The religious brother

"is a man who chooses to live the brotherhood of Jesus with all people, particularly those suffering, oppressed or who are in special need of compassion and love. Therefore, being Brother means working among people in ministries of service which encourage and empower individuals to develop their human potential and which also support them in creating environments where justice, hope, peace, understanding and unity are signs of how people can live in harmony as brothers and sisters.

"This commitment is lived out by coming together to live in community as Brothers. It is a community of Brothers who vow to live the kind of chastity, poverty and obedience Jesus our brother lived in the spirit of the Founder who originally gave inspiration to the particular religious community. It is a community of Brothers who together pray, relax, support, challenge and encourage each other in their ministry and in living their Christian vocation as Brother.

"To emphasise their position as brothers among people, a Brother does not have any sacramental role in the Church, such as celebrating Mass or the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He is not a priest, nor does he intend becoming one. Within the Catholic Church some religious communities consist only of lay religious Brothers (Christian Brothers, St John of God Brothers, Marist Brothers, Sacred Heart Brothers, Marianist Brothers) and there are others that have both Priests and Brothers (Cistercian monks, Dominicans, Franciscan Friars, Jesuits, etc)."

from the Vocations website of the Diocese of Reno
(links added)

Happy National Vocation Awareness Week!