Category: FOL

UD Grad Named Cardinal

Pope Francis named Archbishop Francis Leo of Toronto, a two-time graduate of the University of Dayton, among 21 people from around the world as a cardinal. The installment ceremony, known as the Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals, was held on Dec. 7 in Vatican City, Italy. Click here to watch a recording of the ceremony.

Leo graduated from the joint International Marian Research Institute (IMRI) program between UD and the Marianium in Rome. He earned his Sacred Theological Licentiate in 2002 and his Sacred Theological Doctorate in 2004. His dissertation, The Virgin Mother in the Sermons of Fra Girolamo Savonarola, was directed by Fr. Thomas Thompson, S.M. and may be downloaded through the UD eCommons website.

Beyond his service as an ordained minister of the Church, Cardinal-elect Leo has maintained an active scholarly life. Gloria Dodd, research professor in IMRI and the UD Department of Religious Studies, recalled Cardinal-elect Leo as a “wonderful colleague” during his tenure teaching at the International Marian Research Institute, which marks its 50th anniversary in 2024. Click here to read more, including a prayer for all the cardinals.

Christmas on Campus

St. Mary’s University’s annual Christmas celebration transformed the Texas campus into a wintery wonderland as carolers sang around the Nativity and the Christmas tree was lighted. The Alumni Association collected unwrapped new toys from guests to support the St. Mary’s University Miracle on 36th Street toy drive.

The University of Dayton (UD) celebrated its 61st Christmas on Campus with more than 1,000 Dayton Public School students. Undergraduates were paired with students for a free night of fun, which included pictures with Santa, a live Nativity, crafts, model trains, treats and more.

“Christmas on Campus is a time for us to spread joy and connect with our community,” said co-chair Claire Ogburn. “UD’s Catholic and Marianist heritage places an emphasis on community, and we are so lucky to have the opportunity to continue this tradition.”

It has become one of the nation’s largest single-day, on-campus community service events. It has a student organization devoted to preparing and running this event, which is considered an integral part of the campus spirit.

Last Moments of Fr. Chaminade

This month’s archival treasure takes you into the archives vault located in Treadaway Hall on the campus of St. Mary’s University. Bro. Henri Vabre, SM (1895-1984) created the oil on canvas painting seen below, which is titled and depicts “The Last Moments of Fr. Chaminade” as imagined by Bro. Henri. This is one of two renditions of the same painting showing the scene of Blessed Chaminade in his final hours.

If you’d like to see more images from the archives, visit and “like” this Facebook page.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

Adopt-a-Family Harvest Food Drive

Students at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory in Hollywood, FL, participated in the 16th Annual Adopt-a-Family Harvest Drive. The school’s Interact Club sponsors this long-standing tradition, which involves working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Little Flower Parish to feed families in the greater Hollywood area. This year, they collected enough food products and personal items to feed and help more than 100 families in the community.

“This event manifests our school’s Marianist Charism, especially in its social justice dimension. As Marianist educators, we are called to educate for service, justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. The Adopt-a-Family Harvest Drive inspires students to apply what they learn about God, work toward a better world, and put it into practice through concrete actions,” said the school’s Director of Mission Integration Bro. Jack Ventura.

Students Respond to Call of the Poor

St. Mary’s South Side Catholic High School in St. Louis, MO, answered the call to help a local food pantry whose stocks were critically low going into the holiday season.  With no time to spare, a school-wide food drive was launched.  Despite a fair portion of the students being underserved themselves, they responded immediately, delivering a carload of food to the pantry well before their Christmas break began.

FamilyOnline Submissions

We welcome and encourage submissions of interest to our nearly 3,600 subscribers. Please send them to Theresa Petry.

Enhancing Worship for Children With Disabilities

The University of Dayton received a nearly $1.2 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to create and enhance worship opportunities for children with disabilities.

The funding comes from Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, which helps Christian congregations engage children in meaningful intergenerational worship and prayer practices.

“We want to make worship come alive for children with disabilities, whose needs and gifts are often overlooked,” said Jana Bennett, chair of UD’s religious studies department and initiative leader.

The work will address accessibility concerns such as cost and space that often prevent churches from including these children in worship in meaningful ways. UD faculty from disability and ministry is working with 12 congregations in the Dayton region to address this during the next five years to test and develop new worship practices using Montessori-based materials. The team aims to produce 24 practical worship aids that enhance participation for children with disabilities. Additionally, they will develop a resource book with theologies of children and disability and adaptable prayer practices.

Click here to read more.

Lay Marianist Community Makes National News

The Lay Marianist Community, called Spiritus, was created when the Queen of Apostles parish in Dayton, OH, closed last December. The first Spiritus gathering occurred on Epiphany, and its debut was successful. While about 80 people of the 120 original congregation continue, members realize they need younger members in order to remain sustainable.

The National Catholic Reporter delves into the work it requires and highlights how it may be a model for other parish communities facing similar situations. Click here to read the full story.

Saluting Our Veterans

Veterans were honored across the campuses of many Marianist schools. At the University of Dayton Research Institute, a breakfast was held to honor the many veterans among the ranks there. A drive, in collaboration with the local Blue Star Mothers, was also held to collect and provide items for troops currently serving overseas. At St. Mary’s University, veterans and their families were welcomed to the Barrett Memorial Bell Tower for a prayer service and show of gratitude.

Baby Boom Build

Did you know the Marianists were asked to build a high school to accommodate a baby boom?

Maryhurst, sitting on more than 100 acres in Kirkwood, MO, served as a Marianist novitiate beginning in 1921, but the landscape was transformed in 1960 when St. John Vianney High School was built on the tract.

By the late 1950s, the first wave of Baby Boom babies started crowding the local high school, so St. Louis Archbishop Joseph Ritter proposed a new private Catholic high school for boys in south St. Louis County. At the archbishop’s request, the Society of Mary agreed to sponsor the school built on the grounds of Maryhurst. Classes began in the fall of 1960 with 33 seniors, 35 juniors, 35 sophomores, 215 freshmen and a faculty comprised of 13 Marianists and two lay teachers.

Today, the Marianist novitiate is located in Dayton, OH, on the grounds of Mount Saint John. However, a Maryhurst namesake remains in MO—the Maryhurst Memorial Cemetery remains on the grounds in Kirkwood. Click here to discover some of those memorialized there.

If you’d like to see images from the archives, visit and “like” this Facebook page.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

Advent Retreats Available

All three of the Marianist retreat centers are offering retreats for the Advent season.

ALIVE Magazine – Fall Edition

The new fall edition of ALIVE magazine is now available.

Inside, you will discover why an 85-year-old former St. Mary’s University employee refers to Marianist giants, the reason the Marianist Novitiate is compared to a reality show, and how a Black Orchard cake is a cause for celebration.

Click here to read those stories and more in the digital version.

FamilyOnline Submissions

We welcome and encourage submissions of interest to our nearly 3,600 subscribers. Please send them to Theresa Petry.

Marianist World Day of Prayer

This year, Marianist World Day of Prayer was observed on Oct. 13, 2024, and highlighted the National Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Africa, Mother of All Graces. Located in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, this shrine is a place of prayer, spirituality, and pilgrimage – welcoming 4,000 pilgrims a week. The brothers in that community place particular emphasis on welcoming pilgrims as part of the Pastoral Care program.

During the 1970s, Lay Marianist affiliates in St. Louis, MO, began a prayerful gathering on the Sunday closest to Oct. 12, the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar. The Provincial at the time, Fr. Quentin Hakenewerth, invited the whole Province of St. Louis to join in prayer. When Fr. Quentin was elected  General Assistant for Religious Life in Rome in 1981, he invited the worldwide Marianist Family to share in the annual gathering. Fr. Jose Maria Arnaiz, elected General Assistant for Religious Life in 1991, extended the annual day of prayer by identifying a specific Marian shrine each year. Click here to read more.

Ribbon Cutting Unveils Cutting-Edge Innovation Center

St. Mary’s University and its School of Science, Engineering, and Technology officially opened its new $20-million Blank Sheppard Innovation Center.

The 30,000-square-foot facility, which broke ground in the fall of 2022, will support Advanced Manufacturing research and instruction. It features laboratories, including Robotics and Smart Manufacturing, Data Science and Machine Learning, Engineering Design, and classrooms. The Center will also house labs and classrooms dedicated to the new Nursing Program, which St. Mary’s University launched this fall. The School of Science, Engineering, and Technology plans to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

“So many partners — our St. Mary’s University family, donors, area officials and more — created the momentum to bring the vision of the Blank Sheppard Innovation Center to reality,” said St. Mary’s University President Dr. Winston Erevelles. “This incredible new facility represents one of the tenets of a Marianist education: to educate for adaptation and change.”

St. Mary’s University was also recently ranked number one in U.S. News & World Report as the Best Value in the West. The 2025 ranking also highlights the university’s excellence in social mobility and serving veterans. Click here to read more.

Catholic Bioethics

Chaminade University of Honolulu (CUH) hosted a Marianist Lecture Series featuring a presentation by a professor known for her work in the fields of bioethics, ethics, medicine, and theology.

Therese Lysaught, PhD, is a tenured professor at Loyola University Chicago, teaching in the Stritch School of Medicine’s Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Health Care Leadership, as well as the university’s Institute of Pastoral Studies.

Her lecture, titled “Catholic Bioethics: Catholic Social Tradition and Human Flourishing,” was held in the Mystical Rose Oratory at CUH and focused on how Catholic social tradition “can help expand how we think about the moral dimensions of illness, health, and medicine and their ethical implications.”

Click here if you’d like to listen to a recording of the lecture.

Tidings For You

Did you know that in its inaugural volume last fall, the Marian Library’s updated newsletter, Tidings, won a national public relations award?

In its newest publication, the Marian Library celebrates the 25th anniversary of one of its most popular — and largest — sculptures, introduces you to some of the new items added to its collections, reflects on a special day with Catholic educators, and provides a by-the-numbers look at the past year’s successes. Click here to read Tidings: An Annual Communiqué from the Marian Library.

Click here if you would like to sign up to receive the annual Tidings.

Also, mark your calendars for Sunday, Nov. 10, at 3 p.m.! The Marian Library is co-sponsoring a musical performance by The Marian Consort in the Roger Glass Center for the Arts. The concert will be perfectly in tune with the Christmas exhibit Joy to the World!, which will feature nativities and artwork accompanied by beloved Christmas music from around the world. Visit go.udayton.edu/christmas-exhibit for updated information.

Memory Lane Provides History and Health Benefits

The Marianists have 175 years of history in the United States, which means 175 years of documents, photographs, blueprints and buildings, artwork and members. Keeping track of all these items, researching them, and correctly identifying them is a monumental task. Who better to help recollect than those of an older generation?

That is why the National Archives of the Marrianist Province of the United States recruited members of the Marianist Residence Community in San Antonio to help identify some of the countless photos in its collection.

The trip down memory lane, with the brothers adding anecdotes and life stories to the pictures, also provided health benefits to the assistants.

According to Psychology Today, nostalgia is a social-cognitive-emotional experience that can motivate us to reconnect with and enhance our appreciation of loved ones in our present. Research also shows that reminiscence therapy, or storytelling, is a form of therapy that can improve quality of life and life satisfaction and help alleviate symptoms of depression in older adults.

The Marianist Province Archives is indeed a “place of memory” where the life of the Province in the United States, within the larger body of the Society of Mary, is documented.

If you’d like to see images from the archives, visit and “like” this Facebook page.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

Marian Consecration

Earlier this month, six students in the current Marianist Lay Community in San Antonio, TX, made their Marian Consecration at St. Mary’s University. They were joined by a student in an earlier MLC who was not able to make her consecration with her MLC. In addition, Paul Pruski, an Aspirant, and Julie Sanchez of the Stella Maris MLC, who are helping form the group, also made their consecration. In the photo, the students are holding their signed consecration forms.

Seen in picture Back Row: Arlene Chaidez, Paul Pruski, Nick Urbina, Ulisis Rodriguez, Brianna Valadez, and Fr. John Thompson; Front row: Bro. Dan Klco, Julie Sanchez,  Anne Steck, Esmeralda Lopez, and Emily Do

Check It Out Now – Funk Soul Students

University of Dayton (UD) students won the collegiate equivalent of an Emmy award for their documentary about Dayton’s funk music scene. Funk: The Sound of Dayton won in the non-fiction long-form category of the 2024 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Student Production Awards, Ohio Valley Chapter. The film explores the origins of funk in Dayton and its cultural impact.

“It’s about the music — the fusion of jazz and blues and rock — but the real story is about the people and the history they built around that type of style,” said Brayden Chayer, ’24, who is credited as a writer, audio editor, and production manager for the film. “It was really great to be recognized for highlighting the voices of people in the community who still live here and had such an important impact,” Chayer said. Read more on UD’s website.

FamilyOnline Submissions

We welcome and encourage submissions of interest to our nearly 3,600 subscribers. Please send them to Theresa Petry.

Marianist Educational Associates Launch New Year

St. Mary’s University Marianist Educational Associates (MEA), President Winston Erevelles, and Marianist Religious gathered at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in San Antonio, TX, to celebrate and launch the 2024-2025 academic year.

The Marianist Educational Associates is an initiative among the three Marianist universities to build strong partners with members of the Society of Mary. Each year, faculty, staff, and administrators are invited to deepen their understanding of and commitment to the traditions and beliefs of a Marianist community.

The formation program includes readings, reflections, and insights sharing. MEAs meet once a month from Sept. to May to continue their formation by developing, strengthening, and advancing our Catholic and Marianist philosophy of education. At the end of the academic year, during a special service, MEAs make a public commitment to sustain and enrich the university’s Catholic and Marianist character.

National Merit Scholars and Acing the ACT

Two students at Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, OH, have been named National Merit^® Semifinalists. A certificate from the National Merit^® Scholarship Cooperation will be presented to William Bimonte and Alexander Rose on Oct. 28, 2024.

These academically talented high school seniors now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for thousands of scholarships worth nearly $26 million. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Alex Rose earned another impressive honor – a perfect ACT score! The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science, each scored on a scale of 1-36. Only about one-quarter of 1% of students who take the ACT earn a top score. In the U.S. high school class of 2023, only 2,542 out of more than 1.39 million students earned a score of 36.

“We are so proud of Will and Alex. They earned this honor through hard work, dedication, and intellectual curiosity. They exemplify what it means to be a Man of Moeller through their dedication and commitment to excellence. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish beyond Moeller,” said Dr. Christine Brookbank, provost of Archbishop Moeller High School.

The Legacy of Chaminade University – Honolulu

The first Marianists arrived on the island of Hawaii in 1883. A new video recently released pays homage to the Society of Mary’s deep roots in Hawaii. It delves into the bond Marianists made with the royal family before the monarchy was overthrown and how that relationship helped create an educational venture that celebrated the unique cultural aspects of the islands. Click here to experience the Chaminade Mission Tour, which takes you from ‘Iolani Palace to the original Saint Louis College to the current university and beyond.

Blue Army: Joining the Ranks of Our Lady

What do Our Lady of Fatima and the apparitions in Portugal have to do with Russia? Michele Jennings, an archivist in the Marian Library, researches the history of this image.

In 1946, the head of the Scapular Apostolate, American John Haffert, traveled to Portugal to meet with Lúcia dos Santos who witnessed the apparitions, and the origins of the Blue Army came into focus. Joining forces with Monsignor Harold Colgan in 1947, the two worked to found the Blue Army and bring the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fátima on a tour of the United States. Millions of American Catholics honored the Pilgrim Virgin and prayed for the conversion of Russia. Devotion to Fátima in the United States took off during the Cold War and made anticommunist sentiment a mainstream aspect of American life as well as American Catholic religious and political practice. This included pop culture, such as the popular song “Our Lady of Fátima,” originally performed by Gladys Gollahon and eventually covered by jazz singer Tony Bennett.  By 1952, membership had reached two million.

Click here to read more.

If you’d like to see images from the archives, visit and “like” this Facebook page.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

“A Spectacle of Saints” Community Meeting Kit

The North American Center for Marianist Studies has released a new Community Meeting Kit, “A Spectacle of Saints.” It explores the Marianist candidates on the path to sainthood and how we are blessed with ordinary saints in our lives today. As we approach All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, this meditative and prayerful resource can be a wonderful way to engage your community with the themes of Christian sainthood.

Click here to download the free kit.

Retreat on “Seeing God in All Creation”

The Marianist Retreat and Conference Center (MRCC) is offering a weekend retreat based on Laudato  Si’. The focus will be on the call for action to protect the Earth. It will be held Oct. 11-13 and will include large group presentations, small group discussions, and plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful grounds of MRCC. It is located on 120 acres in Wildwood, MO, and offers ample opportunities to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation through personal reflection, outdoor prayer experiences, and hiking. Click here for more information and registration.

FamilyOnline Submissions

We welcome and encourage submissions of interest to our nearly 3,600 subscribers. Please send them to Theresa Petry.

Renewal of Vows

The Marianist Sisters in Dayton celebrated the renewal of temporary vows for Srs. Emily Sandoval and Rose Rucoba on Wednesday, July 31st. Fr. Timothy Eden presided at the Mass. Bro. Dennis Bautista and novices Alex Roman and Pepe Gutierrez also participated in the blessing and the following meal. Congratulations, Emily and Rose and blessings on your continuing ministries!

Lost Larynx But Not Gift Of Gab

Bro. Walter Hausfeld (1897-1981) had his voice box removed in 1961 while teaching at a school in Cleveland, OH. But this Marianist Brother didn’t let a thing like that silence him. He was described in his obituary as “a self-made optimist.”

He spent the greater part of his life teaching in various schools of the Society of Mary, from New York to Pennsylvania and Ohio to California. When his voice became hard to hear, he started using a loudspeaker in his classes at Purcell High School, where he taught mechanical drawing.

Hausfeld mastered the esophageal speech method to retain his oral communication ability. An article published in the Catholic Telegraph in 1964 focused on his health hardships and perseverance, which earned him the reputation of “a great talker who would not be denied the gift of his tongue.”

If you’d like to see images from the archives, visit and “like” this Facebook page.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

BROTHER DANIEL KLCO

50 Years of profession

I first met the Marianists in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1970 when I needed a place to stay while attending Western Michigan University. At the time, I was discerning the diocesan priesthood, but the experience of prayer, community, and ministry in the community and the example of the brothers’ lives changed everything. Click here to read more.

FATHER ROBERT BOUFFIER

50 years of ordination

Fr. Robert Bouffier entered the Marianist Novitiate in Rose Hill, VA, in 1966 after graduating from Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY. He professed his first vows in August 1967 in Charlottesville, VA, and graduated from University of Dayton in 1970. Fr. Bob finished his MA in theology in 1972 and went on to study theology at the Boston College-Andover Newton Joint Doctoral Program. He was ordained a priest in November 1974. Click here to read more.

FATHER JAMES FITZ

50 years of ordination

In the book of Proverbs, we read: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”    Marianist life has given me a vision. It is a vision expressed well in the opening chapter of our Rule of Life: “Our goal is to be transformed into His (Christ’s) likeness and to work for the coming of His kingdom.” (article 2). In whatever I have done as a Marianist religious, the vision and dream of God’s kingdom have been the inspiration for my ministry and life. Click here to read more.

FATHER JOHN THOMPSON

25 years of ordination

It has been a joy to serve the Church and the Society of Mary as a priest these past 25 years.  Celebrating the sacraments, preaching, accompanying youth and young adults on their faith journey, and being with people in their most joyous times and in their most vulnerable times have been a gift to my life. Serving as a Marianist priest in schools, parishes, positions of leadership and in the missions allowed me to share the gift of our Marianist Charism in various cultures and different languages. Click here to read more.

Solidarity Walk in St. Louis

The Archdiocese of St. Louis Immigration Task Force and St Louis University are hosting a Solidarity Walk and Mass in honor of the World Day for Migrants and Refugees. The Mass will be on September 29, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral.

The Marianist Province of the U.S. is a proud sponsor of this event. The Catholic Church has been celebrating World Day of Migrants and Refugees since 1914; this will be its 110th celebration. The Archdiocese reminds us as Catholics that it is important to stand in solidarity with our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters, and we believe this event will be a public way to show support.

There is no need to RSVP. Bring one of your community members and/or a friend to the walk and the Mass celebration with Bishop Rivituso. Click the picture for more details.

Embark on a Marianist Encounters Journey

The entire Marianist Family and ministries are invited to a transformative weekend at the Marianist Encounters Conference in Dayton, OH, at Bergamo Center, Mount Saint John, Oct. 3-6, 2024. This immersive gathering will deepen the commitment to Pope Francis’ calls to action through the Global Compact on Education and Laudato Si’ initiatives.

Registration is open! The program includes:

• Field trips & site visits to Marianist ministries and dialogues on justice themes
• Tours of Mount Saint John’s 100 acres of natural areas and sustainability features including the solar farm
• Plenary talks, workshops & breakout sessions led by experts from Marianist ministries
• Prayer, reflection, and networking

Join us as we encounter Mary’s spirit of hope and renew our commitment to promoting justice, the integrity of creation, and global education.

Learn about the Marianist Family Encounters Project goals, view conference information, and register here. For questions, contact the co-chairs: Bro. Jesse O’Neill, SM or Sr. Leanne Jablonski, FMI.

FamilyOnline Submissions

We welcome and encourage submissions of interest to our nearly 3,600 subscribers. Please send them to Theresa Petry.

New Office of Sponsorship Coordinator

The Marianist Province of the U.S. is pleased to welcome DeDe Barth to its Office of Sponsorship. In her new role as Coordinator, DeDe will assume the responsibilities of the Marianist LIFE Coordinator and offer support to formation programs.

DeDe most recently worked as the operations manager for the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur in Fort Worth, Texas. Prior to this role, she served as the Director of Campus Ministry at Nolan Catholic High School, where she developed a passion for the Marianist Charism and, specifically, for the mission of Marianist LIFE.

In her 15 years with LIFE, she’s obtained vast and varied experience, along with her perspective as a theology teacher, campus minister, and Mission Integration Team member.

Stanley, Meet Chaminade

Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk (’16) posted a photo on social media of himself and his brother Brady Tkachuk (’18), who plays for the Ottawa Senators. The two are seen on the steps of their high school alma mater, Chaminade College Preparatory in St. Louis, bookending the Stanley Cup, which the Panthers won this year.

Tkachuk had the Stanley Cup for an extended amount of time, taking it to several of his hometown hotspots, such as the Budweiser brewery, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, his elementary school Villa Duchesne, local police and fire stations, and an Italian eatery, where toasted ravioli may or may not have been dipped in marinara from Lord Stanley.

To see more pics from Tkachuk and Stanley’s St. Louis visit, click on NHL.com and Florida Hockey Now.

Mary’s Vocation

In today’s world, a religious vocation is not a common path. The Marianists have forever encouraged people of faith to follow their calling. A vocation is an integral part of sharing the Marianist devotion to the Blessed Mother and helping others answer the call to serve the community and the Church.

Pictured here is a different kind of vocation poster in 1983 — about Mary’s vocation. It highlights a quote from Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, “Some persons complain of the pompous praises given to Mary; they have not known the gift of God in this miracle of His omnipotence. How great is the vocation of Mary, through whom God gives Jesus to the world!”

If you’d like to see images from the archives, visit and “like” this Facebook page.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

BROTHER ROGER BAU

60 Years of profession

Bro. Roger Bau was born in Milwaukee, WI, on Sept. 1, 1945. He attended Holy Redeemer Grade School and St. John Cathedral High School. He went on to graduate from St. Mary’s University with a B.A. in History, Notre Dame University with an M.B.A. in Not-for-Profit Institutions, and Loyola University with a Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies. Click here to read more.

BROTHER JAMES CONTADINO

60 years of profession

Thank you, Lord, for helping me to choose to remain a Marianist religious, a member of a community of men as part of the larger Family of Mary, consecrated to her, calling others to work together to bring life. With Mary as our model, we are helped to carry in us the care and tenderness that welcomes and heals, the courage to “Do whatever He tells you,” and the faith and endurance to stand at the foot of the cross. Click here to read more.

BROTHER LAWRENCE CORBIN

60 years of profession

Looking back on my 60 years as a Marianist, the one word that keeps coming up is ‘CHANGE.’ Change in the World, Church, Society of Mary, The Province, Community, Ministry, and Self. The only thing that did not change was the Lord’s love for me. There were times when I questioned this love, but Mary would remind me that Her and the Lord’s love was there. Click here to read more.

FATHER TIMOTHY EDEN

60 years of profession

The brothers at Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco were my inspiration for joining the Society of Mary. Their commitment to the students was part of it, but the fraternity they showed us in their life together, and the masculine, religious tone they gave to the school were what convinced me that I wanted to join them. It is the Society that taught me how to love scripture and has sustained me throughout the years. And it is the Society that taught me to love Mary and appreciate the power of her presence and meaning in the church. Click here to read more.

BROTHER JOHN HABJAN

60 years of profession

I became impressed with the Marianists while a student at Cathedral Latin School. They were a very happy community of Marianists. I can remember them standing on the porch of the Marianist residence laughing. I was thinking of joining the Marianists when a brother encouraged me to do so. I joined a group of students who talked with the Marianists about joining. The rest is history; I went to the novitiate in July 1963. I know I still have a lot to learn and a lot to share with my brothers. I am extremely grateful to Mary and to my brothers for all I have learned through my years as a Marianist. Click here to read more.

BROTHER RONALD OVERMAN

60 years of profession

“Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” That quote from Corinthians sums up much of my life as a Marianist. I’ve been blessed with many opportunities and experiences these past 60 years.

I look upon the experiences and ministries in the past and realize that each one brought unique and gifted people with whom to work. I was blessed to have so many generous people as colleagues. I think the Society of Mary mirrors the quote from Corinthians, we have many gifts and a variety of ways of using them for the ministry of the Church. Click here to read more.

BROTHER THOMAS PIEPER

60 years of profession

What attracted me to Marianist life? The Marianist Brothers and Priests who taught in my high school inspired me to live this life. I liked how they went out of their way to help others, treated everyone as equals and lived a strong faith and community life. They were the teachers who were really alive at the school. They made me and everyone else feel important and worthwhile. I liked how they prayed, lived in community and were very happy with their lives. As I celebrate this 60th year of my Marianist profession, I am so grateful for my Marianist vocation and for the many brothers, family and friends who helped, challenged and walked with me to live this sacred and wonderful Marianist life each day! Click here to read more.

One Great Family

“One Great Family: Marianist Fraternity and Inclusion” is a new three-week online conversation group utilizing the documentary “Renewal, Fidelity, and Community: The Society of Mary General Chapter of 1981” (produced by NACMS) to provoke discussion about the roles of fraternity and inclusion in our lives. Participants will watch the documentary before the first conversation and will revisit small portions of it, in addition to reading short articles during those three weeks.

Sessions will be held on Zoom from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (ET) on the following Tuesdays: Sept. 10, Sept. 17, and Sept. 24. The cost to participate is $15. Registration is available through the NACMS online bookstore and must be received by Thursday, Sept. 5.

FamilyOnline Submissions

We welcome and encourage submissions of interest to our nearly 3,600 subscribers. Please send them to Theresa Petry.

Service Awards

Sr. Grace Walle, FMI, was recently honored by the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative for more than 20 years of service on the Anti-Death Penalty and Restorative Justice Issue Team.  She has also served on the MSJC Steering Committee for 14 years.  Bob Stoughton, one of the first Marianist volunteers, was also honored for more than 20 years on the issue team, many as chair.  Lay and religious Marianists from the Dayton, OH, area attended the awards event along with leaders from Death Penalty Action and local members of Ohians to Stop Executions.

Serra Immortal Awarded to Provincial Council Member

Congratulations to Fr. Tim Kenney, Assistant for Religious Life of the Marianist Province of the U.S. He was one of three alumni from Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, CA, honored at an awards luncheon as a Serra Immortal. The school describes a Cavalier Serra Immortal as an alumni, coach, administrator, or dedicated supporter who, after leaving the school, excelled in their chosen field and promoted the school’s advancement. It is someone who inspires both current and future Cavaliers to dream of achieving the same distinction.

“Fr. Kenney is an example of an alumnus who has made exceptional accomplishments in the education field. Through the years, Fr. Tim has given exceptional service in local, state, national, and world affairs, which has made a positive impact on society,” said Serra Alumni Association President Brian Cooper.

Some of Fr. Tim’s family and friends who attended the ceremony included province employee Kathy Cooper, Marianist Brother Fr. Ted Ley, his brother Kevin Kenney, sister Theresa Kenney Martinez, Lay Marianists Marty and Doloris Procaccio, Marianist pilgrimage participants Terry O’Neill and Diane Lawrence, as well as Tom and Ellen Celaya and fellow ’73 graduate Michael Lievans.

Celebrating 175 Years of Marianists in America

With Mary as their model, the Marianists arrived in the U.S. in 1849, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to begin building communities of faith. That makes this year – the 175th anniversary – a milestone to celebrate! See the images below for background on the first U.S. Provincial and the start of what is now University of Dayton. If you’d like to read more on Fr. Meyer and the joys and struggles of founding the Society of Mary in the United States, the North American Center for Marianist Studies has a book available. Click here for more information.

If you’d like to see images from the archives, visit and “like” this Facebook page.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

BROTHER WILLIAM BOLTS

70 Years of profession

I was born on September 7, 1935, in San Francisco, CA. I attended St. John the Evangelist Grade School, Archbishop Riordan High School, and Saint Mary’s College. I earned a master’s degree from UCLA and a PhD from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. I am thankful to God and Mary, my family, my nurturing home parish, and fellow Marianists. To all who made this unfold — I am most thankful! I am most grateful to have been called to be a Marianist religious brother in a society founded by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade for the glory of God and the honor of Mary. Click here to read more.

FATHER TIMOTHY DWYER

70 Years of profession

Thinking back over these years, I’ve come to realize how important “family” has been throughout my entire life. I was born an only child but into a large, extended Irish-American family. I don’t think I was ever very conscious of being an “only.” We actually referred to our family as a “tribe” – parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and numerous cousins. We belonged to each other. So, family was important to me from the beginning. What has been most rewarding has been living in community and working side by side with men and women committed to embodying the spirit of Jesus and Mary in their lives and in the lives of others. That, for me, is what Marianist priesthood is all about. Click here to read more.

BROTHER WILLIAM GRUNDISH

70 Years of profession

I have enjoyed my life as a Marianist. My life as an active Marianist could be seen as a life as a teacher, a counselor, and a coach. My life as a Marianist is a constant backdrop to this life. When I began teaching, I was more interested in “doing the job.” Over time, I discovered that being a Marianist, I took in more than the students I taught, counseled, or coached and all whom I met. Finally, is my life as a Marianist. When I retired from working in high schools and moved to Cincinnati, I realized more clearly my life as a life of service to the people with whom I work and to my community. Click here to read more.

BROTHER IRWIN WACHTEL

70 Years of profession

I was born on February 21, 1936, in Smithton, IL. My formal education included Saint John the Baptist Grade School, Maryhurst Postulate, Marynook Novitiate and St. Mary’s University, where I earned a degree in History.  A neighbor’s family had a son who was a Marianist whom I admired. I entered the postulate at Maryhurst, which led to the novitiate. I was always interested in things scientific and technological, and I enjoyed providing for the physical needs of the community and institution wherever I was assigned. It has been a fulfilling life dedicated to the advancement of the kingdom of God. Click here to read more.

FATHER BERTRAND BUBY

60 Years of ordination

I was born and raised in Braddock, Pennsylvania. I professed my first vows in Marcy, New York, in 1952 and was ordained in 1964 in Fribourg, Switzerland with 24 other Marianists from other Provinces of the Society of Mary. My service includes ministry at high schools, University of Dayton, the Provincial Council and the International Marian Research Institute. There are so many graces we have received in these many years. “What can I ask of the Lord? I will take up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will say my vows to the Lord.” Psalm 116:12-14. Click here to read more.

FATHER JAMES RUSSELL

60 Years of ordination

As a grade-schooler at St. Norbert parish in Pittsburgh, I greatly admired our associate pastor. This led me to choose the priesthood as my vocation, and I entered a high school seminary. Having failed freshman algebra, I had to retake it in summer school. It was available at North Catholic, where I met some impressive Marianists. As they say, the rest is history. I am profoundly grateful for having been called to the Marianist life – a life of ministry and service flowing from faith and Fr. Chaminade’s charism. The motto I chose in the novitiate was “Behold your Mother.”  Click here to read more.

FamilyOnline Submissions

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Chaminade University Awarded $1.5 Million

The U.S. Senate passed the second half of a bipartisan government funding bill that included $31.8 million in new congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks, secured by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. Chaminade University of Honolulu was awarded $1.5 million,  which will be used to build the capacity of the Higher Education in Prison program to expand it from male prisoners only to include incarcerated women as well as a bachelor’s track. Click here to read more.

Did You Know?

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979), among the most well-known churchmen of the 20th century – garnering the cover of Time magazine in 1952 – was taught by the Brothers of Mary. He graduated from Spalding Institute in Peoria, IL, in 1913. The Marianists staffed this school from 1899-1933.

An extraordinary communicator, Fulton began the “Catholic Hour” radio program in 1932 and, from 1951 to 1957, hosted the highly acclaimed television series “Life is Worth Living.” Fr. Lawrence Monheim, S.M. (1905-1985) presented Sheen with the Marian Library Medal in 1953, the same year he won an Emmy Award—the only time an Emmy was given to a religious program in prime-time TV.

On his show, he mentioned the “daily three Hail Marys” he remembered from the Brothers of Mary in high school, who he described as “excellent teachers, given to discipline, yet much beloved.”

If you’d like to see images from the archives, visit and “like” this Facebook page.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

Dedication of Blessed Chaminade Bust on Maui

On April 17, 2024, Fr. Roland Bunda blessed a bronze bust sculpture of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade at St. Anthony of Padua Church and School on Maui. He was accompanied by the ‘Ohana ‘O Malia Marianist Lay Community, Oahu Lay Marianists, Monsignor Terrence Watanabe, Parochial Vicar Fr. Ese Ese “Ace” Tui, and other guests.

When the Marianist priests and brothers left Maui on June 30, 2021, Most Rev. Bishop Larry Silva dedicated a perpetual area in the church courtyard, including a glass enclosure, to commemorate the 138 years of pastoral care to the parish.

Provincial Fr. Oscar Vasquez commissioned a bust sculpture of Blessed Chaminade by Emeterio Valderrabano Garrido in Mexico. The local Marianist Lay Community then researched an appropriate pedestal to enhance the statue and secured the expertise of sculptor Tim Garcia. He created a harmonious balance of shape and form to let the natural beauty of Maui influence his work. The finished product is a wooden pedestal clad in marble, showcasing two commemorative plaques with the Marianist logo and dates. Click here to see more pictures.

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St. John Vianney High School began every day of its Mission Week in March with a lesson on Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School (OLN), located in the largest and worst slum in Nairobi, Kenya. For the 1,900 children enrolled at OLN, education offers an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty in which they were born.

Students at Vianney partnered with OLN, raising enough money during its 2024 Mission Week to sponsor a classroom for a year. The relationship developed when Fr. Gabriel Kirangah, the director of OLN, had his students write letters to the students of Vianney. For two years now, students from the two Marianist schools have been corresponding.

In 2023, students donated enough money to build a water point at the school. This year, Ministry Lead and Marketing/Communication Director Sapna Jos reports more than $6,000 was raised. “Mission Week this year included competitions and a coffee bar that helped raise the funds,” said Jos. Additionally, every theology course at Vianney dedicated one class to teaching about Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School. Vianney looks forward to continuing its partnership with OLN in the months and years ahead.

Click play below to watch the history of Bro. Stephen’s Faith Journey

A parishioner of St. Augustine in Old City Philadelphia, Marianist brother, and child psychologist, Bro. Stephen Glodek shares his faith journey delving into the Marianist founding in France in 1817 and reflecting on how Mary helps guide him in his interactions with youth today.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

The University of Dayton (UD) is saddened to announce that former Flyer men’s basketball captain and head coach Don Donoher passed away on April 12, 2024, at the age of 92. The all-time winningest coach in UD basketball history, Donoher is a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. One of the top coaches of his generation, Donoher was an assistant coach on the United States’ gold medal-winning team at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living coach to have taken a team to the Final Four. Click here to read more.

Exploring the Lives of the Marianist Founders

The Marianist Retreat and Conference Center, located in Eureka, MO, is offering a free, enlightening, three-part series on the profound legacy of the Marianist founders. The sessions will celebrate the lives, teachings, and enduring impact of these remarkable figures, with a special focus on what they have to say to us today.

The sessions will be held on Wednesday evenings from May 1 to May 15, and special speakers will include Fr. George Cerniglia, Bro. Jesse O’Neill, and Fr. Sean Downing.

Click the image to see more details.

Book Your Family Summer Retreat

Explore the opportunities offered at the Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May Point, NJ.

Retreat weeks start each Monday, beginning June 24 through Aug. 17. While single-parent families are always welcome, the week of July 15-20 is specifically designated for single parents.

Join together with other families for the week. Mass and other family liturgies are complemented by skits, presentations, family sharing, peer group discussions, sunset beach walks, and other fun activities.

Scheduled recreation and free time (4-5 hours daily), with ocean swimming (the beach is a 1/2 block away), are part of all family retreats. The cost includes meals, room, program, beach access, and more!

Click here for more information or email: [email protected] or call 609-884-3829 – financial aid is available.

FamilyOnline Submissions

We welcome and encourage submissions of interest to our nearly 3,600 subscribers. Please send them to Theresa Petry.

March to Dublin, Ireland

The St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (STVM) marching band made its international debut on March 17 at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland.

Participants reported perfect weather and an amazing crowd of about half a million spectators. Those marching in the parade included current students, ten alumni, one majorette, and one Irish dancer. Director of Bands Brian Campbell received a citation from the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

The marching band started raising funds for this opportunity after receiving an invitation to march in the parade back in 2022. The STVM community raised more than $100,000 for the trip, which significantly reduced the cost for students.

Click here to view a video reel from the parade.

Click here for a video performance in Dublin.

St. Mary’s Draws Policymakers and Experts to Address Homelessness

St. Mary’s University recently led a discussion on how the community can help people experiencing homelessness. The event, moderated by University President Dr. Thomas Mengler,  included a panel of policymakers and experts — such as U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and Mayor of San Antonio Ron Nirenberg.

To continue St. Mary’s University’s dedicated pursuit of fostering meaningful dialogue for the community’s well-being, the St. Mary’s Center for Catholic Studies presented the latest conversation series called Finding Common Ground for the Common Good. The discussion was free and open to the public. Click here to read more.

Miracle Moment

Reference and Research Archivist for the Marianist Province of the United States Lisa Finnie shares a miracle moment in Marianist history that occurred 25 years ago.

Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.

◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family

◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2018

Mass of Thanksgiving and Art

Join us as we celebrate our artists in Ohio. After more than 34 years of displaying the creative talents of the Marianist Brothers, Gallery Saint John on the campus of Mount Saint John closed on March 1, 2024.

On April 14, 2024,  a Mass will be held in honor of the artists who use their God-given talents to inspire others. Art is a reflection of God’s creativity, creation, and goodness, and these brothers capture that essence with their artwork.

Click here for the invitation and RSVP details.

FamilyOnline Submissions

We welcome and encourage submissions of interest to our nearly 3,600 subscribers. Please send them to Theresa Petry.