Congratulations to A.J. Wagner, the newly-elected president of MLNNA, and to Jacqui Griswold, the incoming communications coordinator. Their terms of office will run until June 31, 2011.

A.J. and Jacqui join Kay Stone (Community Development) and Susan Vogt (Executive Secretary) as the elected members of the MLNNA Leadership Team.

MLNNA thanks Joanne McCracken, chair of the nominating committee, Paula Ziemski, who ran for office, and all those who helped in the election process.

Special thanks goes to Marge Cavanaugh, outgoing president, and Dan Jordan, outgoing communications coordinator, for their years of service to lay Marianist life and to the comprehensive Marianist Family.

The International Marianist Family Council issues an annual Christmas message. The 2007 message is listed below.

Mary,

We celebrate with you this joyful
event of the birth of your son, Jesus.

All along this year you have walked with our Marianist Family.
 
We thank you. . .
For the growth of new communities
in the Philippines and Haiti and
for the development
of the new foundation in India and
Benin.

We are happy to see
that through the growth of
each branch we are more and
more your family.

We are praying, pondering,
working, and being in mission
together.

Click for the full message

To all the members of the Marianist Family

Dear Friends,

The members of the World Council of the Marianist Family have been meeting in Rome from November 7-9, 2007. These days have been times of meeting, of sharing and of
prayer in the joy of seeing each other once again as the four
branches of the Marianist Family and days in which we have been thinking of all of you as well. We felt that our discussions were honest and fruitful and strengthened a sense of communion in our Family.

(For information from joint Family efforts and from each branch and for details of the next Marianist World Day of Prayer, click the link below.)

Read the full report

Thanks to those who have sent financial support during the annual membership/fund drive.  There's still time to participate this year, until mid-January. Also, if people have frequent flyer miles to donate, they should contact Susan Vogt (susanvogt@fuse.net ) anytime to make arrangements.

The Alliance for Marianist Lay Formation team met Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 in Dayton. The group is composed of persons whose primary responsibility is Marianist lay formation. This group provides a unique opportunity to engage in peer ministerial support.

Groups represented include MLNNA, the International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities, Marianist LIFE, NACMS, the International Center for Marianist Formation, and the Marianist Strategies Office at the University of Dayton. Items discussed at the meeting included the identity, structure, and membership of the group and developing integrated processes for ongoing formation.