Br. David Vryhof, SSJE

Br. David Vryhof, SSJE is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Calvin University, then went on to earn a Master’s degree in Education of the Deaf at Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C. Prior to coming to the Community in 1985, he taught at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf in Providence, then at the MICO Teachers’ College in Kingston, Jamaica (where he also became an Anglican). Following his arrival at the Monastery, David studied at Duke University and the General Theological Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood 1994. He was life-professed in 1997 and has served the Community as Assistant Superior as well as Novice Guardian (a post in which he served for a total of 17 years!). His specific interests include Ignatian Spirituality, Spiritual Discernment, U.S. and world politics, as well as issues surrounding minorities in the U.S. such as African-Americans, native peoples, LGBTQ people and those living in poverty. He is currently studying Spanish, and enjoys exercising, reading, and watching movies. David is credited with being the most committed sports fan in the Community and loves all the Boston teams.

 

Learn more about Br. Davids's Catch the Life journey to monastic life >

Selection of Br. David's teachings from "Brother, Give Us a Word"

Savior

Unfailingly, Jesus directs our attention to those parts of our lives that remain desert just because living water has never gotten there. He asks us to go where we have no desire to go, because going there shatters the illusions we hold about ourselves and reveals our need for a Savior. – Br. David Vryhof…

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Dare

If we are dissatisfied with our current state, or if we’re troubled by what we see in the world around us, we may be ready to kneel before Christ and plead for the power of the Holy Spirit to fall on each one of us, on the Church, and on the world. We may be…

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Source

Jesus tells us to “love one another as I have loved you.” Here is the source of this strength which we can receive from him and pass along to others. We can love because he first loved us. We can offer hope and courage because of the hope and courage we have found in him.…

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Selection of Br. Davids's writing

God Loves Humans

“If forgiveness is one of the most powerful forces for redemption in the Christian faith, unforgiveness is one of the most powerful forces for destruction. Unforgiveness hardens the heart. It magnifies a perceived offense to the point where we can no longer appreciate a person’s value because all we see is how they have grieved us. No wonder the petition about forgiveness – “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” – sits at the heart of the Lord’s Prayer.”

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Between Good & Evil: The Practice of Spiritual Discernment

“The spiritual skill of discernment enables us not only to resist the lure of those voices that would distract and distance us from God, but also to perceive directly God’s engagement with us in the circumstances of our lives as we navigate the many decisions that crop up along our way.”

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The Call of Christ in Our Time: Guidance for Christian Leaders

We need God and other people to reveal to us the invitation or opportunity embedded in each of today’s stark challenges.

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