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International Organization of MLC:
Region of North America, Asia
Ireland and Australia |
March, 2008
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As for Mary Magdalene,
so for the two disciples on the way to Emmaus,
faith is a joyous and grateful acceptance
of Christ's coming,
of his gracious presence,
and therefore of the mission
of bringing the good news to others
by word and life.
This is, and will always be,
the very heart of evangelization.
Those who have found the risen Lord
and who hear him with a sincere heart
will be witnesses of his saving presence.
(Bernard H�ring: The Integration of Faith and Life.)
Wishing you, your families, and your communities
Easter blessings,
peace and much joy
in this holy season!
Isabella Moyer, MLC
Regional Responsible
North America, Asia
Ireland and Australia
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Holy Week Retreat in Mullaghmore
 By Susan Buckley, MLC National Responsible Ireland (Susan spent Holy Week with the Marianist Brothers on retreat in Mullaghmore, Ireland. She provided the music ministry with Bro. Jack Sommerville. She shares their Triduum experience with us.)
For
the Eucharist of the Last Supper, Fr Mike Reaume was the Presider. The mass was
held in the Retreat Centre. We all participated in the Washing of the Feet,
with each person washing the feet of the next person, brother to brother and
sister. It was a humbling experience.
For
the Good Friday Passion and the Easter Vigil we went to a church in a place
called Rossnowlagh.
The church is run by Franciscan Friars. It was good to experience these services
in the wider church.
On
Friday, Fr George Cerniglia spoke of suffering. That evening he showed us a DVD
called 'Beyond the Gates'. This was a true story about a priest and a teacher
in a school in Rwanda. The
film started just before the violence started. It shows how quickly things
changed and how people were massacred.As we sat
and watched this DVD, outside the window a huge moon was shining over the sea. What
a contrast. This DVD was so fitting for the day on which Jesus suffered and
died.
The
Easter Vigil was full of light and joy, music and plenty of Alleluias.
The bells rang throughout the Gloria, and the Friars sang the Gospel.
We were blessed with dry weather during the lighting of the Paschal Fire, so
all the congregation were able to be with the Priest at the Fire.
On
Easter Sunday morning we were all meeting at 6.10am to see the sun rise.
It is said that the sun on Easter Sunday morning dances in the sky. We all
assembled outside the retreat centre, and in the freezing cold winds we moved
to the area over-looking the sea. We all huddled around. We had brought books
with us for morning prayer, and we sang songs but had left the guitars behind. We
did catch part of the sun as it moved up the horizon. For that time it was
glorious in colours of deep yellow tinged with red while the rest of the sky was
cloudy. It was amazing. I feel honoured and blessed to be in this place at this
time.
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www.clm-mlc.org
The International Organization of MLC has updated it's web-site at www.clm-mlc.org.
New additions include Regional pages, Resources, the Friday Magnificat
Prayer, and a special site with information for the upcoming
International Meeting of MLC-CLM in Kenya, 2009.
The
web-site is a work in progress, so we invite you to visit often. And,
please feel free to send any suggestions or comments to webmaster@clm-mlc.org .
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Update from Kenya
by Lorna Mueni, MLC
Regional Responsible
for Africa
Dear
friends,
This
is a brief report on the events that have been occurring in Kenya
between 29th December last year and today.
Kenya
held its general elections on 27th December 2007 to elect its
president and members of parliament. After the elections, the results were
disputed and there were many claims of rigging. This resulted in political
chaos and over 200,000 people were displaced while hundreds were killed. For
almost a month, the country was in a crisis.
Different
leaders from both Africa and the rest of the
world were invited to help solve the political crisis. Kofi Anan (the former
United Nations Secretary General) and other African leaders formed a team which
has helped the government and the opposition leaders come to a peace agreement.
This peace agreement was signed and we are now waiting for the new parliament
to legalize the new agreements. Kenya
has been at peace since the beginning of February. We have already started the
healing process and we pray and hope that peace will continue to prevail.
We
continue asking for you prayers that we may seek for peace and justice.
Peace,
Lorna
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Support Kenya 2009
The next
International Meeting of Marianist Lay Communities will be held in Nairobi,
Kenya in 2009. Approximately 50
delegates from 29 countries will be invited to attend.
Because of rising
fuel costs, travel to the meeting will be expensive. Also, over half of our delegates reside in
developing nations .
We are setting up a
Scholarship Fund for Delegates to
help with travel and meeting costs. Please consider donating to this fund.
Make checks
to: Marianist
Lay Network and in the annotation line write "International Meeting
Fund" and mail to: Marianist Center
1341 N. Delaware Avenue, # 406
Philadelphia,
PA 19125 USA
Are
you a frequent traveller and would like to donate airmiles for
delegate travel? Please contact NACMS intern, Ben Dougherty at bdougherty63141@yahoo.com.
Thank
you for your generosity, we will keep you up to date concerning the progress of
the fund.
Tony Garascia, MLC
President
International
Organization
of
Marianist Lay Communities
Isabella
Moyer, MLC
Regional Responsible
North America,Asia,
Ireland, and Australia
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News from India
Two recent newsletters from the Marianist District of India are available online: MARIANISTS DISTRICT OF INDIA Newsletter and
FRIENDS Newsletter of the Ragpickers Education and Development Scheme (REDS), Bangalore, India
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Via Latina 22 - March 2008
The March issue of Via Latina 22, News from the General Administration of the Society of Mary, is available at www.marianist.org. Read about Chami Radio in Per�, the first Marianist radio station in the world! |
Past issues of Gifts and Tasks are now archived online at GIFTS AND TASKS ARCHIVE
Gifts and
Tasks is published on the last Friday of each month. We need local and national
news, stories, reflections, and photos. Please send submissions and ideas for next
month's issue to moyerfam@mts.net
by the previous Sunday.
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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