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International Organization of MLC:
Region of North America, Asia
Ireland and Australia |
November, 2007
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Front: Ana Bl�zquez Ubach (Europe), Ezequiel Reggiani (Latin America), Anthony Garascia (President)
Back: Bro. Domingo Fuentes, SM (Assessor), Lorna Mueni (Africa), Isabella Moyer (North America, Asia)
Dear friends,
The first week of November is the time for the annual meeting of the IO/MLC Leadership Team and the World Council of the Marianist Family in Rome. After a year of frequent online correspondence, it is good to sit together around the table and meet face to face.
Reports of both meetings are being prepared and translated, and will be available for distribution shortly.
As we enter into Advent, I pray that we may seek the quiet within our hearts where true pondering takes place. And, in that quiet, may we recognize the holy longing deep within us, a longing so beautifully described in the liturgical readings of the season.
Peace, joy and blessings to all!
Isabella
Isabella Moyer, MLC
Regional Responsible
North America, Asia
Ireland and Australia
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Rome Meetings 2007
We began our week with an afternoon of prayer and reflection with Bro. Domingo. Our International Organization of MLC meetings included regional reports, communications, finances, updates from the writing team in Spain on the next international document and preparations for the 5th International Meeting of MLC in Nairobi, Kenya in 2009.
 On November 6th the team visited the Pontifical Council for the Laity and met with Guzm�n Carriquirry (Under-Secretary).
An evening with the International Marianist Seminarians has become an annual tradition during our visit to Rome. Our discussion focused on signs of growth among our Marianist Lay Communities, the challenges we face in our diverse regions, and concrete ways that we can collaborate among the branches of our Marianist Family.
The World Marianist Family Council met from November 7th - 9th.
Front: Marie Jo�lle Bec, FMI, Isabelle de Cantellauve, MA, Ezequiel Reggiani, MLC, Ana Bl�zquez Ubach, MLC
Back: Jos� Mar�a Alvira, SM, Andr� Vernhes, SM (translator), Mar�a Jos� J�uregui, FMI, Domingo Fuentes, SM, Lorna Mueni, MLC, Timothy Phillips, SM, Manuel Cort�s, SM, Anthony Garascia, MLC, Andr� F�tis, SM, Isabella Moyer, MLC, Izaskun Arias, MLC (translator)
 Each year we celebrate the end of our meetings with a wonderful dinner at the FMI Generalate where we are treated to true Marianist hospitality!
Pictured here with the group is Antonio Gasc�n, SM, the Archivist and Postulator General for the Society of Mary.
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Marianist Family Council of North America
The Marianist Family Council of North America held its annual meeting on November 10th and 11th at the Marianist Sisters residence in San Antonio, texas. Click here for a report of the meeting. Members
of Family Council, November 2007
Front:
Evangeline Escobar, FMI; Marge Cavanaugh, MLNNA; Gretchen Trautman, FMI
Back: Steve Glodek, SM; Jim Fitz, SM
Missing: Kay Stone, MLNNA
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| News from Puerto Rico
During the first week-end in November, in
the mountains of Villalba, PR, Colegio San Jose hosted one of two Family
Retreats for currents students and their families. The theme was
"Affirmation" and it focused on each family member's talents,
qualities and how each is integrated into the family.
It was a fun weekend
for the five families that participated, which included reflection, sharing,
prayer, good food and even a hike up to the highest summit in Puerto Rico.
Among the participants, was Jessica Gonzalez, now a teacher at Colegio San Jose
and her son Luis. Also, Fr. Don Wallace, S.M. celebrated mass for the
families at the retreat center.
Submitted by
Jessica Gonzalez
Lay Marianist and Marianist Educational
Associate.
(Jessica and Luis)
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District of India Newsletter
Click below to read the November 2007 issue of the Marianist District of India Newsletter.
DISTRICT OF INDIA NEWSLETTER
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Haiti Celebrates Lay Consecrations
The Marianist Family in Haiti celebrated the Marianist World Day of Prayer on October 14th with the consecrations of eight lay Marianists. We rejoice with our sisters and brothers in Haiti as the Marianist charism continues to take root and grow in their country.
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Rockaway Park Marianists Remember Madrid Martyrs
Twenty-three lay and religious Marianists
from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania gathered at the Rockaway community
for a prayer service to celebrate our new Marianist Martyrs. The gathering was organized by the Rockaway
Community and the Philadelphia NACMS office.
Pati Krasensky
Associate
Director for Community Development North American Center for Marianist Studies
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January 6-February 9
Registration: October 16-January
2
Marianist Studies: Prayer
Explore various "methods" or
practices of prayer. Notice how the Spirit of God is always at work,
everywhere-including in our own hearts.
Marianist Studies: Charism
Develop a deeper and broader
understanding of how to live out the Marianist Charism, spirituality, and
mission in the wider Church and global community.
Marianist Studies: Leadership
Discover a leadership style that
is purposeful, developmental, adaptive, collaborative, and transformative in
connection with the Marianist tradition.
March 30-May 3
Registration: February 26-March
26
Marianist Studies: Founders
Walk with the founders as
they respond to the needs of their day. Learn their personal stories, and
reflect on the legacy they left for us to draw on in our times.
Marianist Studies: Community
Enhance your ability to form
community in the Marianist spirit as you learn about the roots, expression, and
unique characteristics of Marianist communities.
Marianist Studies: Justice
Envision social change from a
Marianist perspective through integrating Chaminade's insights about responding
to the world's needs with the realities of modern life.
Marianist Studies: Leadership
Discover a leadership style
that is purposeful, developmental, adaptive, collaborative, and transformative
in connection with the Marianist tradition.
For more information on our
courses please go to: vlc.udayton.edu, or contact Patti.Gehred@notes.udayton.edu.
Groups (6-12 participants) interested in taking a course together can contact
NACMS and, if possible, we will schedule a "reserved" section at your
convenience.
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An Advent Reflection
Fr. George Cerniglia, SM, Assistant for Religious Life in the Province of the US, offers the following reflection for Advent:
Advent begins with
a vivid and relentless hope that God works for those who wait. Those who
embrace and live, without quitting in the midst of abandonment, will know the
power of God.
Yet for all the
high drama that surrounds Advent, the truth is that we have a hard time getting
involved in its mysteries. If we are honest about this, I think we might
recognize Advent as the most difficult of the liturgical seasons to live with
authenticity.
So much competes
for our attention during this season. From the Friday after Thanksgiving until
Christmas Eve, much of the season's hubbub is a distraction. It is almost
impossible to enter into the kind of waiting we need to do in Advent. We are not
a very patient people, and so waiting can be an exhausting experience.
I suggest that we
all make the effort this Advent to wait with Mary. Let us try to experience her
excitement, her quiet joy, her deep peace, her profound expectation. As the
poetess, Madeleine L'Engle, once wrote: "This is the irrational season, when
love blooms bright and wild. Had Mary been filled with reason, there would have
been no room for the child."
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Prayers
While we were in Rome for our meetings, Bro. Ed Violett, Assistant General for Temporalities, was called home to the U.S.A. to be at his mother's side. Eleanor Violett died peacefully in the presence of her family in El Paso on November 10, 2007. We send our love and prayers to Bro. Ed and his family in this sad time. May Jesus and Mary welcome her into eternal glory and peace. Amen.
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Next Issue of Gifts and Tasks
Upcoming stories for the December issue include news of a new MLC in the Philippines as well as the Christmas Message and reports from the World Council of the Marianist Family. We need local and national stories, reflections, and photos for Gifts and Tasks! Please send submissions and ideas for next month's issue to moyerfam@mts.net by December 20th.
And kindly forward this issue to contact persons within your country to help with its distribution. If anyone would like to be added to the subscription list, please send email addresses to moyerfam@mts.net. Thank you!
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