New Jersey Household
Jersey Roots
“I am the Vine, you are the branches”
The New Jersey Household is a place of refuge and a center of mission. Situated on the edge of Rutgers and facing Buccleuch Park, our home is a place of hospitality, prayer, and outreach.
Household Story
A Homecoming to Our Jersey Roots
Our story in New Brunswick is one of homecoming. Shortly after the Brotherhood was founded in New Jersey, the Brothers began their first campus outreach at Rutgers University. In 2005, we were invited back to these “Jersey roots” to serve at the Rutgers Catholic Center by Bishop Paul Bootkoski of the Diocese of Metuchen.
Upon returning to New Brunswick, we began the search for a permanent residence. When one of the Brothers discovered the house at 18 Lafayette Street, he felt an immediate conviction that this was the home God had intended for us. Though the owner—who had grown up in the house—was initially hesitant to sell, he eventually saw the mutual blessing the Brotherhood would bring to the neighborhood. In a beautiful providential detail, the late Bob Bunsa, father of Br. Rahl Bunsa, served as the realtor for the purchase, marking his final official sale.
Since the purchase in 2006, the house has been transformed through years of “sweat equity” by the Brothers and many gracious friends. Today, nearly every square foot has been renovated, much of it by the Brothers’ own hands. A significant milestone occurred in 2020 with the addition of the St. Pier Giorgio Frassati Chapel. A gift made possible by generous donors, the chapel serves as a true sanctuary of peace and refuge amidst the restless energy of campus life.
Our household remains a hub of active service, supporting the Rutgers Catholic Center, St. Peter’s University and Community Parish, Petros Young Adults, and local outreach to the poor. Beyond our external ministry, our weekly guest night opens the heart of our home to many as a place of hospitality, rest, and rich family life.