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ONLINE RESOURCE
The liturgical season of Lent begins with Ash
Wednesday on March 9th. At www.usccb.org, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) offers numerous resources to help individuals understand and put into place the traditional Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The site offers an online calendar with daily suggestions for prayer, reflection and action. Individual pages entitled "What We Believe", "What We Celebrate", "How We Live" and "How We Pray" provide concrete suggestions for activities to help deepen the Lenten experience. To access the USCCB Lenten home page, simply click on the icons above or below.
LOOKING TO DO SOME SERVICE?
Looking for an Alternative Spring Break? Have a week, weekend or month to offer some service in Esopus? Want to live and pray together with other young adults while sharing your gifts and talents with others? Thinking ahead to next year?
For information about a long-term service opportunity, please click on the photo above. To volunteer for a shorter period of time contact Bro. Steve at smilanfms@aol.com. 
ONLINE SERVICE
OPPORTUNITY
Want to help stop illiteracy with one click? Visit the literacy site at www.TheLiteracySite.com. As stated on the web site, "The Literacy Site was founded to help promote literacy among children from low-income families nationwide. Partnering with First Book and Room to Read, the site makes books available to children around the world, giving many children their very first book." Sponsors on the web site provide 1% of the cost of a book for each click through. To visit the site and help to promote literacy, click on the icon above. To send an e-card and share this information with others, click on the image below. LIVE MARIST
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Haven't seen the new Marist Brothers video featuring the Marist Young Adult Program? Just click above. |
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Click above for more information about the Marist Brothers. |
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Hi Marist Young Adults,
How do we love one another? This month as we celebrated St. Valentine's Day I was reminded of Fr Champagnat's wish for his brothers to "love one another." The same message of Jesus to his disciples is also the dream St. Marcellin Champagnat left for us. As young adults, we live that dream in many different ways. In universities and in the workplace we do small, ordinary things with an extraordinary amount of love, and that is our Marist tradition.
The Marist Young Adult Program has many activities to help keep the Marist tradition alive. Please take a moment to look at the upcoming events below. Hopefully you will find an event that you can attend. We look forward to seeing you and hearing about your experience of being Marist.
If you have a suggestion for an event or any questions please feel free to contact me at matt@maristyoungadult.com. If you have a situation or intention you would like young adults across the nation to keep in their prayers please visit the prayer wall at www.MaristYoungAdult.com.
Peace,
Matt Fallon
Chair, Marist Young Adult Advisory Committee
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| Upcoming Events |
March 1 - Miami Regional Gathering
March 2 - College 201: Managing Midterm Madness
March 9 - Ash Wednesday Chat
March 13 - Online Lenten Retreat Begins
March 20 - Online Lenten Retreat - Week 2
March 26 - Lenten Day of Reflection in Esopus
March 27 - Online Lenten Retreat - Week 3
April 3 - Online Lenten Retreat - Week 4
April 5 - Miami Regional Gathering
April 10 - Online Lenten Retreat - Week 5
April 14 -17 - Retreat within in a Retreat - Esopus
Apri 16 - Retreat outside a Retreat (ROAR) - Esopus
April 17 - Online Lenten Retreat - Week 6
April 22 - Regional Holy Week Retreats
An Esopus Alternative Spring Break can be scheduled for any time! Or schedule some getaway time in Esopus for you and your friends!
Please check the facebook group page for specific information.
Visit the Marist Young Adult group page on facebook for specific details, additional activities and sign-up information. |
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HERE AND THERE - REGIONAL EVENTS - ONLINE EVENTS - AND MORE
David Nikac joined Chris Clesca to conduct a twilight leader training at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx...Katie Murphy and Chris Clesca led a Freshman retreat for Mount St. Michael...Young adults in Miami met for their monthly gathering on February 1st... Mike Pastore, Katie Murphy and Chris Clesca ran a series of games for potential freshmen at Marist High School - Bayonne...Students from Mount St. Michael spent a week as members of the young adult community in Esopus while participating in a Habitat for Humanity service experience in Newburgh, NY...Five people (and one dog) attended the "Retreat outside a Retreat" (ROAR) on February 5th...The young adults on staff for the February Encounter in Esopus participated in a "Retreat within a Retreat"...The KAPS (Kitchen and Program Support) crew joined their crew chief, Mike Sweeney, for a mini-retreat entitled "Marcellin, Mary and Me" during the February Encounter...The young adult program figured prominently in other ways during the Encounter: Lauren Lenzo spoke about her experiences with the young a dult advisory committee during her palanca talk; and a palanca from Matt Fallon, written on behalf of all Marist Young Adults, was read to those making the Encounter ...The Marist Young Adult Committee held their February meeting via their "secret" facebook group page!
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MEET EVANGELIZATION COMMUNITY MEMBER CHRIS CLESCA
Chris Clesca, a 2006 graduate of Roselle Catholic HS and a 2010 graduate of Seton Hall University, has been living and working in Esopus since September. Here's what he has to say about his experience...
Why did you decide to do the year of service in Esopus? I chose to come to Esopus because I went through a weird transition upon graduating from college. I was unsure of where my post-grad would take me and although I had plans and options, nothing seemed to be working the way that I had envisioned. Coming to Esopus was like a call from God to take some time to figure out where the path of my life will lead. Not to mention, there is no better place to do this than with the Marist community, helping out those who have given me so much in my life.
How have you been able to use your gifts and talents this year?
When it comes to gifts and talents I always question what those are. I guess I have a tendency to be far too humble and modest but I do know that I am passionate and hard working. In terms of those qualities I have definitely been afforded the opportunity to display my passion for being Marist and spreading the good news of the Gospel.
Why would you encourage others to do a year of service?
I would encourage all people to consider a year of service. It's been the only time in my life where I have been forced to take a long look in the mirror and truly decide who I want to be as a man. Furthermore, in my time at Esopus I have seen all walks of life and heard many different stories. My experiences have shown me that life everywhere is hard, challenging, and full of obstacles. The common thread is that everyone has a choice to be a good person and make a small difference in the world, even if it's just a year of service.
What has been one highlight of the year?
Choosing one highlight is difficult but I can think of two in particular. Being able to share my story with others and, more importantly, to hear the stories of others, have given me a great vision of life. A second highlight was being part of a Habitat for Humanity service retreat with students from Mount St. Michael Academy. The experience was transformative; it opened my eyes to how people really can make a difference in an underprivileged area. For more information about the year-long volunteer experience, simply click on Chris' picture. |
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