Missionaries of the Holy Family - North American Province
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About MSF

The MSF Religious Order has a rich history that began just over 100 years ago in 1895. MSF was founded by Fr. John Baptist Berthier, M.S. who was and always remained a member of the Missionary Society of La Salette. The missionary ideal and the ideal of the family give MSF their spiritual character. The Lord’s request for laborers (Mathew 9: 35-38) spoke deeply to Fr. Berthier and that is why serving the needs of vocations is central to MSF. Fr. Berthier was called by Christ to establish a Religious Community which has as its primary purpose:

    1. To base community life on the model of the Holy Family, who lived simple and modest lives in faithful response, love and care, to God and the mission of Jesus.
    2. To seek out an encourage vocations, especially the less financially secure and those from the poorer households, wherever they are found.
    3. To form community by their own labor in caring for basic needs as much as possible.
    4. To strive to live in a Missionary Spirit by ministering in areas and places where others were not present or would not go.

The Order had its beginning’s in Grave, Holland in 1895, but within a couple decades was already beginning mission work here in the US. In the early 1920’s MSF priests from Germany came to the United States and began to work among the poor in south Texas. Ultimately parishes in south Texas began to be established and this made great progress in building up the Church in that area.

MISSION STATEMENT
of the North American Province of
The Missionaries of the Holy Family


We, the Missionaries of the Holy Family of the North American Province are united in religious community according to the purpose of our Founder, Father John Berthier, who dedicated our future and ministry to the ideals of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Guided by the Holy Spirit we respond to the missionary task of the Church and contribute to the evangelization of all for the coming of the kingdom of God. Our Mission to evangelize encompasses far away places, different cultures and wherever the Good News needs to be proclaimed. According to the gifts and talents of our members, we are moved to:

    • draw others to the Gospel
    • to promote vocations and
    • stress the pastoral care of Families.

Through a pastoral of vocations.
According to the wishes of the founder, MSF searches for vocations among the poor and young men. It helps these men reach this ideal in having a community life with the same spirit as the House of the Holy Family. Jesus grew up in poverty, manual work and prayer as He prepared Himself for His Mission.

Through service of Evangelization.
Following the will of our founder, MSF should work in the missionary service of the Church. This means allowing oneself to be sent to where the need is greatest because the Gospel has not yet been preached or where the faith has grown cold. MSF follows Christ who primarily devoted Himself to the poor. They also work to discover and promote missionary vocations among those they serve.

Through the Family Pastoral.
Today the missionaries see Family Pastoral as a special mission. The family is in a threatened situation and MSF wants to accompany families in their suffering, fears, questions and hopes. The family is the basic cell of society and a previous General Chapter said, “For a family living out the Good News has a missionary effect on other families… family will be the light, salt and leaven, the best breeding ground for vocations.”
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