Welcome to the Brothers of St. Joseph

Discover our mission, values, and rich history as we serve our community and foster spiritual growth.

MEET OUR FOUNDERS

STEPHEN WAMBOGO NDUNE, PIONEER FOUNDER (CHARISMATIC FOUNDER).

Brother Stephen was born in 1923 in Gathai, Githaraga village Mugoiri location, Murang’a County, formerly Murang’a district. He was the son of Joseph Ndune and immaculate Njeri.

He was baptized on 24/12/1936 at Mugoiri Parish and confirmed on 11/10/1941 at St. Peter’s Claver parish Nairiobi. By then, St. Peter’s Claver parish was under the Holy Ghost fathers. He was employed as a catechist in the same parish in 1940s. as a catechist, he taught many catechumens for baptism, confirmation and holy communion and sacraments in general. Stephen had a desire to be a religious Brother.

He shared the idea with Fr. Cavanagh who was his employer and his parish priest. Fr. Cavanagh then went to discuss the matter with Fr. Whelan the vicar general and suggested that Stephen should go to Bagamoyo Tanzania where a religious congregation of Brothers had been founded since there was no Brothers’’ congregation in Kenya. When the idea of going to Bagamoyo was brought to Stephen, he expressed his desire to evangelize his own people which today would mean his local church.

After this discussion, they decided to send him to his homme vicariate of Nyeri where Fr. Michael Witte of Holy Ghost missionaries was in charge since the Consolata missionaries including Bishop Charles lee had been taken to exile in South Africa during the world war ll. With their response, Stephen wrote to Witte expressing his desire to become a religious Brother and the response from Fr. Witte came after six months where Witte invited him for a meeting in Nyeri. Stephen met Fr. Witte and they had a long discussion.

Fr. Witte sent Stephen to Fr. Umberto Bessone of consulate missionaries who had come back from exile and was in charge of St. Paul’s minor seminary for more dialogue and discernment. Bessone stayed with Stephen for some days in order to test his suitability. He concluded that Stephen was serious with his intention to become a religious Brother and released him to go back to Nairobi to finalize with his parish priest and employer and then go back to Nyeri to begin his long desired journey of becoming a religious Brother.

This was good news to Fr. Cavanagh, who accepted his resignation as a catechist, but at the same time, Fr. Cavanagh told him that before he released him, Stephen was to get another catechist who will take his place. And not just a catechist, but one who was as good as Stephen himself; morally, spiritually, emotionally, obedient and dedicated. It took Stephen another whole year to get credible young man who will fit into his shoes. Stephen was to train the new catechist to be; to the satisfaction of the parish priest. Fr. Cavanagh tested and interviewed the new catechist and found him fit to replace catechist Stephen. It is when Stephen was set free and allowed to go back to Nyeri.

HIS APOSTOLIC LIFE

For many years, Br. Stephen served the orphans who had been orphaned during the MAU MAU in Mathari Kanigini area. He worked so hard to return naughty boys especially those who tried to run away from the center to go back to the street. Br. Stephen could not rest until he convinced them to go back to the center. He had very high spirituality. Whenever he could pass by the catholic parish or chapel, he would request those with him “let us greet Jesus in the Eucharist for a minute”.

He was a man of deep prayer and faith. He had special love and reverence for the priests… he used to say, without the priest, there is no Eucharist. He had a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary. He always carried some rosaries with him to distribute to people in order to enhance the devotion to the blessed Mother of God.

He served King’ong’o prison for a long time. It is here that he encountered the veteran freedom fighter, Dedan kimathi whom he prepared for baptism and he became his sponsor and just few day, kimathi was hanged by the British Government.

Stephen served and received his vocation to Brotherhood while working as a catechist in St. Peter Claver parish in Nairobi. Yes, St. Peter’s Claver parish nurtured our founder and for this, St. Peter Claver parish has a share in the foundation of Brothers of St. Joseph. It is part of our rich history. As a congregation, we owe a lot to respect to this parish.

FR. JOSEPH MICHAEL WITTE, CSSp (JURIDICAL FOUNDER)

Fr. Joseph Michael Witte was a dedicated missionary who is remembered for his deep pastoral zeal, simplicity of life, and unwavering commitment to evangelization and human formation.

He served in the Archdiocese of Nyeri, Kenya, during a period when the local Church was in turmoil due to the world war ll and faced shortages of manpower for evangelization, catechesis, and community development. In response to these pastoral needs, and inspired by the Spiritan charism of forming local Church leadership, he founded the Brothers of St. Joseph in 1945, an indigenous religious congregation intended to empower local men and women to participate actively in the work of the Church.

According to the “Europeans in East Africa” database, Michael (Joseph) Witte was born on 31 January 1895, in Burg, Texel, Netherlands.

He died on 24 March 1961 in Halfweg, Netherlands.
In his Spiritan missionary role, he was heavily involved in education in Kenya: in January 1925, he opened a teacher-training school at Kabaa, naming it “St. John’s Teachers College.” Holy Ghost Fathers Kenya.
He is well-known as a pioneer in Catholic education in Kenya, particularly for founding what later became Mang’u High School.
His commitment to education (teacher training, founding schools) suggests that he saw education as a critical part of mission strategy—not just evangelization, but building local capacity.

Fr. Witte can be described as:

A visionary missionary, able to read the signs of the times and respond creatively.
A man of prayer, whose spirituality was rooted in obedience, humility, and total trust in Divine Providence.
A practical man, who valued work, discipline, and self-reliance—virtues he wanted to instill in the Brothers.
Deeply committed to the African Church, believing strongly in the development of indigenous vocations and leadership.

His legacy lives on through the Brothers of St. Joseph, who continue to serve the Church and society in Kenya, carrying forward the missionary spirit he planted.

THE PURPOSE FOR FOUNDING BROTHERS OF ST. JOSEPH.

Fr. Witte wrote a pastoral letter as a founding note of the congregation to all parishes on 14/5/1945. The subject matter of this letter was NATIVE BROTHERS, (circular no 9 CM. Nyeri, 14/5/1945).

In the founding letter, he addressed the kind and future the brothers would live and he also noted challenges that were experienced before with native congregations to avoid any mistake in future of using native Brothers and sisters as slaves or house boys and quoted Pope Pious X1 on “Rerum Ecclesiae”.

The aim of the Congregation was in the words of Fr. Witte, “that everyone will be a catechist, and besides, according to their aptitudes and inclinations, each will be taught a useful trade in the workshops. At the same time schooling will not be neglected, so as to complete at least a solid elementary Education. Brothers were to help in the parishes and assist priests”. He also noted that the Brothers were to be self-reliant and they should be instrumental to bring change in the societies.

To date Brothers of St. Joseph strive;

To live and witness the Gospel through a life of consecration

The Brothers dedicate themselves to God through the vows, committing to a life of prayer, fraternity, simplicity, and service in the spirit of St. Joseph.

To support the pastoral mission of the Church

They assist the local Church through catechesis, liturgical service, parish administration, youth ministry, and other apostolic activities assigned by the Bishops and parish priests.

To promote human formation and education

Following the vision of the founder, the congregation engages in education, technical skills, and human empowerment—helping to build responsible, self-reliant Christian communities.

To participate in the work of evangelization and missionary outreach

Brothers serve in missions, remote areas, and communities in need, bringing the Gospel through presence, witness, and acts of charity.

To uphold the values of work, discipline, and self-reliance

Inspired by St. Joseph the Worker, the Brothers commit to honest labor, responsible stewardship, and practical service, promoting dignity through work and supporting their communities.

Formation

From the beginning, the founders of the Brothers of St. Joseph envisioned a congregation of humble and dedicated men who would serve the Church through prayer, work, and community life. Formation, as they designed it, was meant to nurture simplicity, faith, discipline, and total availability to God’s mission.

The early Brothers were formed within the community itself, under the close mentorship of senior Brothers and spiritual directors from the founding missionaries, the Holy Ghost Fathers, who emphasized hard work, obedience, and prayer as the core of the Brothers’ identity.
Over the years, as the congregation grew in number and maturity, the formation system was gradually structured to meet the spiritual, human, and apostolic needs of modern religious life—without losing the original spirit of the founders. Today, the formation program still mirrors that initial vision: it seeks to form brothers who are rooted in prayer, grounded in community life, disciplined in work, and zealous in service to the Church and society.
Formation in the Brothers of St. Joseph is a gradual and lifelong process encompassing five stages: Residential Aspirancy, Postulancy, Novitiate, Juniorate, and Ongoing Formation.

Formation in the Brothers of St. Joseph is a gradual and lifelong process encompassing five stages: Residential Aspirancy, Postulancy, Novitiate, Juniorate, and Ongoing Formation.

RESIDENTIAL ASPIRANCY

In the spirit of our founders, the aspirancy introduces young men to the simple, prayerful lifestyle of the Brothers.

The aspirants live within the community, sharing in its prayer, work, and fraternal life. They receive catechesis, spiritual direction, and moral guidance, while learning the values of humility, service, and manual laborthe same virtues that characterized the first Brothers of St. Joseph. This stage is residential and located at the Mother House, where the young men experience firsthand the spiritual atmosphere of the congregation’s cradle.

POSTULANCY

The postulancy deepens the discernment process and helps the candidate to integrate faith and life in community.

Here, emphasis is placed on self-knowledge, prayer life, and the practice of Christian virtues. The postulants continue to reside at the Mother House, where they participate in community responsibilities, basic theological instruction, and apostolic exposure.
This stage preserves the founders’ emphasis on learning through daily living—formation that happens by doing—but now enriched with structured guidance, mentorship, and academic input.

NOVITIATE

The novitiate represents the heart of religious formation. Following the long-standing tradition of withdrawal and deeper reflection established by the founders, the novitiate is located in a separate, quiet environment suitable for spiritual maturity.

At this stage, the novices study the Constitutions, deepen their understanding of the evangelical counsels, and engage in intensive prayer, recollection, and community living. It is a time of grace when the novice learns to embrace the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, preparing to make a lifelong commitment to the Lord.

JUNIORATE

After the novitiate, the junior brothers enter the juniorate, where formation becomes more apostolic and academic.

They pursue further studies, develop professional and pastoral skills, and engage in apostolic experiences within communities and institutions of the Brothers.
This stage reflects the founders’ original desire that the Brothers be “men of service, competence, and faith.” While remaining grounded in prayer and community, the junior brothers are trained to respond to the pastoral and social challenges of today’s world.

ONGOING FORMATION

The founders saw formation not as a phase but as a way of life. In that spirit, ongoing formation has become a formalized process within the congregation.

Through regular retreats, renewal programs, academic advancement, and workshops, the Brothers continue to renew their commitment and adapt to new pastoral realities.
Ongoing formation helps each Brother to remain spiritually alive, professionally competent, and faithful to the charism of the congregation throughout his life.