Marianist Lay Network of North America   Building a Community of Communities   
                  Marianist Lay Network of North America                     Within the Marianist Family      
 
May 2011   


THANK-YOU
to those who
contributed to MLNNA  
in
April

 

  • Andrew and Jama Badinghaus
  • John  Burke
  • LeeAnn Chomanics
  • Michael  Gillespie
  • Jacqui Griswold
  • Carole King
  • Pati Krasensky
  • Fr. Al McMenamy, S.M.
JustGive  

Start Your Day with a Daily Gospel Meditation from
Father Bert Buby SM
Bible
       Link to the blog for his Scripture Reflections.
http://scripme
d.blogspot.com

 

President of International Lay Marianist

Communities

Here's the link to Isabella Moyer's blogIsabella Moyer in Rome
 
  
Quicklinks

E-News (this document) and Saying Yes Archive


The Lay Marianist Daily Reflection

cartoon people



Our new
Facebook page, Lay Marianist, has attracted some followers. Everyday there is a one or two sentence reflection posted on Lay Marianist.

If you don't have a Facebook account - here is another way for you to read the daily reflections.  Read the
blog called Ponderings. It can be found at http://poetaj.wordpress.com/.

 

Are you traveling or moving to a new city?  There is a way for you to connect with other Marianist.

 

Spider web

Check out the MAP of Marianist Lay Community locations
Reach out out and make some connections!

link


Faith Begins Where Doubt Ends

AJ Wagner

By A.J. Wagner
 

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side and do not be unbelieving, but believe." - John 20:27

 

 

When the apostles heard Jesus had risen from the dead, they were not filled with awe or joy or amazement. They were filled with doubt. All four gospels report this (Mathew 28:17, Mark 16:11-13, Luke 24:9-11 and John 20:24-27). But the scene we are most familiar with comes in John's gospel when Jesus commands the apostle Thomas to touch his wounds, to feel his side, to believe.

 

 Christ came back to life not as a ghost, not as an angel, not as a supernatural creature, but as a still wounded human being. It is in this miraculous condition that he makes faith possible. If Jesus had risen completely healed, it is unlikely Thomas would have believed. Today Jesus challenges our doubts by repeating those same commands he gave to the doubting apostle.

 

 "Come touch my wounds," he tells us as though we were Thomas. "Come touch the poor, the hungry, the shattered, the ill, the spiritually deprived, the broken," he says, knowing that such works will enhance our belief. 

 

 "Come feel my heart," Jesus pleads to us - his modern-day apostles. "Receive my love and contemplate my being. Long for my presence," he implores so that he might be better understood.

 

 "Come and believe," he pleads. "Believe with your whole heart and with your whole mind. Magnify me with your whole soul."

 

 Several years ago my brother told me he did not believe in God. He told me specifically that he could not buy into the resurrection story. "Why does it matter?" he asked. Later, while his two children were quite young, his wife contracted breast cancer and died after prolonged suffering. Today he believes.

 

 My brother experienced the broken Lord. He touched the wounds of a dying wife and he felt the warmth of his children's hearts. His faith was resurrected from a call that never ceases: "Come touch my wounds. Come feel my heart. Come and believe."

 

 What do we do with this Easter faith? At a post-resurrection breakfast Christ asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?" Although Peter had denied Christ three times prior to his crucifixion, he now responds three times with a resurrected faith, "You know I love you!" Jesus says, each time as Peter responds, "Feed my sheep."

 

 It is by the loving action of touching Christ that we find our faith, a faith that calls us to loving action. It is a circle that has no end, but it has a beginning. It begins where doubt ends. It begins at the resurrection. 

 

 peace and love,
aj

 

Life of Fr. William Joseph Chaminade Celebrated!

 

Communities around the world celebrated the 250th birthday (April 8) of Fr. Chaminade.

 

Faith in Action 

The picture at right is from the Micah community in Dayton, OH where members did a variety of activities including playing the "Chaminade Game" inspired by the game Cranium and created by member Jim Murray. In the picture Theresa Bean enacts "Faith in Action."

 

 

  

 MARIANISTS ON RETREAT  

The Shekan community had a retreat April 30-May 1 at Pokagan State Park in Angola, IN. The theme was the integration of creation and spirituality.  During the retreat, Tony Garascia presented several videos from the "Awakening the Dreamer" program.

Shekan
Members of the Shekan Community (South Bend, IN)

Let us also this weekend, remember the State Community (meeting in St. Louis) and the Miryam Community (meeting at Governor's Island).   

The Visition of Mary to Elizabeth, May 31

 The Visitation of Mary

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,cried out in a loud voice and said,  "Most blessed are you among women,and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord

would be fulfilled."

 

And Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; 

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever."

Mary remained with her about three months

and then returned to her home.

THE POWER OF WORDS

The Power of Words

 

 

  

 

 

We all realize how important words are to communicate a

message.  

Here's a short video about the power of words:

IMMIGRATION REFORM

 

The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative, through its Racial and Immigrant Justice Team, has been involved for several years in efforts to promote comprehensive immigration reform. They have developed a Marianist Statement on Immigration Reform that outlines both our concerns and hopes. The Marianist Family Council of North America has enthusiastically endorsed this statement.

 

As a next step we are calling all members of the Marianist Family to JOIN US NOW in LEARNING MORE and MAKING A PLEDGE to do what you can to make a difference.

 

MORE CHAMINADE CELEBRATIONS

Chaminade Celebration

SMs and Marianist Educational Associates in Hawaii gathered for a day of prayer, reflection, sharing, a meal, and a talk by George Cerniglia, SM on Mary at Calvary.

 

   

 

Chaminade Celebration

Hawaiin Marianists decorated this statue of Fr. Chaminade with a balloon for his birthday.

 

 

 


 

Remember MLNNA when you do your on-line shopping!!   If you ENTER a business' website through the GOOD SHOP link - a percentage of each sale goes to our organization. There's no extra cost to you.  

good search


Each web search done can bring MLNNA a penny   

http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/  

 

  

Thank-you to those who have responded to our annual appeal for MLNNA SUPPORT    Your contributions support projects:

  * to assist lay community development (MLFI),

  * social justice through Marianist Social Justice Collaborative (MSJC) 

  * our administrative office support which allowed us to print and distribute the new brochures on Characteristics of Lay Marianists.    

 

This infrastructure also allowed us to quickly collect and distribute funds to our brothers

and sisters in Haiti following the earthquake.

 

JustGivePlease continue your inspirational, community and missionary work and give generously to support MLNNA. A gift of $10.00 a month or a one time gift suitable to your income will help us do more to support our Marianist ministry projects.    Link to JUST GIVE       

 

OR if you prefer using US Mail, send checks made payble to MLNNA to:

 

Marianist Lay Network of North America    

1341 N Delaware Ave, # 406  

Philadelphia, PA 19125                


Editor's Reflection  By Matt Dunn   

Since our last newsletter, many events have happened. We celebrated Fr. Chaminade's birthday, we participated in the events of Holy Week and Easter. We observed Mother's Day. And many people are celebrating First Communions, Confirmations, May Crownings, Weddings, Graduations, and any number of other sacraments and rituals. We lead busy lives but every once in a while there's a moment that touches us. Here's one such moment for me during Holy Week.

 

I was struck on Good Friday when, in the passion, Jesus says to Mary, "Woman there is your son." And to John he says, "There is your Mother." 

 

Just as we are called like Mary to be bearers of Christ in the world, this phrase reminds me that we are also our brother's keeper. Regardless of our gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity, financial means, race, physical abilities and socio-economic background we are all interconnected and part of one family. We are called to care for one another, for the stranger, and for the earth. The video shared above was about the power of words. It was also about a random act of kindness. What acts have you committed lately (whether on your own or as a community)? Looking for suggestions? Learn more about some social justice opportunities via the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative!  


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We publish this newsletter the 2nd Friday of each month.   

Share what your community is doing, it may inspire others.

Send a short summary of your event/activity.  

Describe who, what, why, when and how. 

If possible provide a digital picture (JPEG format 100 - 900K) with your news story. 

Deadline for the next E-news is  June 7.
Send to Matt Dunn, MLNNA editor


 
Thanks for reading to the end.