On 14, 15 and 16 November 2025, no fewer than three exhibitions will be open to visitors at the Generalate of the Brothers CMM in Tilburg, the Netherlands. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase paintings. The proceeds will be used for the brothers’ mission in other countries.

Exhibition of paintings by Brother Lawrence Obiko

Brother Lawrence Obiko (Kisii, Kenya, 1962) comes from a creative Kenyan family, but only started painting when he was in the Netherlands. He took lessons from artist Monique Klaassen in Tilburg and created a small painting studio for himself in the hallway on the upper floor of the Generalate. An easel, a simple table, a trolley with paint, brushes, pastel chalk. That’s all it takes.

Brother Lawrence’s work is part of a special tradition of brother artists. His paintings are often inspired by biblical texts. This inspiration is not limited to creating an image to accompany the text; it is primarily “a way to clear my head and create space for a spiritual and biblical approach to the events in life,” says Brother Lawrence. The result is sometimes abstract, sometimes figurative, sometimes something in between. Often, it is not immediately recognisable which biblical story is being depicted, but that is not the intention. For Brother Lawrence, the process is more important than the end result. But those end results are certainly worthwhile. The paintings are particularly colourful and often have a lively texture.

In the Chapter Hall: Exhibition ‘Art Brothers’

In 2019, on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the congregation, there was an exhibition and sale of works of the brothers Alfons Aerts (1919-1979), Humberto Wouters (1920-1999), Antoon Brugmans (1916-1987), Vincenzo de Kok (1911-1997), and Paschalius Vervest (1923-1989). This event was entitled ‘Kunstbroeders’ (‘Art Brothers’). The exhibition was followed up during an attic sale in 2023, and on 14-15-16 November 2025, the remaining works from this collection, supplemented with paintings by other brother artists, will once again be on display and available for purchase.

In the corridor and chapel: Exhibition ‘Mission of Mercy. The Brothers of Tilburg’

Twelve panels with text, images and objects from the brothers’ collection tell the story of the Brothers CMM, better known as the ‘Brothers of Tilburg’. Who was Joannes Zwijsen, and why did he start the congregation of brothers? How did they get their official name: Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy? Who were the first brothers? Why were schools established? How did the story continue in the Netherlands and Belgium? What does Zwijsen Publishers have to do with it? Who was Brother Andreas? How did the brothers end up in overseas territories? Are there still brothers in the Netherlands today? Who are the Ambassadors of a Worldwide Brotherhood? What is the Movement of Mercy? This exhibition answers these questions.

Source: https://www.cmmbrothers.org/