 GIFTS & TASKS
"DONS et DEVOIRS"
Helping each other live the Gospel at home & around the world |
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International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities (IO-MLC)
Region of North America, Asia, Australia, and Ireland
JANUARY 2013
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 Greetings!,
Marianist Lay Communities come in many different ages, stages, and places. They also take on many different kinds of work. Some of us serve meals to the poor in soup kitchens, some work for political change that addresses human needs, some minister in nursing homes, and many are teachers - either formally in a classroom or informally in our homes and in our jobs. All of us pray. One new area that many MLCs in the USA have started to give energy to is the environment and ecology.
- November's Friday Magnificat highlighted the Mission of Mary Farm in Dayton, OH that has created a community garden.
- Some of my own community members (Anawim) have become trained to lead Awakening the Dreamer Symposiums to raise awareness about environmental needs.
- The Marianist Environmental Education Center (MEEC) in Dayton is a hub for many ecological efforts.
Caring for creation is only one part of our call as Christians, but it is a crucial one right now. The short video below shows one way that some creative people are giving praise through music. while also recycling trash, and helping the poor. Talk about triple tasking.  | | Landfill Harmonic |
Rep. for N. America, Asia, Australia, Ireland
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FEATURED COUNTRY - IRELAND
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Susan Buckley
Natl. Rep. Ireland
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Greetings from Dublin, Ireland,
Happy New Year to you. Wishing you God's blessings as we start another year. Today is a cold, bright day with sunshine and blue skies. There is already a sign of new life as I see the green shoots and the first daffodils in my garden. It gladdens my heart to see the evenings getting a little brighter and the new growth spring forth.
Our annual Cookie Night took place in mid-December. My friend Jennifer and I joined the Marianist Community at St Columba's to make Christmas cookies. Our cookie night is over 20 years old and is one of our fun traditions. This year Bro. Gerry provided all of us with Santa hats. Once we have our Cookie Night we know Christmas is round the corner. We get to eat the cookies after Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
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Bro. Jim Contadino & Mary McBride
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As I write this Chaminade Day is only days away. I'm reminded of how the Irish Marianist Family celebrated this special day last year. After celebrating Mass in the chapel at St Columba's, everyone went to the dining room for the usual cup of tea and cake. As we sat chatting, the dining room door opened and we were surprised to see Blessed Chaminade walk in. Bro. Jim had become Blessed Chaminade and proceeded to mime his life story, as Mary McBride, the chaplain from St Laurence College (the Marianist run high school) read the story for us. They both did a
marvelous job and there was lots of laughter. We certainly went away thinking of Blessed Chaminade.
Well Friends, that's a little piece of Marianist life in Ireland. May we remain connected through our Marianist Family. May God our loving father and our Founders Blessed Chaminade, Mother Adele, and Marie Therese guide us and watch over us, that in all things God may be glorified.
Beannachta� D� ort (The blessings of God on you)
Susan Buckley
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AROUND THE REGION
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Rudy Reyes MLNNA President
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N. AMERICA PREPARES FOR DELEGATE ASSEMBLY
The Marianist Lay Network of North America (MLNNA) is preparing for their Assembly (July 18-21) which occurs every three years. This one will be different in that is will be a working meeting to plan how to better meet the needs of the lay Marianists in North America.
In order to become more relevant to the nearly 100 local Marianist Lay Communities and lay Marianists in diaspora, each MLC is asked to send two delegates to share in the planning. Official invitations will be sent to each community soon. For now, you can start to discern which two members will represent your community. Contact Rudy Reyes for more information.
INDIAN NOVICES SHOW CREATIVITY
In a recent Newsletter put out by the novices of Nirmal Deep in Ranchi, India, they describe one of the ways they mix their Catholic faith with their indigenous culture through the Celebration of Karma.
 Along with the tribals in Jharkhand we observed the feast of Karma with great reverence on September 20. Br. Telesphore, Br. Cyprian, Br. Hencil took the role of pagans (tribal priests). On the 19th they fasted for the whole day and went to bring the Karma branches from the forest. We welcomed the Karma branches with much reverence by waiting at the gate for a long time and accompanied the branch to the chapel by dancing according to the tradition of the tribal Nirmal Deep 6 culture in Chotta Nagpur. We then celebrated along with the feast of the Triumph of Cross. On 20th morning we had Mass and Fr. Iggie explained the history of the feast of Karma. We invited the Marianist Sisters' novitiate community to take part in the evening celebration.
Click here to read the rest of the Newsletter.
 LET US PRAY
- For the family of Camilla Bara upon her unexpected death. Camilla was the wife of Jinius Bara, National Responsible for lay Marianists of India.
- For the reduction of violence everywhere - both in war zones of Mali, Congo, and Afghanistan, and in our homes and schools.
- That legislators in the USA may put the common good above partisan politics in issues like gun control and the debt ceiling.
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AROUND THE WORLD
LA MADELEINE - INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED
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Rob Brodrick
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Although Gifts & Tasks tries to include some international news about the Marianist Family around the world, it focuses primarily on the region of the North America, Asia, Australia, and Ireland.
Our President, Isabella Moyer, has asked lay Marianist, Rob Brodrick, to periodically share newsletters from other countries that have a lay Marianist presence. It is called
La Madeleine and the first issue came out January 15. Although these newsletters are in many different languages, even if you don't read Spanish, French, Italian, or Portuguese, hopefully you can get an awareness of how vibrant the Marianist charism is in other parts of the world by looking at the pictures or using Google translate.
(Ed. note: If you unsubscribe from one Marianist Newsletter be careful NOT to "unsubscribe to all" or you won't get any of the Friday mailings.)
JANUARY FEASTS
 Death of William Joseph Chaminade
January 22
"We feel called to give new vitality to the witness of Blessed William Joseph's life and teachings. We recall his special sensitivity to the world in which he lived and his missionary passion toward the world he loved. It is our task now to incarnate in our lives that legacy which, with his beatification, is a gift for the whole Church." from Sent by the Spirit, #2 Click here to see other January feasts.
FRIDAY MAGNIFICAT - JANUARY
In 1989, Marianists in Santiago, Chile saw the difficulties that HIV positive people were having. Inspired by this need, they started "Obra Good Samaritan" whose mission was inspired by the gospel to work to avoid the marginalization and discrimination against people living with HIV and their families. 
Read more in
ENGLISH
FRAN�AIS
ESPA�OL
 VIA LATINA - Online
The following articles are found in the January #219 issue of Via Latina 22, the newsletter for the General Administration of the Society of Mary.
- Three Profess Vows in India
- Three Profess Vows in Eastern Africa
- Taiz� Meeting for European Youth
- Living Lent with Faustino Online
ENGLISH FRAN�AIS ESPA�OL
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Past issues of Gifts and Tasks are archived online at GIFTS AND TASKS ARCHIVE
Gifts and Tasks is published on the 4th 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 SusanVogt1@gmail.com by the previous Sunday.
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