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"DONS et DEVOIRS"
Helping each other live the Gospel at home & around the world

International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities (IO-MLC) 

Region of North America, Asia, Australia, and Ireland
DECEMBER 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURED COUNTRY
Canada
AROUND THE REGION
Mary Meditation
Regional Report
Just for Fun
Let us Pray
AROUND THE WORLD
World Council
Friday Magnificat
Via Latina
ARCHIVES/SIGN UP
QUICK LINKS
Greetings!  Vogt, Susan w mug

Am I too late? Is it all over?
I mean Christmas of course.

Our culture tells us that Christmas ends on December 25. Our Church, however, tells us that this is just the beginning of the 12 Days of Christmas.
Anyway, since this 4th Friday Marianist mailing comes out on December 26, I'm taking this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas in the name of the World Council of the Marianist Family.

Dear Marianist Family,

At this moment in our lives, this Christmas 2014, we know that darkness still covers much of our world. Human suffering, whether by natural cause or of our own doing, constantly threatens to crush our joy and dim the light of our hope...BUT

 

In his Apostolic Exhortation, Pope Francis has reminded us of the Evangelii Gaudium, the joy of the Gospel. It is a joy that is present in our broken and wounded world, but which also transforms that brokenness, because our God has not abandoned us; because God has intimately entered into our lives; because this new "Holy Family," is our family too...

 

Miracles happen along this path, even insignificant miracles, noticed by hardly anyone...the miracle of when a particular mission, hidden in a person's heart, really reaches its goal...We are assured that, in spite of all the noise and nonsense, the meaning of Christmas is just as true as it was two millennia ago. God continues the journey toward us and abides in us.

Read the full message in 

ENGLISH   FRAN�AIS   ESPA�OL

 

Celebrating 12 Days of Christmas - Family Style

It's the day after Christmas. Perhaps you awoke on Christmas day and now are feeling, "Is that all there is?" Perhaps you have kids who are wondering what to do next. Check out my 12 Days of Christmas - Family Style for ways to keep the spirit alive.

 

Fondly,

Susan Vogt

Regional Rep. for N. America, Asia, Australia, Ireland
FEATURED COUNTRY - IRELAND
Susan Buckley
Susan Buckley
National Responsible
World Day of Prayer

In October the SM Community, lay Marianists, and friends gathered at St Columba's to celebrate the Marianist World Day of prayer. Fr Mike celebrated Mass, while I provided the music for the liturgy. After Mass we joined the community for our customary 'cuppa' and cakes. It was good to see everyone. This was the first time people had come together at St Columba's since the Brother's put the house up for sale in early September. There was plenty of reminiscing.

 

On December 12th, my friend Jennifer, my son Neil (11) and I joined the Brothers and their friend Dave for our Annual Cookie Night. This has been a tradition for over 25 years. We joined the Brothers, (Jim, Fred, Gerry and Fr Mike) for dinner and then we worked. We cut, bake and decorate the cookies. Bro Fred uses his Mom's recipe for the cookie dough, then we use the cookie cutters his Mom gave to him to cut out each cookie, it's a labour of love as we remember his Mom. We get into the Christmas spirit as Fred presents us with Santa hats and we listen to Christmas CD's. It's hard work, but good fun. It isn't Christmas until we've had our cookie night, and now that Neil is involved the tradition is being passed to the next generation. The cookies will be eaten after midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. We will gather together to celebrate the birth of Christ. 
                                                                                  Merry Christmas
                                                                                  Susan Buckley

AROUND THE REGION


 

MEDITATION ON MARY

January 1 is not only New Year's Day and World Peace Day but also the Feast of Mary the Mother of God. Marianist friend, Robert Fontana, has written about the humanity of Mary as a mother and why it is important to us - during December or any time. Click here to read his essay.

 

 

Viernes 31 Susan Vogt   
REGIONAL REPORT GIVEN IN PERU
Talk about being late! I just discovered a YouTube video of the report I gave on our region during last January's International meeting in Peru. Watch how I try to unite our far flung region plus a fun fact from each country.



JUST FOR FUN
Christmas dinner is probably now a memory. Enjoy this short musical tribute to harried cooks everywhere who labor to prepare a holiday dinner. 




prayinghands 2
LET US PRAY & BE THANKFUL
  • For Tony Fitzgerald, long time Lay Marianist and consultant, who is recovering from a serious illness.
  • In thanks that Typhoon Ruby bypassed most of the Philippine islands
  • For those who are lonely, hungry, hurting, or sad during this season that many of us are with family, well-fed, and satisfied.
AROUND THE WORLD

WCMF_logo
MORE FROM YOUR WORLD COUNCIL
Last month I shared a summary of November's 
World Council Meeting in English. Now, those of you who really like to read minutes can also read it in all 3 languages. 
   ENGLISH     FRAN�AIS     ESPA�OL
What probably is more important are the objectives we set for the next 3 years. Read them here. 
   ENGLISH     FRAN�AIS      ESPA�OL
One side of our 4-sided World Council meeting table: Mike McAward SM, Gretchen Trautman FMI, Felix Arqueros, Susan Vogt, Beatrice Leblanc

FRIDAY MAGNIFICAT - DECEMBER

 

Hishou Organic Farm

Nepal

Learn how one man's mushroom farm in Nepal is providing a livelihood for the Mushwar people there. Itaru Nagahama is a Lay Marianist from Japan who has taken on a mission in Nepal   Read more: 

 ENGLISH    FRAN�AIS   ESPA�OL
    

 


 

Via Latina VIA LATINA - ONLINE

The following articles are in the December, #238 issue of Via Latina 22, the newsletter for the General Administration of the Society of Mary.

-Perpetual profession in Mexico

-WCMF holds annual meeting

-Celebrating the Consecrated Life together

 

ENGLISH        FRAN�AIS         ESPA�OL      日本語  

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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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