CBSC COMMUNITY

CBSC is unique in that it is also the residence for a small Christian Brothers’ community made up of the Center Team as well as a Brother who is an administrator at La Salle University and two Lasallian Volunteers who work at La Salle Academy in the Kensington area of Philadelphia.

The CBSC Community (pictured left to right: Mari Anzicek, Br. Leo Smith, Denis Block, Br. Ed Koronkiewicz, Sara Vogelpohl, and Br. Bud Knight)

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FACILITIES

The Center is eager to host and/or facilitate groups up to 25 for day or evening programs, conferences or retreats.  Overnight accommodations are available for 9-12 people with private and semi-private rooms.  In addition, ample parking is available in the parish lot located directly opposite our facility.   Guests are also welcome to join the resident community for morning prayer and evening meals. Additionally, we always have a bed available for individuals who may need a night or two to get away from their busy life.

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VISION

The impact of the post-modern world on the beliefs and values of young adults is certainly undeniable. The operant culture, especially some of the pleasure-seeking and self-indulgent aspects of pop culture, tends to devalue Christian faith and gospel living.  The religious formation and spiritual practice of this generation of young adults is significantly different from that of previous generations and, even among themselves, there is a vast continuum of diversity. There can be a tendency to opt for a faith that is sentimental and gratifying while losing sight of a deeper commitment to value-directed living. Many of the meaningful and life-giving values, activities and spiritual practices traditionally provided by the family, neighborhood, school and church communities are missing from the lives of young adults. It is from within this context that the vision of the Christian Brothers Spiritual Center (CBSC) emerges.  

Rather than overreacting to these changes or settling for a negativism that is shortsighted, we choose to trust in God’s continued providential care for young people. We see glimmers of hope in their hunger for that which gives meaning to life, their thirst for community, their passion for justice and their generous appetite for service. We also hear voices of unrest, uncertainty and lack of direction in their attitudes, words and actions. Although young adults may not be able to recognize or articulate these silent cries as a desire to find God, we believe that, at their very center, God is at work in them. The everyday people with whom they interact, the ordinary experiences of daily life and the typical challenges and confusions of young adult transitions are signs and invitations of the Holy Spirit to unfold their potential.  In this incarnational process, we see ourselves as mentors who primarily listen to young adults and who affirm, support, nurture and celebrate all that is right in them.

In light of the above, we open the Center to all men and women in their 20’s and 30’s who are honestly seeking something more in their life. Our outreach is not only to young adults in our immediate areas of Manayunk, Roxborough and East Falls but also to the greater Philadelphia area.  We welcome:
        ●    Singles, married and engaged couples
        ●    All educational backgrounds
        ●    The churched and the un-churched
        ●    Christians and those of other faiths
        ●    Minorities, immigrants and the disenfranchised
        ●    Those from our Lasallian Centers in Philadelphia
        ●    Former volunteers and missioners

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GOALS

Our goals in inviting all young adults to experience the Center are as follows: 
        ●    Through our hospitality, we provide a safe space to gather comfortably    
               and to experience community.
        ●    Through our serene environment, we provide a place for reflection,
               prayer and faith sharing. 
        ●    Through our respectful interactions, we nurture a reverence for one
               another and for God’s creation.
        ●    Through our mentoring, we model life-giving relationships and in each
               person affirm what is right and encourage the development and sharing of   
               one’s God-given potential.
        ●    Through our faith-based approach, we cultivate a deeper understanding
               of what it means to be a Christian rooted in a personal relationship with
               Jesus.
        ●    Through our programming, we present challenging ideas, experiences,
               spiritual values and alternative perspectives on world realities.
        ●    Through our religious offerings, we provide a variety of opportunities
               and rituals for an experience of God.
        ●    Through our social justice programs, we spotlight current social and
               moral issues to raise awareness and encourage personal response.
        ●    Through our service outreach programs, we nourish the natural
               interest to serve the less fortunate.
        ●    Through our outings, we provide opportunities to experience the best of
               our local and urban cultures.

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HISTORY

In the mid-90s, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops began to recognize and discuss the need for the entire Church to “actively invite and welcome young adults into the life of the Church.”  In a response to this call, the Christian Brothers of the Baltimore District began discussing ways to establish meaningful relationships with young adults in their 20s and 30s.  The hope was to connect with them through various methods grounded in their own faith journeys.

These discussions led to the establishment of a ministry center for the faith formation of young adults in Philadelphia (Manayunk), PA.  With the approval of the District Council, the Christian Brothers Spiritual Center began in the former convent at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in October, 2004.

Brothers Charles Mrozinski (Program Director), Robert Kinzler, and Edward Hofmann were the founding community. They coordinated and facilitated programs focusing on faith sharing, service to the poor, and community building while also inviting visiting presenters to share in the work of the Center.

The leadership of CBSC has changed over time, but the mission remains the same.  The current team consists of Brother Bud Knight (Program Director), Brother Leo Smith and Mari Anzicek, a Lasallian Volunteer (LV). The new Center Team is in the process of expanding the offerings and scope of the Center.  The full-time presence of a LV on the team for the first time brings both a Lasallian association and an inter-generational dimension to the sprit of CBSC.   While Brothers Bud and Leo bring an important wisdom piece to the ministry, the addition of Mari brings a youthful point of view along with vital input and active presence of a young adult in the Center’s programs.

The Center is grateful to the many who have helped in the development of programs for young adults and participated in the expansion of the work of the Center. We make special mention of Paul Sevcik, a former LV who is currently pursuing graduate studies at Temple University.

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