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 - 2016
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Greetings!
How do you pray. Let me count the ways.
- Of course there is the Mass which reminds us of our roots in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus' death and resurrection.
- Then there is the tradition of morning and evening prayer plus grace before meals.
- For we Marianists, there is the doxology (May the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.) and the Three O'Clock Prayer.
- Then there are all kinds of special prayers and prayer services, short and long, that inspire us along the way of our daily life.
BUT, sometimes these ordinary prayers lose some of their oomph for me. Sometimes I say the memorized prayers as if I am in a trance and get to the end before I realize I've even started. Sometimes my prayer needs "freshening up." I decided to try my hand at a modern interpretation of the classic Hail Mary.
 Yo, Mary, you carried Jesus, our God, within you. Thanks for your "Yes" which brought Jesus into our world. You stood by your son in good times and in bad. May we do the same. Mother of God, with a mama's heart, help us in our weakness, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
They may never make a classic wedding song out of this prose, but I tried to capture the essence of the prayer and put it into a bit more modern language. You may not like my version but making an effort to find the heart of a prayer and make it your own, is probably worth the effort. Try putting a standard prayer into your own words this week. Maybe your whole community could do it at a meeting and see what comes out. Try it. You may like it. Fondly,
Susan Vogt
Regional Representative for
N. America, Asia, Australia, Ireland
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FEATURED COUNTRY - HAITI
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| Saul Damestoir
Natl. Rep. - Haiti |
The Lay Marianists of St. Marc Parish in western Haiti celebrated Founders Day on Sunday, January 17. They used this opportunity to have a special Eucharist at which 17 new members made an Act of Dedication as Lay Marianists. Fr. G�rard Blais SM, Superieur Regional of Canada traveled to Haiti to preside at the liturgy and witness their commitment.
Next Sunday, January, 24, another group of Lay Marianists in Pilette, another parish in norther Haiti will celebrate Founders Day and also dedicate themselves as Lay Marianists.
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| | Fr. G�rard Blais SM (center front) with newly dedicated Lay Marianists of St. Marc |
Du meme coup, on a eu une ceremonie eucharistique speciale en la circonstance pr�sid�e par le pere G�rard Blais, SM.
17 nouveaux membres ont �t� consacr�s.
C'est une premiere partie qui a lieu � Saint Marc. Puisque les nouveaux membres de Pilette f�teront leur journ�e des fondateurs et leur ceremonie de consecration le 24 Janvier.
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LET US PRAY 
- For the Lay Marianists of St. Marc, Haiti who recently committed themselves to the Marianist way of life.
- For the Lay Marianist of Pilette, Haiti who will dedicate themselves as Lay Marianists on January 24.
- For the people of South Korea and Japan (and our whole world) who live under the continuing nuclear threat from North Korea.
- That we all may take to heart Pope Francis' Year of Mercy and seek out those we need to forgive. May we also find the ability to forgive ourselves.
- For planet earth - that it may be healed in time; and that we can be agents of its healing.
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WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A LAY MARIANIST
and a MARIANIST LAY COMMUNITY
After a year of consultation and discernment, the leadership team of the International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities (IOMLC) has completed the translation of a helpful identity document for Lay Marianists. Of course such documents are never "finished." Please read it, note how it fits you personally, and continue to give us feedback.
OPENING OF FMI/SM BICENNTENIAL CELEBRATION 
May 25, 2016, marks the 200 anniversary of the foundation of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. The opening celebration of the FMI/SM joint Bicentennial will be held in Agen, France from May 13-15, 2016.
Although most readers of this newsletter will not be able to attend in person, read about the program or register. We hold the whole Marianist Family in prayer during these holy days.
 FRIDAY MAGNIFICAT - JANUARY
Nyumba Yanga Orphanage is located in the outskirts of Lusaka City in Zambia, Africa. To support the orphanage, the Marianist Lay Community of Matero St. Joseph's Chapel took up the initiative of visiting the orphanage every year and making donations of clothing to school supplies.
Read more:
VIA LATINA - ONLINE 
The following articles are in the December #247 issue of Via Latina 22, the newsletter for the General Administration of the Society of Mary.
-Professions of Vows in the Society
-Ten Perpetual Professions in Africa
-Message from the Office of Temporalities
-Ivory Coast-5th Meeting of the Charism
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