Bryan Williams

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – With joy and thanksgiving, the Congregation of Holy Cross celebrated the Final Profession of Vows of five men. Rev. Mr. Brian Kennedy, C.S.C., Rev. Mr. Karl Romkema Jr., C.S.C., Rev. Mr. Brogan Ryan, C.S.C., Mr. Michael Thomas, C.S.C., and Rev. Mr. Bryan Williams, C.S.C., professed Final Vows on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind. Rev. William M. Lies, C.S.C., provincial superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross, U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers, presided at the Mass and received vows.

All five men professed the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience according to the Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross. For the past several years, they have been in a period of temporary vows, which they renewed annually. On Aug. 25, they committed their lives and work to the communal life and ministry of Holy Cross.

Rev. Mr. Bryan Williams, C.S.C., is the eldest of three children of Warren and Melanie Williams of Sugar Land, Texas. He graduated with a B.A. in philosophy and theology from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind., in 2013, and earned his M.Div. from the University in 2018. He entered Holy Cross in Aug. 2009 as an Old Collegian. He made his First Profession of Vows on Aug. 2, 2014.

During his formation, Deacon Bryan served at St. Adalbert’s/St. Casimir Parishes (First Communion Class during his postulant year) in South Bend, Ind.; Center for the Homeless, tutor, South Bend, Ind.; Parroquia Nuestra Madre Santísima de La Luz, Guadalupe, Nueva Leon, México (Summer 2015); M.Div. intern, Multicultural Student Ministries, Campus Ministry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.; Colegio Fe y Alegría #25 and Rosario en Familia in Lima, Peru (Summer 2016); facilitator, Satellite Theological Education Program (STEP), University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.; assist, St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, Canada (Summer 2017); assistant director, Old College, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Ind.

“Living and working with our community in Canto Grande in Lima, Perú was a beautiful ministry experience,” said Deacon Bryan. “I learned to enter more fully into the common life of community.”

Deacon Bryan will serve at Stonehill College, North Easton, Mass.

Vows for a Lifetime
Published: September 19, 2014
Author: Mr. Bryan Williams

It was especially meaningful to witness these six men, Matt, David, Tim, Chase, Dan, and Chris, vow to live their lives forever as religious in the Congregation of Holy Cross.

It was a joyful experience to watch them Saturday, but not dramatic. In fact, I would have been more shocked if one of them chose not to commit to Holy Cross. Their profession was a continuation, the next step to take in their relationship with God. Yes, it is a jump to commit forever to Holy Cross, but it is more of an actualization of what is already underneath. Their time in seminary and temporary vows (made each year for a year at a time) where they spent each day living as a Holy Cross religious, learning about the life, and developing themselves, brought them to a place in their lives where they could say, “This is where I want to spend the rest of my life.” It was beautiful.

For myself, who recently professed temporary vows for the first time on August 2, 2014, forever is still a sobering thought and probably will be when, God willing, four years from now it will be my turn to kneel upon the seal of the Congregation in front of the altar in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, look the Provincial in the eye, and echo generations of Holy Cross religious in saying, “…Therefore I make to God forever the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, according to the constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross…”

I think for all of us who take vows, the commitment never loses a sense of the unknown: Where will I be in twenty years? What will the Congregation ask of me? etc. The future will always remain a mystery. However, it comforts me to know that I will not be alone in walking the path. Others have walked it before me. And as these six men have encouraged and inspired me in my own life, I hope to do the same for those who follow in my tracks. Yes, they are vowed for life, and yes forever probably remains a sobering thought to each one of them, and will for awhile. But, they are ready to wake up each morning to voice in their daily lives the commitment they first made in the Basilica. “We pronounce our vows in a moment, but living them for the sake of the kingdom is the work of a lifetime. That fulfillment demands of us more than the mere wish, more even than the firm decision. It demands the conversion of our habits, our character, our attitudes, our desires.” And this persistence in conversion toward the Lord is truly what brings us the excitement and encouragement we felt that morning.

Mr. Bryan Williams, C.S.C. is in first year of temporary vows at Moreau Seminary on the campus of Notre Dame. He and his fellow seminarians write a post each month for the Spes Unica Blog, sharing on their life and formation. Bryan is originally from Sugar Land, TX.