AJ Wagner (MLC Responsible for the USA) welcomes us to the United States - our featured country for this issue. There are 88 MLCs in USA totaling about 1,500 lay Marianists. Communities are active in about 40 cities spread across the USA which of course means that some of them can only be reached by flying over the Pacific Ocean to reach Hawaii. (Or, as the Hawaiian's would put it, "to reach the mainland.")



(Interesting how maps of the USA
make it look like Alaska and Hawaii
are very close.
We kept reminding our international friends in Nairobi
that Hawaii is six time zones from the  East coast.)



As diverse as the USA is in geography and culture, so also are the Marianist Lay Communities.

• Some are very large - 50 or more members.
• Some are small - maybe 5 members.
  
• And some committed lay Marianists are in "Cyber Communities" meaning that they don't live near each other but rather connect primarily through the internet.
  
• Some communities have existed for over 40 years and the ages of their members reflect that (although they welcome young adults).
  
• Some are primarily young adults recently graduated from college.
  
• Some are college students who hope to continue their commitment after graduation.
  
• Many communities have parents with young children.
  
• Some are strongly committed to their spiritual growth. Some emphasize social justice. Hopefully, one emphasis leads to the other.
• Sometimes people of similar professions or political beliefs gather together.
• Sometimes MLCs are a mixture of socio-economic backgrounds that bring diversity but also a challenge to understand people who see life and the world differently.
  
• Few are rich by USA standards, but most are rich if viewed through the eyes of those living in developing countries.
• Some have African-Americans and Hispanics as members, but the majority are middle class and white.
• Many have an SM or FMI as a member or advisor, but not as the leader.
  

The Marianist Lay Network of North America (MLNNA) is the leadership body that tries to keep track of all these fascinating groups. The next big MLNNA event will be the Continental Assembly in Honolulu Hawaii, July 22-25, 2010. Register. Donate

Back:
   AJ Wagner (President)
   Kay Stone (Community Dev.)
   Jacqui Griswold (Communication)
   Anne Petratis (Midwest Area Rep)
Front:
   Carol Weiss (Treasurer)
   Kathleen Henriksen (Co-Secretary)
   Caitlin Jacob (Co-Secretary)
   Susan Vogt (IO-MLC)
Missing Area Reps:
   Tina Bauman (East)
   Bob & Mary Ann Valentine (Central)
   Lisa Vega (Pacific)
   Val Bergeron (Winnipeg)
   Marcel Dion (Quebec)
   Etienne Wesly (Haiti)