Students at the University of Dayton have been so moved by Marianist life that they wanted to do something about it: make a commitment.

Fifteen seniors and a recent UD graduate, all members of the Branches Community, made a public profession to live the charism for a year. The students are part of the Marianist Fellows program and see making this commitment as a way to deepen their lives as lay Marianists.

At the Sunday, April 23, Mass at UD, each member made both a communal and personal commitment. (See the reflection on the left, ?Kathryn?s Vow,? for a sample from the richly written personal commitments that were a part of this special day.)

As a community, members professed that, ?Called by the Spirit to be a member of the Branches Community, I commit to saying yes as Mary did. Like Mary, we say yes to bringing Christ into the world as a community that builds community. As members of the global Marianist Family, we strive to be men and women living intentionally; strong in faith, firm in hope, and constant in love. We are grateful for this gift and willingly accept the task of living the Marianist Charism.?

Please pray for these students as they deepen their lives into our beautiful charism and may their public witness inspire your life as a son or daughter of Mary and a follower of Jesus.

The Marianist Lay Network of North America?s Continental Assembly, ?Come to Cana: Many Stories, One Table, One Family,? will take place at St. Mary?s University in San Antonio, Texas.

The Assembly is from Thursday, July 27, until Sunday, July 30.

The Anawim Marianist Lay Community in Cincinnati observed Holy Week with three different gatherings.

On Wednesday, community members shared in a Seder meal hosted by Brother Giancarlo Bonnutti, SM, at the DeSales Crossing Community.

On Good Friday, the community and the local Catholic Worker house, cosponsored a station in the Way of the Cross/Way of Justice, an annual walk through downtown Cincinnati. The walk links Jesus? suffering and death with the various ways that people are suffering in our world today.

A rather chilly Easter Sunrise Eucharist in a city park overlooking the Ohio River Valley capped off the Holy Week/Easter celebration. (Material provided by Jim Vogt.)

Brother Don Geiger, SM, will facilitate sharing of tips on cooking with meat alternatives and locally-grown, in-season produce. You are invited to bring your favorite meatless recipes or dishes to share with others. We will discuss the place of origin of our dinner foods and the earth resources expended (for growth, transport, processing) to bring it to us. The event will occur on Thursday, May 25, from 6:15 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at the Marianist Novitiate at Mount St. John in Dayton, Ohio.

RSVP by May 19 to meec@udayton.edu.

This event is cosponsored by the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative's Environment and Ecology Issue Team and the Marianist Environmental Education Center.

The Marianist Center for Education of Faith in Quebec is organizing musical/pastoral camps for the summer. The six-day camps will offer a large variety of musical and pastoral activities to children over six years old.

Two camps (July 9-14 and July 30-August 4) are dedicated to children between 6 and 11 years old, and two other camps (July 23-28 and August 6-11) will be for 12 year old children and older. The unique formula combines both quality musical formation and pastoral activities.

The camps are offered at a low price to allow less fortunate families to participate ($275 Canadian, about $225 US for the whole week). Parents are welcome to join their children, either to help at the camp, or simply enjoy the beautiful Quebec area.

People interested should contact Josee Roberge at 1- 418-882-0114.

Angie Cortez and Sr. Anne Semel, SSND, took part in the San Antonio Action Day in support of immigrants rights and human rights.

Approximately 18,000 people, mostly young, attended the rally and march.

(Material provided by Angie Cortez.)

Are you interested in building peace and justice from a Marianist perspective and getting paid for it? The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative (MSJC) is seeking an assistant to the director.

The Assistant will be responsible for providing administrative, organizational, and clerical support and related services to the MSJC director. The assistant will work on a variety of projects and programs in order to assist the director and MSJC Steering Committee in completing their work.

The International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities is forming a team of translators for our bulletins and upcoming new web page.

Our three official languages for communications are English, French, and Spanish. Our hope is to have as many translators as possible so that requests will not be too frequent or burdensome.

If you are able and willing to donate your time and talents for the continued growth of our International community, please contact Ana Bl�zquez Ubach at ananfora@hotmail.com.

?People are Fragile, Handle with Prayer.?

As members of the Marianist Family, let us lift up the following prayers that our brothers and sisters have requested.

For all those affected by alcoholism . . .

For people who minister with those who have AIDS . . .

For those who struggle with depression . . .

For unwed mothers and their children . . .

For those with struggling marriages . . .

For Rich Csarny, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer (Provided by John Holden) . . .

For the healing of Sr. Audrey Buttner, FMI, who is being treated for a lung infection (Provided by Sr. Leanne Jablonski, FMI) . . .

For the repose of the soul of Julio Trimboli, the brother of NACMS librarian Teresa Trimboli, and for the Trimboli family (Provided by NACMS staff) . . .

Lord, we lift up these prayers to you.