How much do you have to know

to be a Lay Marianist?

Of course being a Lay Marianist is much more than head knowledge. It includes a faith of the heart, personal prayer, inclining your whole being toward God through the Marianist charism, and more. As you have read in previous Gifts & Tasks, your International Team has challenged itself to bring more clarity to our common identity. Sure, it can be summed up in the official documents on our website, The Identity of Marianist Lay Communities, and MLNNA documents, but living faith is always being renewed.

Part of identity involves some basic formational background that Lay Marianists have in common. The scope and style of this varies from country to country and community to community. Some go through formal programs of formation like:

• Marianist Lay Formation Initiative
• Affiliate Formation
• NACMS online courses
• Formation programs at Marianist Universities

Others learn about what it means to be Marianist more by osmosis. They are attracted to the life they see in a Marianist Lay Community (MLC) and pick up pieces of the charism there.

So what does one HAVE to know? Over the next year, I want to listen to what YOU think is essential and what can vary from place to place. For example, in the area of formation would you expect Marianist Laity to:

• Know the 5 elements of the Marianist charism
• Know about the founders - Chaminade, Adele, and Marie Therese
• Regularly say a version of the 3 O'Clock prayer
• Practice the System of Virtues
• Be familiar with these Marianist concepts
• Other _____________

Susan Vogt

Regional Rep. for North America, Asia, Australia, Ireland