New Year Blessings
On behalf of the Marianist Province of the United States, we wish you a Blessed and Happy New Year. We pray that you will be filled with the peace, joy and hope of Jesus Christ, Our Savior throughout the New Year.
Fr. Oscar Vasquez, Provincial
Marianist Province of the United States
Bro. Pulkit Minj Perpetual Profession
Bro. Pulkit Minj professed perpetual vows at Nirmal Deep, Ranchi, India, on Jan. 8. Fr. Sudhir Kujur, the District Superior, presided at the Mass and received the vows. In accordance with the Indian government’s new set of Covid rules, the perpetual vows celebration was simple with a limited number of participants. The Novitiate community and staff were very helpful in organizing the celebration in a meaningful way. A few family, Marianist Brothers, Sisters, and friends participated in the celebration. Click here to see more pictures.
A Marianist Moment
By Bro. David Betz
Prayers for the Canonizations for Blessed Adèle and Blessed Chaminade
January is the month that we celebrate the feast days of two of our Marianist Founders, Blessed Adèle (Jan. 10) and Blessed Chaminade (Jan. 22). They have been recognized by the Church for their holiness. Through their determination and effort, they strived to renew the Catholic Church in France after the French Revolution.
In The News
Marianist Social Justice Collaborative Hires Sarah Gray as New Director
The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative (MSJC) has hired Sarah Gray as director to oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations. Prior to this position, Sarah served as part-time assistant director of the MSJC and part-time staff administrator for the Marianist Lay Community of North America.
“Sarah has extensive experience with both Marianist organizations and will help synergize the collaboration between them,” said Marge Cavanagh, the MSJC search committee chair.
Launched in 1998, the MSJC was designed to educate and engage Marianist Family members in social justice issues, including: Immigrant Justice; Racial Justice; Women & Justice; Death Penalty Abolition and Restorative Justice; LGBTQ+ Initiative; Environmental Justice; and the Adèle Social Justice Project, an initiative designed for young adults.
The organization has been led by Jim Vogt, who retired in January. “We are grateful for Jim’s many years of service,” said Marge. “During his 18 years at the helm, the MJSC has built a strong organization and increased awareness and action on many social justice issues by the Marianist Family.”
In addition, said Marge, “We are grateful for the ongoing support of the Marianist Family Council and the generosity of our donors who have made the director position a full-time job. This will enable us to expand and deepen our engagement within the broader Marianist Family and continue to collaborate with our partners in social justice.”
Marianist Affiliates Growing
The Marianist San Francisco Affiliate Community held an affiliation ceremony for Leonardo A. Magnaye. Leonardo is a graduate of Archbishop Riordan High School(ARHS) where he is currently campus minister and also serves as LIFE Moderator, Coordinator of Christian Service at ARHS, and teaches religion.
The Cupertino Marianist Community held an affiliation ceremony for Barbara Louis. Barbara is involved with the Cursillo Movement and a number of ministries at her parish, St. Thomas of Canterbury, Campbell, Calif. She was introduced to affiliation by Lynda DeManti, Marianist Affiliate.
Marianist Social Justice Collaborative (MSJC) Reflection
The following reflection is submitted by Tony and Jean Fitzgerald, who have assisted two immigrant families.
On a hot summer evening, 95 humid degrees, we received a phone call at 10:00 pm. In an African English dialect, a father says to me, “My children are crying and sweating and cannot sleep.” Being recently invited to mentor a refugee family from Uganda, Jean and I took the call.
Victor and Raziki and their two children lived in a two-bedroom second-floor apartment with no air conditioning or fans.
We had met our refugee family for the first time the day before when they arrived in Cleveland. We introduced them to their new home and apartment. We took them food shopping for basics. We spent a few hours orientating them to their new home, and upon leaving, we gave them our phone number and information that if they needed anything, not to hesitate to call. Read more.
The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative Immigration Team seeks to keep the Marianist Family aware of and to assist the US immigration situation.
If you are interested to learn more about or join the Marianist Immigration Team please check it out at msjc.net.
Marianist Ministries in Action
Spotlight on Campus Ministry: LIFE Program is Greatest Formation in the Charism
Matt Dailey, director of campus ministry at Chaminade College Preparatory in St. Louis, has been involved with Marianist schools for the past 20 years. First, at St. John Vianney, where for 11 years he taught religion and served as campus minister, and the past nine years he’s worked at Chaminade.
“As a religion teacher, I was able to teach my students about our Catholic, Marianist faith and traditions,” he said. But campus ministry is more experiential. “I particularly enjoy giving my students varied opportunities to live their faith.”
Matt, who also is a Lay Marianist, found his greatest formation in the charism happened during the years he participated in the Marianist LIFE summer programs. “My faith came more alive while learning, praying and building community with LIFE moderators from around the country,” he said.
Matt realizes how influential his position in campus ministry can be. “My goal is that all Chaminade’s students are comfortable and confident in living their faith and that they become good faith leaders in their communities one day, regardless of their vocations.”
The one thing Matt values most about the charism? “I love that we form individuals in their faith through intentional communities that we build around them.”
New Online Marianist History Course!
NACMS is offering a new Online Marianist History Course starting February 2022.
Registration is now open for Part One of the Online Marianist History Course. This covers the historical background of France and the Catholic Church leading up to the time of the Founders.
Part One begins in February 2022 and consists of three meetings via Zoom, assigned homework readings and class forum postings between sessions.
To read more about the course, see class dates and times, and to register online, click here.
Marianist Center for Lay Formation Day
The Marianist Center for Lay Formation will be celebrating Foundation Day with a virtual presentation on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.
For more information, please click here.
Pray With Us
Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.
Fr. John Leies, 95, Dec. 22, 2021. Fr. John dedicated his life in service to God and advancing Marianist, Catholic education. He served at St. Mary’s University for nearly 50 years in several administrative and academic roles, most notably as President. He also will be remembered for his deep faith, humility, wide-ranging knowledge, work as
a prolific publisher and wonderful sense of humor.
View the video of the memorial service.
Fr. Joseph Uvietta, 90, Jan. 9, 2022. Fr. Joe was a gentle pastor and an effective administrator, known for his warmth, his spirituality and his love of a good joke. He was a teacher, a chaplain, a popular retreat leader and held top leadership positions in the St. Louis Province. In his seven decades of ministry, he collected innumerable friends, each of whom would attest to his happy grace.
Fr. Harold James Bartlett, 85, Jan. 10, 2022. Fr. Jim was a beloved teacher, pastor, campus minister and spiritual director. Remembered affectionately for both his playful sense of humor and joyful spirituality, Fr. Jim always treasured the opportunity to be present and available to those he encountered. He believed deeply in the lay apostolate decreed by Vatican II and worked throughout his adult life to encourage and empower laypeople to fully embrace their role as leaders of the Christian community.
Good to Know
TECABOCA – Program Coordinator – Summer Camp
TECABOCA is seeking a Program Coordinator for the Summer Camp in Mountain Home, Texas. This position is responsible for Summer Youth Camp Program delivery, including, but not limited to, program planning, marketing, implementation and evaluation of summer camp for families, boys and girls. Learn more.
Stay in Touch
Newsletters
AMU Newsletter from the Association of Marianist Universities
The Fulcrum from the Marianist LIFE
District Update 43 from the Marianist District of India
Gifts and Tasks from the Int. Organization of Marianist Lay Communities
Justice Jottings from the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
Magnificat from the World Council of the Marianist Family
MLC-NA e-News from the Marianist Lay Community of North America
NACMS Newsletter from the North American Center for Marianist Studies
Via Latina 22 from the General Administration of the Society of Mary
FamilyOnline Submissions
We welcome and encourage submissions of interest to our nearly 3,400 subscribers. Please send them to Bernadette McCaffrey Groner.
GET CONNECTED!
Stay in touch with the Marianist Province by downloading our new mobile app!
Download your free copy today for easy access to information that supports the work of Marianist-sponsored ministries. Compatible with Apple iOS and Android devices.