Order of brothers
Fraternal orders or fraternities are Catholic religious orders whose members are exclusively or at least predominantly friars , i.e. religious who do not belong to the clergy, i.e. to whom no or only a few priests belong. Should they have priests like the Merciful Brothers of Maria Hilf or the Merciful Brothers of St. John of God , they are not involved in the top management of the community. They can become superior , rector or superior , but not superior general .
Members of the fraternities also make profession as religious . Some communities wear a habit . Most fraternities are active in nursing ( nursing orders like the Alexians ) or in school service ( school brothers ).
Among the orders of brothers there are congregations that are primarily active in mission and work in the social or pastoral field.