Membership in the community of The Brothers and Sisters of Charity is also open to those who live in their own homes, or in houses of prayer, in the world, but not of the world. They can be laity, clergy, family members or single; or members of other religious orders who have permission of their superiors to join.  The Domestic Expression is open to Catholic membership and ecumenical participants from other Christian faiths  who can at least profess the content and context of the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds.  It represents Catholics or Catholic oriented Christians, who want to live a deeper and more intense gospel oriented way of life.

    The domestic home is considered the most important unit of the community.  The Domestic Expression gathers together locally in a cell group.  The purpose of the cell group is to build real community relationships based upon the charism and guidelines of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity.  Members meet as a cell on a regular basis.  A cell group meeting will have time for worship, teaching, intercessory prayer and fellowship.  Time is also devoted to particular ministries, as well as recreational activities.  Members have the opportunity to come together in Regional Gatherings once a year, as well as the Annual Gathering at the motherhouse of the Little Portion Hermitage.

    In areas where no cell group is available, members live the same way of life , but in a more isolated fashion; and yet, are encouraged to attend and participate the various gatherings, meetings and ministries held both regionally and nationally.  In addition to these meetings and contact with the Regional Minister, all candidates are assigned a Formation Assistant.  This Formation Assistant, brother or sister, as a living example of our way of life, assists the new member as they progress through the stages of Candidacy, Postulancy, Novitiate and Profession.  Oftentimes the Formation Assistant becomes a valued friend and helper.

    In recent years the House of Prayer has also become on of our Domestic developments.  It is for those who wish to live more of the monastic essence of our call than is normative for the average domestic member.  The Liturgy of the Hours and daily or weekly times of silence play an important part in this expression.  Many of our House of Prayer members are more actively involved parish or community ministries.  We now have three Houses of Prayer; Hope House of Prayer in Peru, New York was the first to be established in 1993.  Soon followed Shepard's Heart House of Prayer in Fort Worth, Texas.  The newest addition is My father's House of Prayer in Seattle, WA.

    Another new development of the Domestic Expression is the cluster.  This is a cell group whose families choose to live close to one another in either the city or rural setting for the purpose of more frequent prayer and shared life.  A daily common prayer and family support is indicative of this expression.  A cluster of families in the Domestic Expression currently exists in the Chicago area.

    We recognize that the Domestic expression holds the greatest potential for those Christians and Catholic Christians who have found their primary vocation "in the world" and want to get more serious about their faith in Christ and the radical gospel life.  We are excited about this movement of members, families, cell groups, clusters and Houses of Prayer committed to living the live in a more radical, but not fanatical way.  Join us in this gentle revolution for Jesus.