January 2015
  
FROM THE MYA ADVISORY COMMITTEE
  
Dear Fellow Marists,
Luis Ramos
I hope that each of you is enjoying a smooth spring semester, even if you are not experiencing spring weather! I find it amazing that our weather and feelings towards the seasons vary so much here in the United States.

 

Speaking of seasons, did you know that the Church has seasons, too?  We are currently in what is called "Ordinary Time".  This may seem like a funny name for a season but it simply means that there is no holiday or celebration during this time.

 

So what about Ordinary Time? Is there really anything ordinary about it? I'd say NO. Although there may not be a focused celebration during Ordinary Time, we are still living and active. For Marists, and Christians at large, making Jesus known and loved is a year-long mission!  As I see it, Ordinary Time is a reminder that the Gospel needs to be lived and proclaimed all year long. We don't stop going to Mass, doing service, or praying during this time. No matter what the season or focus, we need to be in Gospel Time, all the time!

 

Is Ordinary Time really that ordinary? How can you focus your efforts to reach out to those in need during this time? What can you do to live the Gospel at all times?

 

God bless you all, and keep living Marist! 

 

   

  

 

 

Luis Ramos

Chair, Marist Young Adult Advisory Committee

 
  
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
  
Feb. 18 - Ash Wednesday Chat
Feb. 22 - Lenten Online Retreat  - Week 1
  
March 1 - Lenten Online Retreat - Week 2
March 6 - Midnight Run - New York
March 8 - Lenten Online Retreat - Week 3
March 15 - Lenten Online Retreat - Week 4
                NY/NJ Service Event
                Taize Prayer - Bronx, NY
March 22 - Lenten Online Retreat - Week 5
March 26-29 - Retreat within a Retreat
March 28 - Retreat outside a Retreat
March 29 - Lenten Online Retreat - Week 6
  
HERE AND THERE -
REGIONAL EVENTS - ONLINE EVENTS -
AND MORE
  
Nick Dobrosielski (L) and Chaskiesha Figueroa set goals for 2015.
  
The new year began with reflection days in Massachusetts and Esopus.  Young Adults from New York and New England gathered at the Brothers' Sheridan St. community in Lawrence to refl
Erin Naha, Nato Hall and Glenn Braithwaite during an icebreaker.
ect on their dreams for 2015.  In Esopus, over thirty MYA's from Illinois, New England, New York and New Jersey joined the Marist Young Adult Advisory Committee (MYAAC) for a day of reflection and service.  In the context of prayer, the group used their individual playlists to review the past year and set goals for the new year.  The group also engaged in ice breakers and created cards for sick children.
  
  
The MYAAC tackles a "magic carpet" during a team building activity.
The MYAAC held its winter "meetreat" from January 8-10th in Esopus.  Using the theme "Faith, Hope and Community", the group reviewed the first semester and made plans for the new semester.  Chairperson, Luis Ramos, offered a "State of the Program" address and welcomed Co-Chair, Catherine Weening to her new post.  In addition the group engaged in team building activities and discussed the implications of the second Marist International Mission Assembly.
  
Ricky Perez-Solis and Gaby Lugo meet and eat in Texas.
  
And in other news...Members of the Texas regional sub-committee met with Br. Steve Milan during his recent trip to Brownsville...Throughout January the MYA Program sold "I Can't Keep Calm..." posters to raise money for Educate for Change...Massachusetts MYA Chas Figueroa, and Illinois MYAs Julia Fell, Alyssa Karpinski, Jen Grant, and Eddie Dougherty provided service in Esopus during the Center's Men of Honor weekend...Catherine Weening and Luis Ramos joined Dan O'Reilly, Opal Vadhan, Phil Sitarski, and Ash Johnson in offering a mini-retreat entitled "Who is Jesus for You?" for the youth group connected to the
Dan O'Reilly (R) leads an activity during a mini-retreat in East Harlem.
Marist project, Comunidad Juan Diego, in East Harlem...Twelve young adults used music videos and the Emmaus story to reflect on their own faith journey and their experiences at the January province-sponsored Encounter...Six young adults joined the Encounter on Saturday for a "Retreat outside a Retreat" entitled "OUR Road to Emmaus".
  
  
And online and in social media...Numerous pictures from the January events have been posted, tweeted and shared....New daily prayers are being "pushed" via the MYA app...The final touches are being put on the new look for the MYA website... New blog posts from Kevin Macalos, Catherine Weening, Mary Kate Luzzo and Danny Chomat appeared in January... On
Kathy Cuff and Sarah Stiglianese reflect on the Emmaus story during the Retreat within a Retreat.
Marist Mondays, MYAs were challenged to live out their call, to be agents of justice, to recognize the Divine in the everyday and to look at life through the lens of faith.  On New Year's  Day MYAs were challenged to a Marist revolution - to emphasize simplicity, humility and modesty during 2105!

mya logo

 

 

In This Issue
Calendar
Here and There
Bulletin Board
  
 
ONLINE RESOURCES
   
Ordinary Time gives way to Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 18th.  In addition to the yearly online retreat and Ash Wednesday chat, the MYA Program recommends the following resources:
  
  
     
  
Sadlier Religion is offering online resources including a Lenten calendar and the Stations of the Cross.  To see what is available, click on the image above.
  
  
   
  
Busted Halo will once again be offering its yearly Lenten calendar "Fast, Pray, Give".  There are also a number of articles, blog posts and reflections available on the site.  To visit Busted Halo, click on the image above.
  
  
   

 

Online Ministries from Creighton University is offering a number of resources for Lent 2015.  These resources include answers to frequently asked questions, daily prayers, Pope Francis' Lenten message, audio reflections, retreats and thoughts for contemplation.  There are even Lenten recipe! Online Ministries also offers resources for Ordinary Time.  See what Online Ministries is offering by clicking on the icon above.

 

 

 

BULLETIN BOARD

 

Esopus Service Dates

  

  

Looking to do some service?   Here are dates when help is needed in Esopus:

 

 Feb. 3-5

Feb. 11-12

Feb . 27 - March 1

March 4-5

March 18-20

  

To volunteer for these dates or to get more information about longer service commitments, contact Matt Fallon at

mfallon03@gmail.com

 

      

 

 

The Marist Brothers

 

     

The Church continues its celebration of the Year of Consecrated Life.  To find out more about the consecrated life lived by the Marist Brothers click on the image above.  To view a video about the Marist Brothers work at Archbishop Molloy High School click on the link below.

  

NET TV - Wake Up the World - Marist Brothers (Ep 1)
NET TV - Wake Up the World - Marist Brothers (Ep 1)

 

   
 
The Marist Young Adult Program invites interested young adults to explore further their Christian faith. Through spiritual, social and service activities, both online and in person, young adults can experience an alive and vibrant faith rooted in the Marist tradition.    
   
Facebook Group:  Marist Young Adult
Twitter and Instagram:  @MaristYAdult