MLNNA - "Your Tweet"

Marianist Lay Network of North America
Building a Community of Communities

Part of the Marianist Family

April 2010

Quicklinks

MLNNA Website
The 2010 Continental Assembly Registration Form to print and mail

E-News (this document) and Saying Yes Archive

Marianist Social Justice Collaborative (MSJC)

Marianist Environmental Education Center (MEEC)

Gifts & Tasks
Int'l E-News for MLC's

North American Center for Marianist Studies - Bookstore, Resources and Link to on-line courses

Marianist Lay Formation Initiative (Link to resources for community development)

International Center for Marianist Formation - (ICMF) Resource to assist in Marianist formation

Family On Line Archive - Newsletter published by US Provence of SM

International Organization of MLC (Marianist Lay Communities)

Start Your Day with a Daily Gospel Meditation from
Father Bert Buby SM

Link to the blog for his Scripture Reflections.
http://scripmed.blogspot.com

Isabella Moyers blog
International President of Lay Marianists Communities

ONLINE SHOPPING

Every time you shop online at your favorite stores you could be saving money and earning a donation for MLNNA.

Each time you search the web, about a penny is donated to us!
Here's a link to the new toolbar for more information: http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/

If you ENTER a business' website through the GOOD SHOP link - a percentage of each sale to our organization. There's no extra cost to you. More than 1,300 top stores including Avon, Amazon, Ebay, Best Buy, Gap, & Staples.

THANK-YOU
to those who contributed to MLNNA in March

Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Office of Ministry
Andrew Badinghaus
John Burke
John Eise
Deborah Durand
Michael Gillespie
Mary Pat Sjostrom
University of Dayton
A J Wagner

Laugh

Article that talks about Mary

PLEASE PRAY FOR

Sharon McKinney who is undergoing cancer treatments.

Special intention of Val Bergeron for her sister's family

Nicki Prevou a former member of the Pillar of Faith Community, who now lives in Arlingon Tx is praying son Timothy will have a bone marrow transplant the first week of May

"Your Tweet"

Many of us are disappointed at the news of the past several weeks tying Pope Benedict XVI to certain actions or inaction regarding child abuse. Some of us are disappointed at the coverage provided by the "gotcha" media. Some are disappointed with the unending and destructive nature of this unending stream of accusations that rest on a very small percentage of our clergy. Some of us are disappointed with our church leaders. Some of us are disappointed with our Church. Many of us don't know what to think.

Journalists, intellectuals, pundits, folks in the pews and people who have long since been to church are asking, "Why

am I still Catholic?" With a focus on many other real or perceived injustices, the abuse crisis now at the doorsteps of the Vatican seems to be a last straw for many - a breaking point. Perhaps a change of focus would be helpful.

Perhaps if we focus on God instead of human failings, perhaps if we focus on Mary whose immaculate persona transcends human error, perhaps if we focus on saints rather than sinners, perhaps if we focus on Good instead of evil, perhaps then we can solve the conflict in our hearts.

In that vein I invite you to join Lay Marianist on Facebook or laymarianist on Twitter. Each day (when possible) there will be posted a one or two sentence quote or reflection on God, Mary, or canonized and uncanonized saints. Something to help keep the focus where it belongs, something to prepare for the day's mission, something positive to think about as you move through the day.

If you aren't on Twitter or Facebook drop a line at aj@marianistfamily.org and I will send it to you by e-mail.

peace and love,

aj

HELLO to You from the MLNNA Extended Leadership Team
What fun it is to be with other Marianist!

Front: Val Bergeron Winnipeg rep, Paul Schirmer East Rep., Kay Stone Development, Jacqui Griswold Communications

Second row: Caitlin Jacob co-secretary, Kathleen Henriksen co-secretary, Susan Vogt International Regional Responsible for N.America, Asia, Australia, Ireland, Fr.Al McMenamy Central Affiliate liasion

Third row: Marceta Reilly Central Rep., Anne Petratis Mid-West Rep.

Back row: Marcel Dion Quebec Rep, Brenda Fitzpatrick MSJC Rep, AJ Wagner MLNNA President, Carol Weiss Treasurer, Toni Becher South Rep.

Coming together Friday 16 Apr.-Sun. 18 Apr. your extended leadership team for the Marianist Lay Network of North America; the officers, the regional representatives and the institutional or project representatives. Our objectives were to look at what has happened during the last year and vision where we want to go.

We were pleased with the reports from the communities, our efforts in response to Haiti's earthquake and the many activities of the MSJC which our dollars support. The planning for this years Continental Assembly is being done by the Hawaii lay communities and sounds like it will be a one of a kind experience.

During the meeting we spoke with Steve Glodek and Jim Fitz the SM Provincial and Assistant Provincial about the direction that came from their vision 2020 process. Moving from collaboration with the other branches to partnering is the main take-away and what this looks like is yet to be determined.

There are many other activities in the works...watch for more news/developments in coming months.

Marianist Lay Formation Initiative - MLFI
Eleven participants gathered at Bergamo retreat center (and one 'virtually' from the Philippines) to begin a year of formation and community building with the Marianist Lay Formation Initiative. Each participant is either a member of an MLC - or desires to form one. The MLFI is sponsored by the Marianist Family Council which is made up of the Society of Mary, The Daughters of Mary and MLNNA...thanks in part to your donation $$ to MLNNA, we are at work building and sustaining MLC'S around the globe.
Marianist Lay Formation Initative 4-10

Front: Pam Morelli, St. Louis, MO; Marcela Yerena, Winnetka, CA; PT Welsh, San Antonio, TX; Toni Mesina, Arlington, TX; Brian Baker, Pittsburgh, PA
Back: Joe Melendrez, West HIlls, CA; Uheina Tuihalafatai, Waialua, HI; Hank Martin, Coppell, TX; Dan Breetz, Villa Hills, KY; Don McNally. Kalamazoo, MI; Cynthia Fraga-Canadas, Emmettsburg, MD
Not pictured: Johneleen Lardera - Davao, Phillipines

8th Marianist Continental Assembly
July 22-25, 2010 in Honolulu, Hawaii

Kay Stone 9-09

All Lay Marianist are welcome - this is our formal opportunity, which only happens every 3 years, to come together with other Marianists.

Come learn how the Marianist charism and Hawaiian culture blend. This will be an Assembly unlike any of those which came before.
Pictured to the left, Kay Stone shows a drawing that illustrates the theme of this gathering of lay Marianists. It has the Hawaiian language theme of 'Ke Aloha, Ka Pono, Ka `Ohana".

There is a vibrant group of lay Marianists in Hawaii working hard to prepare a warm welcome and provide a wonderful experience for us.

Brief schedule for the July 22-25th meeting in Honolulu on the campus of Chaminade U.

Thursday, July 22

Check in 4-5PM in front of Mystical Rose Oratory and dinner at 5:30pm. We know folks coming to Hawaii will be tired and a bit jet lagged so Thursday is simply a day to get settled, have dinner together and get a good night's sleep.

Friday July 23

"Ke Aloha", aloha stands for love and getting to know and respect one another. 8AM check in for those who still need to check in; breakfast. Opening Prayer at 8:30AM followed by several speakers and workshops;

Mentoring; Lay Community: Mission, Identity, Assessment Stages, Planning
Characteristics of Lay Marianists: Discerning the Document
Lay Marianist Identity: A Coat of Many colors

There is time in the afternoon for optional cultural activities (eg., lei making)

The end of the day will be a celebration honoring the 40th anniversary of the L.I.F.E. program

Saturday July 24

"Ka Pono". The word "pono" stands for justice and fairness. The day will feature speakers and workshop including some facilitated by MSJC (Marianist Social Justice Collaborative). In the evening, an authentic luau dinner with lots of entertainment.

Sunday July 25

"Ka `Ohana" the word "ohana" means family or community. We will have several activities and end our formal assembly with a noon mass.

The assembly registration fee is only $250 per person and includes three night's housing, all meals and conference expenses. Go to the MLNNA website to find a registration form (download it and mail to Marie Wyman) Payment can be made on-line via the Network for Good link.

NOTE:the rooms available on the University campus are almost gone so if you plan to register and want to stay on campus - don't delay any longer!!

Harvest Women MLC hosts 4th Annual Women's Retreat

The Harvest Women MLC, based in Hoyt, Kansas, hosted a women's retreat for local parishes on March 5 & 6, 2010.   Joanne McCracken from NJ and Chris Suriano from FL, experienced Marianist retreat leaders at Cape May Retreat Center in New Jersey, were the facilitators. Women from St. Francis Xavier, St. Dominic, and Mother Theresa of Calcutta parishes were invited.

The theme this year was The Women We Come From.   Participants recognized how God works in our lives and through others as they engaged in meditation, learning sessions, & community prayer service. The group created a picture "quilt" of the women who have influenced their lives. It is shown in the background of the picture below. The women carried it as a banner into Sunday Mass with the pastor at St. Francis Xavier Church the next morning.

The Harvest Women MLC read and discuss spiritual books together in monthly phone conferences. Hosting the women's retreat has been an annual event for the Harvest Women since 2007.   Their mission is to support and enhance women's spiritual growth.

MAP of Marianist Lay Communities

here is the link to The Map

This map has all of the communities in our database. It doesn't
have individual people, for privacy reasons. If you are planning to visit one of these cities or move into one, please use this resource to make connections.

Do you know who your regional rep is?
Regional Representatives are your link to the broader Marianist family. We have divided our North America region in the following way.

PACIFIC: Hawaii, California , Oregon , Washington , Nevada, Alaska
CENTRAL: Illinois, Missouri , Wisconsin , Kansas , Nebraska , Colorado , Arizona, Utah , Idaho , Montana , Wyoming , North and South Dakota , Minnesota , Iowa
SOUTH: Texas, Louisiana, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico
MIDWEST: Ohio, Indiana , Michigan, Kentucky
EAST: New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, New York, Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, West Virginia
QUEBEC : Eastern Canada, Haiti
WINNEPEG: Western Canada