(LUXEMBOURG)
La Croix International [Montrouge Cedex, France]
February 7, 2025
By Gonzague de Pontac
The Archdiocese of Luxembourg announced the end of its collaboration with the Verbum Spei fraternity, which had been established there since 2016. The reason: a relationship between a priest and a student, revealing the persistence of a system of control and concealment within this dissident community of the Brothers of Saint John.
“An ongoing attachment (…) to the person and teachings of Father Marie-Dominique Philippe.” This was one of the reasons cited by the Archdiocese of Luxembourg in a statement January 31 announcing the immediate termination of its collaboration with the Verbum Spei fraternity.
Originating from dissidents of the Brothers of Saint John
Verbum Spei, which is mostly composed of French members but almost unknown in France, was founded in 2012 in Mexico by dissidents from the Saint John community who sought to remain faithful to its founder, Dominican Father Marie-Dominique Philippe (1912–2006). Philippe, however, had been severely criticized for his distorted doctrine and multiple abuses.
The Verbum Spei website, which remains completely silent about this connection, only mentioned some of the fraternity’s locations: Mexico, the United States, and Luxembourg. However, according to La Croix, the community is also present in Spain and Honduras. In 2022, it had about 50 members, including eight in Luxembourg.
Several members, mostly in their thirties, were welcomed in 2016 by Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg to serve the parish of Esch-sur-Alzette and provide chaplaincy services at the university. Brother Wandrille, also the international head of Verbum Spei, led them. A former Brother of Saint John, he was among the signatories of a 2013 open letter pledging to “do everything in the future to defend the honor and reputation of Father Marie-Dominique Philippe, and, even more, to ensure the continued spread of everything he sought to pass on to us.”
Two children born from a relationship between a priest and a young Student
Nearly ten years after their arrival in Luxembourg, the diocese finally ended its collaboration with Verbum Spei. The statement cited “the circumstances and consequences of a relationship between a priest (…) and a woman, who was of legal age at the time,” as the reason why Cardinal Hollerich ordered a thorough investigation into Verbum Spei.
What did the investigation uncover? According to La Croix, the woman in question, of Asian origin, was a young student at the time, with limited proficiency in French, and “did not even know that a priest was not supposed to flirt with a girl,” according to a close source. She had a relationship with Brother T., which resulted in two children, born in 2021 and 2023. Brother T. has since been expelled from his community and was dismissed from the clerical state by Rome in June 2024.
“This woman was manipulated,” explained Olivia (a pseudonym requested for privacy), a former Sister of Saint John who has been supporting her for a year. In this case, Olivia saw yet another instance of the “Saint John control system”: “A young, intelligent, dynamic brother who gave her private lessons on the philosophy of love and friendship, supposedly justifying their relationship.” This teaching, directly borrowed from Father Marie-Dominique Philippe, was cited in the diocese’s statement for its “harmful consequences (…) on the religious life of consecrated persons and its potential to endanger people outside the fraternity as well.”
It was only after meeting other abuse victims that the young woman realized she had been trapped in a system and decided to contact the Diocese of Luxembourg’s support service, which arranged a meeting with Cardinal Hollerich. The cardinal then grasped the full scope of the situation, which went beyond a mere secret relationship and included elements of denial and concealment within Verbum Spei.
Extensive connections
With the young woman’s consent, Olivia shared some details of her story with La Croix, revealing the involvement of Sister Marthe. A former Sister of Saint John, officially expelled from religious life in 2014, Sister Marthe is one of the founders of the dissident community Maria Stella Matutina, where she continues to exert significant influence. This community now has over 350 members and is actively recruiting, particularly in France, where it is not officially established. It is, in a way, the female counterpart to Verbum Spei, although both communities deny any affiliation.
Upon learning about Brother T.’s relationship with the young woman, Sister Marthe reportedly suggested that she join Maria Stella Matutina in Spain, where T. could continue his “spiritual friendship” with her. During her first pregnancy, a meeting was held in Cenves (the historical priory of the Sisters of Saint John, north of Lyon, now acquired by Maria Stella Matutina). Present at the meeting were Sister Marthe, Brother Wandrille, and Brother Benoît-Emmanuel Peltereau-Villeneuve—a former Brother of Saint John who was closely associated with both dissident communities and has since been expelled from the clerical state following multiple accusations of sexual assault.
It was reportedly decided that efforts should be made to “save” Brother T.’s priesthood. His younger brother is also a member of Verbum Spei, and his aunt belongs to Maria Stella Matutina. The mother of his children recounted experiencing intense pressure, attempts at persuasion, and spiritual justifications from both his family and the religious community. All of these details—along with others described by Olivia as “even more disturbing” or “outrageous”—were brought to Cardinal Hollerich’s attention.
Reflecting on the “Philippian System”
“We receive the decision of the Archdiocese of Luxembourg in obedience and humility,” the Verbum Spei brothers stated in a statement dated February 2. The fraternity expressed being “firmly opposed to any form of abuse.”
“However, we are aware that the departure of one of our brothers in 2021 may have scandalized the faithful. We were the first to be affected by it,” the statement continued. Not a single word, however, was mentioned about the young woman.
Four years ago, another former Brother of Saint John, who had passed through the short-lived Fraternité des Saints-Apôtres in Brussels before finding refuge with Verbum Spei, was also dismissed from the clerical state for a similar case. The mother of his child, who was born anonymously (sous X), had also temporarily joined Maria Stella Matutina.
“When you talk about Verbum Spei, you’re also talking about Stella Matutina, and vice versa,” said a well-informed source. “These two communities have always relied on being forgotten and maintain a deliberate confusion with Saint John. It’s quite manipulative. Officially, they make very little reference to Father Philippe, but that’s only for outsiders,” the source explained.
For her, this latest scandal presents “an opportunity to reflect on the persistence of the ‘Philippian system.’ No matter how much effort is made to shut it down, it resurfaces elsewhere.”