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FEATURED WEB SITE
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Facebook? Yeah, facebook. It seems like there are new applications everyday - and all of those groups! There are a variety of faith-based groups like our own Marist Young Adult group but on June 3rd a Jewish group in England launched a new type of facebook group to decrease extremism and encourage dialogue among people of different faiths. Supported by the Muslim Institute, "Faithbook," allows people of all faiths to access prayers to increase understanding as well as to start and contribute to disucssions and upload photos like any other facebook group page. A discussion about the place of religion in modern society is underway.
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INTERESTED IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
CONSIDER A VOLUNTEER YEAR IN ESOPUS |
| The Marist Young Adult Program will be offering a year-long volunteer opportunity in Esopus. Responsibilities will include hospitality, planning retreats, and being part of a retreat team. If you are 21 or over, graduating from college, looking for a change, or simply want to have the volunteer opportunity of a lifetime, check out the Marist Brothers web site (www.maristbr.com) for a brochure and application or contact Bro. Steve at smilanfms@aol.com for more information.
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ONLINE SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
The Marist community strives to bring Christian education to youth, especially to the most neglected. Over 72 million of the neediest children in the world are denied a basic education. The Education for All Act would pledge the United States to create a comprehensive plan to help all children get a quality education. By clicking above you can sign a petition urging your congressional representative to co-sponsor the bi-partisan bill to help eradicate the cycle of poverty.
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 On behalf of the Marist Young Adult Advisory Committee, it is my pleasure to present to you the June 2008 issue of our e-newsletter. Please take a few minutes from your summer fun to read about the exciting things going on. We are in the process of appointing new members to our Advisory Committee. The new committee will be meeting in July to begin planning for the 2008-2009 year. If you have any suggestions for events or projects please let us know by sending an e-mail to smilanfms@aol.com. Until next time, know that you are always in our prayers. Enjoy your summer! Matt Fallon |
| UPCOMING EVENTS |
July 25-27 - Advisory Committee Planning Meeting - Esopus, NY
Miami Movie Night - July 11, 2008
Miami Get Together - July 20, 2008
Dates for regional gatherings in NY/NJ, IL, and TX will be sent out through Facebook. Not a member of the young adult group on Facebook yet? Simply request to join "Marist Young Adults." |
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YA'S AT MARIST YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE |
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 Fifteen young adult program members spent their Memorial Day weekend helping the next generation of Marist Youth learn communication and leadership skills. Highlights included Danny Pacheco's recurring role as Marcellin, many games of Big Bootie and the participation of schools from Mexico and Canada. For more pictures from the weekend, check out the Marist Young Adult group page on Facebook.
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YA'S SPEAK OUT ON RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY AND ON BEING MARIST |
 Young adults often define themselves as spiritual yet not religious. On May 26th, Bryant Diaz, Matt Fallon, Nikki Guerrero, Katie Murphy, Katie Reilly and Mike Sweeney gathered for an interview to address the relationship between spirituality, religion and their experiences in the Marist community. Erbach Communications hopes to make available excerpts of the interview to the media. |
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YOUNG ADULT LEADER TRAINING - BRONX, NY
 On June 14th seven young adults, graduates of Mount St. Michael Academy (Bronx, NY) and St. Agnes Boys High School (New York, NY), participated in a training program for future Encounter leaders. Young Adult Program members Danny Pacheco and Mike Sweeney helped the participants to examine effective leadership techniques and group dynamics. The participants were also able to practice talks they had prepared. Welcome Nick Acosta, Steven Cesereo, Raul Lazo, Darius Neemai, Mike Negron, Thomas Sheil, and Ernesto Tobar to the world of the young adult leaders - and start practicing those late night games like "Psychiatrist!" | |
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MEET YA ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER - KATIE REILLY |
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 Marist High School (Chicago, IL) 2007 grad. Sophomore at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Majoring in Spanish and Chemistry | |
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| How did you get involved with Marist? I attended a Marist High School in Chicago. While I was there, I joined a ton of clubs and activities and got really involved; I wanted to do everything. I guess some of the teachers must have noticed and I was recommended for the Marist Youth trip to New York during my sophomore year. I was selected, went to the youth gathering, and loved it. Because our school is so far from most of the other Marist Schools, we don't really know or get to share the sense of our Marist family outside of our school. Along with fourteen friends we tried to bring that Marist spirit back to our school. Identifying with Marist and knowing that I was a part of such a big family gave me a completely different outlook and motivation for what I was doing; I wasn't just wearing a jersey or school uniform or sweatshirt that said Marist; I was representing something more that couldn't be put into words but had to be lived.
Why are you still involved with Marist? I'm still involved with Marist because it is who I am. High school was the best four years of my life and I can't imagine giving that up. I hope that, through my participation and leadership in the Marist Young Adult community, I can help others maintain their sense of Marist identity and, even more importantly, help others to find that feeling and sense of family. I don't think you can quit family and I wouldn't want to anyway.
How do you live out your Marist identity now? I don't think that you can ever stop "being Marist" once you've realized what that is. I continue to live my Marist identity through my participation in the Marist Young Adult community. I also live my Marist identity when I practice my faith and serve others in the community. I still regard my high school as my second home and have gone back every vacation to visit and stay connected. Since I'm so far from the center of the Marist community, I try to be Marist in my daily life by reaching out to others and giving life everything I've got.
Anything else that you would like to include in this feature? Always BE, LIVE, and SHARE MARIST!!! | |
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