed temporary vows July 20 are Bro. Ray Morris, Bro. Brandt Haglund, Bro. Martin Buganski, Bro. Patrick Stucker, Bro. Austin Riordan and Bro. Logan Murray.

The Brotherhood of Hope describes its work as “a response to the Church’s call to share the Good News with the spiritually poor … blazing the way for this generation (of college students) to renew the Church.”