The Community of the Mother of Jesus

Community Companions Ministry

A shared journey of prayer, discipleship, and service

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Have you felt drawn to a deeper life of prayer, a more intentional way of following Jesus, or a community of people seeking to live the Gospel in their everyday lives?

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Perhaps you sense an attraction to the spirituality of the Community of the Mother of Jesus, but do not feel called to the vows of religious life at this time. Or perhaps you are looking for a way to nurture your spiritual life while remaining rooted in your family, parish, work, and other commitments.

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You may be called to become a Companion of the Community of the Mother of Jesus.

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Companions share in the spiritual life and mission of our dispersed religious community without making the vows of professed membership. They walk alongside us in their own unique way of discipleship, seeking to follow Jesus in the spirit of Mary, Our Lady of Cana, who directs our attention to her Son with the words, “Do whatever he tells you.”

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Being a Companion is more than supporting a religious community from a distance. It is an invitation to grow together in faith, to discover God's presence in ordinary life, and to join in the work of Christ through prayer, friendship, and service to the neighbor in need.

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Life as a Companion

Companionship takes shape through a rhythm of prayer, relationship, learning, and service. Each Companion brings their own gifts, circumstances, and spiritual journey to this shared calling.

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As a Companion, you are invited to:

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• Cultivate a Life of Prayer: join the Community at weekly online prayer gatherings. Pray daily with and for the Community of the Mother of Jesus and those discerning or living a vocation within it and pray the Companions Prayer.

• Embrace the Rule for Companions: seek to embody its wisdom in your relationships, decisions, work, and service.

• Share in Christian Service: join with members of your own community in responding to the needs of our neighbors, particularly those who are vulnerable or in need of care.

• Build Relationships of Mutual Encouragement: gather with Community members and other Companions for prayer, fellowship, spiritual conversation, and service. Where possible, Companions develop a particular relationship with a local postulant, novice, or professed member.

• Participate in Our Common Life: attend local community events and, when possible, join us for our Quarterly Days online.

• Sustain Our Shared Mission: offer financial support to the Community according to the established expectations of the Companion relationship.

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As a Companion, you will be remembered in the prayers and acts of Christian service of our vowed members. You become part of a wider spiritual family, united not by geography or a common household, but by a shared desire to follow Jesus faithfully.

We recognize that every person’s circumstances are different. This journey is not about doing everything perfectly or adding an endless list of obligations to an already full life. It is about making room for God, growing in faithfulness, and discovering how our lives can become a blessing to others.​

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The Companions Rule for the Community of the Mother of Jesus

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Companions of the Community of the Mother of Jesus, seek to follow Jesus in the spirit of Mary, Our Lady of Cana, who directs us toward her Son and teaches us to respond to his call: “Do whatever he tells you.”

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Companions share in the spirituality and mission of the Community, seeking to serve the neighbor in need through a life shaped by prayer, and a particular lens on our four vows. They embrace this Rule as a guide for their daily lives, adapting its practices faithfully to their circumstances and responsibilities.

The Way of Justice

We seek to recognize the dignity of every person and respond to the needs of our neighbors.

• We pray for those who suffer injustice and those whose voices are unheard.

• We examine our choices and seek to live with fairness, integrity, and compassion.

• We offer our time, gifts, and resources in service to those in need.

The Way of Tenderness

We seek to reflect the compassionate love of Christ in our relationships and encounters with others.

• We practice kindness, patience, and attentive listening.

• We seek to encounter God in the Eucharist weekly.

• We seek reconciliation where there is division and healing where there is hurt.

The Way of Humility

We seek to live with open hearts, recognizing our dependence upon God and our need for one another.

• We listen for God's wisdom through Scripture, prayer, and the experiences of others.

• We receive our own limitations with honesty and extend grace to ourselves and others.

• We offer our gifts in service without seeking recognition, remaining willing to learn and to be changed.

The Way of Contemplation

We seek to cultivate stillness and attentiveness to the presence of God in all things.

• We make time each day for prayer, Scripture, and silence.

• We practice the prayer of the Rosary at least once a week, or in connection with some other form of contemplative prayer.

• We seek to recognize Christ in the ordinary moments of life and will provide an Ember Letter twice a year to the Director of Companions which reflects on how we are living info our ministry as a Companion.

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​The Companions Prayer

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O Lady of Cana, teach me to follow your Son in justice and tenderness, humility and contemplation. Open my eyes to the neighbor in need, my heart to the movement of the Holy Spirit, and my life to the transforming love of God. Help me to listen for the voice of Jesus and to respond with faith and generosity. May my life bear witness to the Gospel and serve the coming of God's kingdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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​Is God Inviting You to This Way of Life?

To become a Companion, you must be at least eighteen years of age. You need not be a member of The Episcopal Church. You need not be discerning a vocation to vowed religious life. You need only a desire to deepen your discipleship and explore this shared way of prayer and service.

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If you know a postulant, novice, or professed member of the Community who lives in your area, we invite you to begin a conversation with them. You may also contact the Director of Companions to learn more about becoming a Companion.

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We would be glad to walk with you as you discern whether this is the path God is opening before you.

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May Jesus and his dear Mother be with you on your journey, and may Mary’s words at Cana continue to guide us all: “Do whatever he tells you.”​​