The First Category of members is composed of priests and single permanent deacons living in community either in houses of formation, houses of reconciliation, retreat houses or parish rectories. These may be engaged in the following apostolate: hospice, hospital or prison ministry (death-row), drug-rehabilitation, parish ministry or retreat-work. Governance rests in the elected members of this category. They profess three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Only these members are religious members of the Disciples of Hope in the strict sense of the term.

The Second Category refers to members who belong to the diocesan clergy or members of Religious Congregations with permission from their respective bishops or superiors living in community with the Disciples of Hope and engaged in the same apostolate as the members of the first category. They retain their vows of celibate chastity and obedience, but during their stay with the Disciples of Hope their promise of obedience is transferred to the head or superior of the Disciples of Hope. They support materially the Disciples of Hope by a communion of goods.

The Third Category of members includes all priests incardinated to the Diocese of Daet who are given permission to serve as missionary associates of the Disciples of Hope. These priests become members of this category when they are accepted, trained and sent as missionaries. During their missionary work as members they transfer their promise of obedience to the head of the Disciples of Hope. Training consists of three months of preparation in the areas of spirituality, missiology, language and culture.