The Confraternity

What is the Confraternity? The Confraternity of Saint Nicholas is a public association of the faithful who, through prayer, fasting, and good works, are dedicated to the protection of all children from scandalization, abuse, and trafficking. Our Lord, He who loves innocence, said “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matt. 19:14. Yet everywhere exist powers and principalities which seek the corruption of children. Of these forces and the people who obey them, our Lord said “it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea” Matt. 18:6. The Confraternity seeks to create spiritual millstones and depths of prayer to drown those demons which inspire men and women to commit evil against children. The members of the Confraternity, by fulfilling its obligations, gain many spiritual benefits. Members enjoy the intercession of St. Nicholas, great wonder worker, Bishop, and patron of children. We pray that, as St. Nicholas defended the Divinity of Christ, he too by our prayers, fasting, and good works defends all children from harm.

Obligations and Benefits

Obligations of Confraternity Members

  1. To attend Mass or Liturgy on December 6th, the Feast of St. Nicholas, and May 9th, the Memorial of the Translation of his relics.
  2. To pray the Litany or Akathist of St. Nicholas once a week for the protection of all children and to offer the daily prayer of the Confraternity.
  3. To fast from one meal every Wednesday in reparation for sins committed against children insofar as health permits. Another form of abstinence from other pleasures may be substituted.
  4. Priestly members of the Confraternity are to offer one Mass per month for the Confraternity if able.
  5. These obligations are not binding under pain of sin. Unfulfilled obligations lead only to a loss of spiritual benefits which could have been gained.

Spiritual Benefits

  1. Fruits of masses dedicated to the Confraternity offered by its priestly members.
  2. Fruits of daily and weekly prayers of all Confraternity members.
  3. Supernatural fruits of the merits, good works, and indulgences of  the Confraternity.
  4. Partial Indulgence for members who fulfill the obligations if granted by one’s local Bishop.

Statutes

The Confraternity of Saint Nicholas is a public association of the faithful who, through prayer, fasting, and good works, are dedicated to the protection of all children from scandalization, abuse, and trafficking. Our Lord, He who loves innocence, said “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matt. 19:14. Yet everywhere exist powers and principalities which seek the corruption of children. Of these forces and the people who obey them, our Lord said “it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea” 18:6. The Confraternity seeks to create spiritual millstones and depths of prayer to drown those demons which inspire men and women to commit evil against children. The members of the Confraternity, by fulfilling its obligations, gain many spiritual benefits. Members enjoy the intercession of St. Nicholas, great wonder worker, Bishop, and patron of children. We pray that, as St. Nicholas defended the Divinity of Christ, he too by our prayers, fasting, and good works defends all children from harm.

  1. To help its members grow in holiness and devotion to St. Nicholas through prayer, fasting, and good works for the protection of all children so that they may more effectively combat the powers and principalities which seek the corruption of innocence.
  2. To spread awareness of the scandalization, abuse, and trafficking of children to the faithful so that their prayers and fasting may be increased.
  3. To hinder, bind, and stop the spiritual forces of darkness which seek the corruption of innocence.

His Excellency Bishop Mark E. Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has the authority to establish this Confraternity.

  1. To establish the Confraternity at a parish, the consent of the local pastor is required.
  2. To establish the Confraternity locally at a parish, the Pastor will send a Certificate of Affiliation to the Ordinary for approval and appoint the local promoter
  3. Upon approval of the Ordinary, the certificate is to be displayed somewhere in the parish or sacristy
  4. Subsequent local promoters and other officers may be appointed by the pastor or elected by the local membership

  1. Parishes at which the Confraternity has been established will have a Promoter of the Confraternity appointed by the local pastor.
  2. For the supervision and growth of the confraternity, Bishop Mark Brennan will appoint a General Promoter of the Confraternity.
  3. Each PC and GPC may be a priest, religious brother or sister, or a member of the laity.
  4. At the local level, a secretary is to be appointed or elected to take minutes of meetings and help with local files
  5. At the local level, a treasurer is to be appointed or elected to present a financial report at each meeting

  1. To organize and preside over quarterly meetings of Confraternity members consisting of prayers and information relevant to the cause.
  2. To regularly inform the local pastor on the Confraternity meetings and initiatives.
  3. To promote devotion to St. Nicholas as patron and protector of children.
  4. To distribute information on the various dangers facing children locally, nationally, and globally.
  5. To keep account of the number of local Confraternity members and forward this information to the General Promoter of the Confraternity.

  1. To supervise the growth of the Confraternity across the universal Church.
  2. To organize and distribute prayers and informational materials for local Promoters of the Confraternity and Confraternity members.
  3. To organize meetings of regional Promoters of the Confraternity.
  4. To publish an annual written report on the Confraternity’s growth and activities.
  5. To keep an accurate account of Confraternity membership worldwide.

  1. All the faithful who remain in full communion with the Catholic Church may become members of the Confraternity.
  2. To become a member, a candidate shall either register online, in writing, or request a Promoter of the Confraternity for admission.
  3. Admission into the Confraternity shall be recorded in the Confraternity Book and in Certificates issued to members. These certificates are to include the member’s first and last name, date of birth, and Diocese or Eparchy.

  1. To attend Mass or Liturgy on December 6th, the Feast of St. Nicholas, and May 9th, the Memorial of the Translation of his relics.
  2. To pray the Litany or Akathist of St. Nicholas once a week for the protection of all children and to offer the daily prayer of the Confraternity.
  3. To fast from one meal every Wednesday in reparation for sins committed against children insofar as health permits. Another form of abstinence from other pleasures is permitted.
  4. Priestly members of the Confraternity are to offer one Mass per month for the Confraternity if able.
  5. These obligations are not binding under pain of sin. Unfulfilled obligations lead only to a loss of spiritual benefits which could have been gained.

  1. Fruits of masses dedicated to the Confraternity offered by its priestly members.
  2. Fruits of daily and weekly prayers of all Confraternity members.
  3. Supernatural fruits of the merits, good works, and indulgences obtained by the Confraternity.
  4. Partial Indulgence granted to Confraternity members who fulfill the obligations (if granted by their local Bishop).

Click here for Bishop Mark Brennan’s Letter Announcing the Confraternity of St. Nicholas History of the Confraternity During his high school years, Adam Marquart, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, first learned of the various and severe attacks on the innocence of children.  What greatly disturbed him was how widespread these problems were as well as how unknown they were to most people. These discoveries led him to put less faith in the world and instead focus more on Christ and His Church. As time passed, he continued to see new and increasingly common efforts in the corruption of children. Toward the end of his freshman year of college, Adam began to think more and more about a prayer group to pray for children. The thought persisted in his mind and would not leave him. He decided on St. Nicholas as the patron for the group since he is the patron of children. In June 2021 he met with Bishop Mark Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston to propose the Confraternity of St. Nicholas for the Protection of All Children. After consultation and prayer, Bishop Brennan approved the Confraternity on August 8th 2021. He approved the Statutes of the Confraternity and appointed Adam Marquart as General Promoter on September 20th 2021. Bishop Brennan then published a letter to the Diocese promoting the Confraternity on October 15th 2021. The Confraternity reached 100 members on October 30th 2021. Membership continues to increase in not only the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston but also throughout the world.