 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
AUGUST - 2015
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How Do I Pray? Let Me Count the Ways. I just returned from fulfilling MSJC's Racism Challenge (Worship with a faith community outside of your comfort zone in the next month.) I attended a Baha'i service. This got me thinking about different ways that people pray. Let me count the ways.
The traditional 4 categories of prayer are:- Adoration (Praise, singing)
- Contrition ("I'm sorry," Confession)
- Thanksgiving
- Supplication (Petitions)
In addition, there are many ways to pray: - Mass (and other forms of liturgical prayer)
- The other Sacraments
- Reading (scripture, inspirational books)
- Meditation
- Listening to people (talks, conversation, CDs)
- Memorized prayers (Rosary, Our Father...)
- Using specific times of the day as a prompt:
- Liturgy of the Hours (Morning/Evening)
- Prayer before meals
- Marianist 3:00 O'Clock Prayer
- Using Nature as a prompt
- Using Media as a prompt (the news, online)
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Penance (fasting, donating...)
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Service
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Praying out loud
- Praying in silence
- Praying with others
- Praying alone
- Listening to God speak to your heart
Ponder within yourself or with your community: - What is my preferred way to pray?
- Do I want to experiment with a different way to connect with God?
Peace, Susan Vogt Regional Rep. for North America, Asia, Australia, Ireland |
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FEATURED COUNTRY - IRELAND
Since Susan Buckley is the only lay Marianist in her country, she left Ireland this past summer to join with her online Marianist Lay Community. Following is her story.
What a privilege and a joy for me to be a member of the Marianist Family! This summer one of my dreams was realized when I had the opportunity to travel to France and Spain to walk in the footsteps of our Marianist Founders: Blessed Chaminade, Mother Ad�le, and Mother Marie Therese.
I was joined by five members of my online community -Our Lady of the Round Table: Marceta (US), Chris (US), Joanne (US), Lorna (Kenya), and Mary (France), plus two of their friends.
We met in hot and sunny Paris on July 3
where our
community of pilgrims grew as Joseph Raj (India), Daniel Odero (Kenya), and Given Mukanski (Zambia) joined us. These young SMs were an inspiration to us. We were truly blessed to have Fr. David Fleming (Marceta's brother) lead our pilgrimage. Fr. David shared his immense knowledge of all things Marianist and French history. His gift of languages (English, French, & Spanish) made life easier for all of us.
As we traveled, we felt the presence of our Founders in:
- Chaminade's room, where Fr. David celebrated the Eucharist with us;
- Walking the cobbled streets of Bordeaux - knowing that we were retracing the steps of Chaminade and Marie Therese and many other Marianists who had walked before us;
- Perigueux, Chaminade's birthplace;
- Sitting before the Statue of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza -where the dream and vision of re-Christianising France was born;
- Kneeling before the altar where Ad�le prayed as a young girl at Chateau de Trenquelleon, and seeing her final resting place in her convent in Agen;
- Visiting Marie Therese's Misericorde and her hermitage at Pian-Medoc, and her resting place in the Church.
There were so many moments that were intense and emotional. The family bond among us grew throughout the 10 days. Our prayer times, many spontaneous, were heart felt and faith filled as we embraced each adventure and challenge. I feel so thankful for this experience, for the spirit of our Founders, and for my fellow pilgrims. God Bless,
Most of us cannot physically walk the pilgrimage that Susan relates, but may her reminding us of our common heritage enliven our faith.
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AROUND THE REGION
MARIANISTS IN ACTION -
OCTOBER 4-11
The Marianist Lay Network of North America (MLNNA) presents the Inaugural Marianists In Action. During this week, take some intentional time to build community and engage in service. 3 Steps:
- At the beginning, pray the Magnificat.
- While in action, take a picture and post it on social media with the hashtag #MarianistsInAction.
- At the end, join in solidarity and prayer on October 11 for the Marianist World Day of Prayer.
Visit Facebook.com/LayMarianist for details.
LET US PRAY:
- That the US Congress may have the courage to pass gun control legislation. How many shootings will it take?
- That we might not get tired of praying - Think World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, World Day of Marianist Prayer, Marianists in Action, etc.
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AROUND THE WORLD
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION 
SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
Pope Francis has just announced the first Annual World Day of prayer for the Care of Creation. "[This day] offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity
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 To renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, - Raising to God our thanks for the marvelous works that God has entrusted to our care,
- Invoking God's help for the protection of creation and mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live...
It is my hope that this Day can involve, in some way, other Churches and ecclesial communities and be celebrated in union with the initiatives that the World Council of Churches is promoting on this issue." Read the whole announcement.
31st WORLD DAY OF MARIANIST PRAYER
OCTOBER 11, 2015
Host: Switzerland,
Theme: The first Marianist mission outside France
The World Council of the Marianist Family invites you to meet on October 12 with the other branches of the Family in your own locale as we pray in solidarity with all Marianists seeking God. This year the local host will be the Sanctuary "Notre Dame de Bourguillon," in Switzerland.
Click the links below to read prayers to share and background.
 FRIDAY MAGNIFICAT - AUGUST
The Marianist Sisters of Brazil work with children - ENGLISH
Les Sœurs Marianistes du Br�sil ont mis sur pied un programme qui vise � aider les enfants - FRAN�AIS
Las Hermanas Marianistas en Brasil iniciaron un proyecto con niňos - ESPA�OL
FMI-SM BICENTENNIAL:  You'll be hearing much more about this as the year progresses, but for those who like to plan ahead, the Opening Celebration of the Bicentennial FMI-SM will take place in Agen, France, May 15, 2016. Click here for the advance notice.
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