The Hearts on Fire MLC met for a one-day retreat on Sunday March 25. Fr. Rich Kuhn began the day with Mass, and members spent the day praying, discerning and discussing how to be a "Community in Mission".

"Hearst on Fire" Animator, Tina Bauman participated in the Marianist Lay Formation Initiative in 2008, after which the MLC was 'born'.

Members (L-R) Back: Bill Bauman, Tina Bauman, Paul Shirmer, Phil Forte, (Pati Krasensky, facilitator); Front: Elaine Hughes Fr. Rich Kuhn, June Bonney

Fava beans, fish and pasta dishes, wine, homemade breads and delicious Italian desserts filled the tables at a traditional St. Joseph Table celebration hosted by the QAC Marianist Lay Community. Members of the Edgar St., Nassau St., Nazareth and Novitiate communities joined the party and prayer.

The St. Joseph Table tradition began in the Middle Ages when, through the intercession of St. Joseph, Sicily was saved from a famine. The Sicilians showed their appreciation by building St. Joseph altars and preparing feasts to be shared by the community. Since St. Joseph Day (March 19) falls during Lent, the meal is traditionally meatless.

After a prayer at the St. Joseph altar, the communities shared a great meal and got to know each other a little better. Andrea Parker from the Queen of Apostles (QAC) community explained the history of the event. It was a fun evening and likely will be repeated!  

Mary Jo (Hummel) Meier (born 7/25/1915) passed into eternal glory on 2/28/2012. She was the wife of Harold Meier (deceased). For forty years the Marianists had been a major part of her life. Mary Jo joined the Marianist Affiliates in St. Louis around 1970 and soon became active working with Bro. Paul Schnieder on their newsletter when it was published on the Vianney campus, and she served as their treasurer for many years. She also worked in the Province  Office for several years after she 'retired.' Mary Jo would attend every annual retreat at  Marianist Retreat and Conference Center until she was physically unable just a few years ago. She made several trips to San Antonio and to several national conventions.  With various groups of Marianists, she traveled to the Holy Land more than once, to Ireland, to Rome, and a trip that followed the path of Father Chaminade. She also went to Ethiopia, Spain, Crete and Greece when her son-in-law taught at our military schools in those countries. Mary Jo is survived by her four children, two grand-daughters, nine great-grand-children, fifteen great-great-grand-children, and one great-great-great-grand-child.  Father Joe Uvietta of Vianney performed a moving funeral service. May she rest in peace.

Marianist Lay Formation

Please remember in your prayers those participating in the Marianist Lay Formation Initiative April 27-29 as they learn about the Marianist charism and starting/sustaining Marianist Lay Communities.

Volunteer Opportunity in India
Sr. Franca Zonta FMI, Director of the Shanti Deep FMI community in Ranchi India recently talked with Jim and Susan Vogt saying that the Marianist sisters would like to sponsor an English speaking female volunteer who would spend 6 months to a year living with them and speaking/teaching English with the novices and participants in the REDS (Rural Education & Development Scheme) program near Ranchi. The volunteer would live with the sisters. If you are interested and want more information, contact Sr. Franca Zonta directly francazonta@marianiste.it or Susan Vogt SusanVogt@fuse.net (859) 291-6197. This would be an excellent opportunity for a recent college graduate who wants to be involved in meaningful service in a beautiful but very undeveloped part of the world. You would be interacting with the Marianist Family and the women that the Daughters of Mary serve.

Marianist Family in Dayton

Over the last few months lay and religious members of the Marianist Family in Dayton have gathered to discuss better ways of collaborating. The outcome is the formation of a Marianist Coordinating Committee for the Dayton area, which will continue the conversation and begin to implement ideas. Nominations are being accepted for membership on the Coordinating Committee which will likely be comprised of 4-6 lay Marianists, 3 members of the Society of Mary, and 1 member of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. Contact Matt Dunn for more information about the Committee and its anticipated activities. Nominations (self or of others) should be sent to Joan Wagner by Saturday, May 5th.

Don't be the proverbial lamp under the bushel basket! 

We'd love to feature a new/different community or even an individual lay Marianist in each issue of the newsletter. As a community of communities we want to remember and celebrate that we are all companions on this journey inspired by Fr. Chaminade, Adele, and Marie Therese. If you have a prayer service to share, meeting topic suggestions, stories about social experiences or service projects please let us know!! If you know a lay Marianist doing great things let us know so we can give them a shout out! You can send stories and pictures to laymarianist@gmail.com to be included in our newsletter!

Thanks for reading to the end!