Joy to the World!
“Joy to the World” is more than just one of the most famous Christmas carols of all time; it is a song about the second coming of Christ. The verses remind us that Jesus will return to Earth as King, celebrating the joy of God’s faithfulness to His people. The song’s lyrics were written by English poet and clergyman Isaac Watts in 1719 and were inspired by Psalm 98:4-9.
Joy to the World is also the title of the Marian Library‘s new exhibit, which brings together two treasured holiday traditions: Christmas crèches and carols.
This free, family-friendly event on the University of Dayton campus is open to the public until Jan. 17, 2025. Visitors are invited to explore a collection of Nativity sets, artwork, rare books, and archival materials that celebrate the songs of the season.
“Music helps us celebrate and tell the story of the Nativity,” said Marian Library Director Kayla Harris. “We invite the community to enjoy the variety of Nativities pulled from our 3,600-set collection and keep the tradition of the crèche alive for new generations.”
The exhibit highlights song lyrics paired with corresponding Nativities—from familiar classics like “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas” and a Nativity with Santa to lesser-known pieces like “The Cherry Tree Carol.” This medieval carol tells of Mary asking Joseph for a cherry on their journey to Bethlehem. When he refuses, the tree miraculously bends down, allowing Mary to pick cherries herself. You can also learn about Los Posadas, a religious procession celebrated in Mexico and parts of the United States.
To see all areas of the exhibit, you are encouraged to visit the Marian Library between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday through Jan. 17, 2025. Click here for more information to help plan your visit. An audio guide will be available to allow you to listen while you look. Bringing young children? In addition to an ornament craft and seek-and-find activity, you can find books, coloring sheets, a magnet board Nativity scene, and more in the reading room on the seventh floor.
Can’t make it to the exhibit in person? No problem. Click here to travel the world by browsing the crèche collection online.
In The News
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.
Congratulations to Moeller High School Educator
Congratulations to Dr. Justin Chmiel on his acceptance as a member of the International Boys School Coalition Action Research Team for 2025-2026, researching Foundations for Learning: Facilitating Boys’ Executive Foundation and Self-Regulation in the Classroom.
As part of the action research cohort, Dr. Chmiel will attend the annual conference in Boston, MA, this year and the annual conference in Sandton, South Africa, in 2026. This continues to be a phenomenal professional learning opportunity available for all Moeller educators. Moeller English teacher Mr. Eric Eble has participated in this for the past two years. Click here to read more about the organization.
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.
Marianist Ministries in Action
Advent Retreat
Bro. Esteban Reyes, Bro. Stan Zubek, and Fr. Dave McGuigan, members of the Cape May Point Community, facilitated an Advent Retreat at Divine Mercy Parish in Vineland, NJ. Fr. Dave put his recent Spanish studies in Puebla, Mexico, over the past few months into immediate action – the retreat was 99% conducted in Spanish.
Bro. Esteban says the brothers consider it a blessing and a call from God to serve the Hispanic community. This commitment extends to their relationship with the Marianist Lay Community in Bridgeton, NJ. The retreat helped parishioners to prepare their hearts for the Advent journey.
Click here to listen to a song composed by Bro. Esteban that he played at the retreat.
A Marianist Moment
Mary’s Trust
Fr. Renny Markose is one of three Marianist Specialists-in-Training at the North American Center for Marianist Studies (NACMS) this year. He created the following reflection for the NACMS newsletter.
Growing up in a hot and humid part of the world, where power outages were very common, I spent many hours as a child outdoors on starry nights to escape from the heat indoors. With it came my hobby of counting the number of stars. Needless to say, I never succeeded beyond a few hundred stars. Later in my school years, I learned that there are not just stars but also constellations of stars, and then there are galaxies, and there are billions and trillions of such galaxies.
Once, my science teacher made a staggering claim that if we could count all the galaxies in the universe, they would be more than the sands of the earth in number! And then came the stunning revelation from my catechism teacher just before Christmas that a tiny child named Jesus, lying in a manger, is the Creator of this unimaginably gigantic and massive universe! What shocked me the most was her statement: “He came down to save the little, minute, micro creatures called the human beings!” Who would believe this? No one but a little girl named Mary of Nazareth!
Though Mary never comprehended the size of the universe, she certainly understood the magnitude of God’s love for humankind! That’s why, though uncertain of her future, she said her famous “yes” to the Creator. In complete trust, she then surrendered herself completely to be guided by God’s Spirit and God’s ways. Perhaps her “science of faith” is what we need as we walk this Advent—the knowledge that no one else but God, the Creator of the Universe, is the best guide for one’s life. The best thing I can do is to allow God to take control of my life. Let the loving will of God be done!
Click here if you’d like to sign up to receive the NACMS monthly online newsletter.
From the Archives
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.
Pray With Us
Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.
Bro. DuWayne Brisendine, 89, died on Dec. 18, 2024, in San Antonio, TX, with 71 years of religious profession.
His obituary is forthcoming and will be posted here as soon as possible.
Click here to see pictures of Bro. DuWayne through the years.
Good to Know
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.
Check Out More Marianist News
Via Latina from the General Administration of the Society of Mary
Sharing Our Marianist Stories podcast from North American Center for Marianist Studies
Justice Jottings from the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
AMU Newsletter from the Association of Marianist Universities
Region Update #87 from the Marianist Region of India
FatherSide Chats is a web video series featuring Fr. Gene Contadino. Discover new episodes every Tuesday about a variety of topics. Click the graphic to view episodes. Click here to read more.
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