The Leadership Team of the Marianist Lay Network of North America (MLNNA) met in Greater Cincinnati from February 16-18 to plan strategy. Topics covered at the President's Day weekend gathering included development, upcoming MLNNA elections, and the initial planning of the next Lay Marianist Continental Assembly. Look for announcements in upcoming editions of MLNNA E-News.

Tony Garascia, Marge Cavanaugh, Kay Stone, and Susan Vogt attended the meeting in person. Isabella Moyer, snowbound in the Province of Manitoba, Canada; and Dan Jordan, in attendance at the Board Formation Conference in Dallas, met with the group via conference call.

LIFE is initiating the "2007 Theme Song Challenge," encouraging and inviting members of the Marianist LIFE community to help choose this summer's theme song. The process is open to all interested (past and present) students, moderators, Marianist Young Adults (LIFE Alumni and Old Timers),
administrators, and Coordinating Team Members.

If you would like to be involved in the process, please note the following:

• A theme song should convey a positive, Christian message
• A theme song should be easy to sing and capable of an effective live performance (as well as recorded)
• A theme song cannot be repeated from past years
• No more than three song choices per email address
• Please email your choice(s) to marianistlife@sm-usa.org by Friday, March 2
• Please include the song title, artist, and if possible, the link to the song/lyrics online.

(Above, members who made the commitment)

[Editor's Note: The following is taken from a lay Marianist commitment ceremony held on February 4 in Honolulu.]

It is traditional Hawaiian etiquette never to enter a home or structure without the express permission of those within. One would ask permission in the form of a chant called an 'oli kahea which literally means to call out.

Permission is granted through a chant called an 'oli pane which means to respond. Many of these types of 'oli were either done by visitors who were new to that village or by a student requesting permission of the instructor to enter.

If the instructor did not reply, the student was expected to continue to chant until a response was made.

This 'oli is particularly endearing to me because of the kaona (or hidden meaning) held within the 'oli. In the 'oli the person is standing out in the rain. The rain continues to get progressively worse and still the chanter stays calling out to be rescued. "Here I am, come and rescue me." The chanter does not falter, but continues to stand and will wait for as long as it takes for the master to grant an entrance.

Today, we ask not only to enter into the chapel for the commitment ceremony, but also to enter into a commitment to the Marianist Family. There have surely been times in our own lives when we have been that person, standing out in the rain, wanting to be rescued. And I aspire to be faithful like this chanter. No matter how bad things seem to get, I must always remember that God will grant me entrance and rescue me. Pi`ikea Hardy-Kahaleo`umi

?Oli Kahea

• ?Auhea wale ?oe, E tu?u aloha lae?Where are you my beloved
• Eia au i loto I ta ua lae?For I am standing in the rain
• I ta ua hu?i hu?I?In the cool rain
• I ta ua to?e to?e?In the invigorating rain
• I ta ua anu anu?In the chilly rain
• I ta ua tirihune?In the fine rain
• I ta ua ta?arina?In the moving rain
• I ta ua ho?eha iri?In the pinching rain
• I ta ua ?ino?ino?In the storming rain
• Hea atu no wau?I call out to you

• Ho?opakele mai ?oe ia?u ae?Come and rescue me
• Eia au, Eia ra, e?Here I am, I am here

(Julie Nagasako and Kay Stone at a recent Marianist prayer service in Honolulu)

Julie Nagasako has agreed to be the MLNNA Area Representative for California/Hawaii. MLNNA thanks Julie for her willingness to serve. Julie replaces Kay Stone, who has recently been named to the position of Community Development for the MLNNA Leadership Team.

The MSJC Anti-Death Penalty Issue Team invites you to be a part of a tradition of social justice and grassroots activism. Join us as we engage with other Ohioans in a strategic effort to end the death penalty.

Saturday, March 31

Sherman Hall--Science Lecture Hall University of Dayton

6:30 p.m. Arrival & Opening Remarks at 6:45 p.m.

Networking Session and Social at 8:00 p.m.

Refreshments will be served. RSVP helpful but not necessary bob.stoughton@notes.udayton.edu (937-229- 5599)

Speakers to include:

• Gary Beeman ? Exonerated death row inmate
• Families That Matter ? a group supporting the family members of death row inmates
• Sr. Alice Gerdeman CDP ? Chairperson, Ohioans to Stop Executions and Coordinator of the Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center in Cincinnati.

The University of Dayton?s Office of Campus Ministry is seeking faith-filled applicants willing to share their experience of God with others.

Gain campus ministry experience while pursuing a master?s degree in theology or pastoral ministry. Positions are available in Retreats, Faith Development, Residence Life Ministry, and the Center for Social Concern. Graduate Assistants build community and offer undergraduates the opportunity to grow personally and spiritually through planning spiritual and social programs, directing retreats, advising and encouraging participation in service clubs and faith and justice activities, and providing pastoral support.

Tuition, stipend, and housing are provided. See the link below for application or contact Crystal Sullivan, 937-229-2574, for more information.

Applications are due March 1.

(Bro. Jack Ventura, task force co-chair; Sr. Pat Talone, speaker; Provincial Stephen Glodek; and Tony Fitzgerald, task force co- chair)

[Editor's Note: This material is taken from Family Online, vol. 6, no. 4. Family Online is a publication of the Society of Mary's Province of the United States.]

?The dream and vision for this conference started five years ago, and it finally became a reality,? said Bro. Jack Ventura, who helped organize the Conference of Marianist Boards Feb. 15 to Feb. 18 in Dallas.

Bro. Jack and Tony Fitzgerald chaired a task force that made the conference a reality? bringing together those who serve on Marianist boards and the presidents/directors of more than 30 Marianist institutions.

Approximately 100 participants represented universities, secondary and middle schools and retreat centers as well as NACMS, Marianist LIFE, the Marianist Volunteer Program (MVP), the Marianist Mission, and the Center for Marianist Spirituality and Communities (CMSC). . . .

Participants were given resources that will help them better understand the Marianist mission, history, structure and charism so they can strengthen the Marianist identity of their boards. Each board has named a ?mission integration chair? who will be responsible for this effort. . . .

Bro. Jack says he is excited that the participants understand the importance of this effort. ?This conference was not a reactive response because there are fewer religious brothers, but a proactive response to all the lay people who want to move forward with this charism.?

For an overview of reports and material from the most recent meeting of the World Council of the Marianist Family, see the link below.

This document is a way to prayerfully gauge the wonderful works of our Family and to peer at the landscape ahead.

?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.

• Please accept this prayer request for my parents, Lenard and Reba McCurry. My father has Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and my mother has congestive heart disease. Thank you so much. (Submitted by Monalisa McCurry-Mullins)



• Please pray for my mother, Marie Allemand, who is suffering with bone cancer. (Submitted by Brenda Fitzpatrick)



• Please pray for my friend Patrick who had a double stroke and then brain surgery. God please bless Patrick during his rehabilitation and give his wife strength and courage to get through this difficult time. God bless their son and new baby daughter. (Submitted by Tricia Kelly Keener)



• For the repose of the soul of Mary Louise Kern, sister of Jim Vogt and sister-in-law of Susan Vogt, who died on February 8. (Submitted by Carol Ramey)



• For Father Matt Kohmescher, SM, known to many at the University of Dayton as "Fr. Fuzzy" or "Fr. Beanie" because of his trademark red and blue beanie. May God grant him grace as he deals with cancer of the lungs and brain. (Submitted by the UD Community)



• For the repose of the soul of Chuck Johnson, the son-in-law of lay Marianists Glenn and Gail Miller, who died of cancer at age 37. (Submitted by Jim Vogt)



• I'd like to requests prayers for my cousin Paul who is receiving chemo treatment for Lymphoma. Pray for successful healing and remission of cancer. (Submitted by Steve Paone)



• For Kim, Ray, Anita, Pat, Ashley, and Matt. (Submitted by Lawrence Wakaruk)



• Peace for my mother-in-law who has Alzheimer?s and for my wife Cheryl and my in- laws as they navigate the transitions caused by this disease. (Submitted by Les Reade)



• For Rich Czarny. (Submitted by Mary Andrews)

+ Amen