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Moved by the Spirit
Matt Dunn face

The Easter season has given us tremendous opportunity to reflect on recognizing Christ in others. In the last couple weeks we were also reminded that God is always with us and that we must go forth, to offer peace to others, and to love one another as God loves us. The disciples, and we, have been told that the Spirit will come upon us and guide us. And this weekend, Pentecost, we get a glimpse of the nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit acting as one, with the Holy Spirit advocating the will of the Father.

 

Challenges and transitions offer a great opportunity to call on the Holy Spirit for guidance. And the Spirit is always moving! The Spirit calls individuals to religious life. The Spirit calls individuals to community. The Spirit calls us to relationship. The Spirit calls us to vocation. But the Spirit can also cause one to realize that something isn't for them, or that something requires difficult  decisions and action. The Spirit causes one to question. The Spirit causes one to act in faith, to do the will of God.

 

Many are aware that communities, like many things, have life cycles. They are born. They are formed. They grow and flourish. They even die. Sometimes dying is the right option. It may be a natural progression or it may be a sign from the Holy Spirit that it's just time. To keep a community thriving requires intentionality and attentiveness to where the Spirit is leading. Communities bold enough to ask each other challenging questions is a good thing. Whether individuals want to intentionally live together or to separate, whether communities spread by miles seek meaning as a community and as individuals, whether some people leave community and others join, whether someone is inspired to start a community after belonging to a one (or none at all), requires discernment.

 

Change isn't always easy. And change isn't always bad. When thinking about change one must keep a few things in mind. It's easy to focus on what's best for me. However, we must consider others. What's best for them? What's best for the community? How does a decision impact others? The church? The world? And our place in it?  

 

Convening for prayer, honest discussion, active listening, and seeking guidance are all healthy ways to address change. For other examples of discernment, see the articles and resources below.

 

Peace be with you,

Matt Dunn

Editor 

Listening to the Spirit
 
Holy Spirit

Community listening together can discern the promptings of the Spirit within the community. The Spirit may also work through the individual during a period of community discernment.  

 

Sometimes individual members ask the community to help them discern where they are being called by the Spirit. In this way, the Spirit works through the community in the individual's discernment process.

 

How does Mary fit into discernment? As Marianists, we look to Mary as a model of the qualities needed for discernment:

  • �         Openness, awareness of the Spirit's stirring
  • �         Patience, willingness to wait
  • �         Acceptance, acting upon the Spirit's call
     

Click here to read the rest of this reflection. 

 

A Marian Style of Church

 

Marianist communities endeavor to embody a "Marian style of church." This style is characterized by an abiding sense of listening, a rhythm of growth that respects the development and formation of its members, a sense of solidarity with the world around us and an emphasis on communion, family and finding a place for all at the table.   -Tom Giardino, SM The Promise and the Path: Starting and Sustaining Marianist Communities

 

 

Prayerfully reflect on the following questions:

 

�      Listening: What am I hearing within myself? from my community members? from the stirring of the Holy Spirit?

 

�      Growth/Direction: What direction for the community best responds to the development and formation of our members? the Marianist family? the Church?

�      Community stories: What have I experienced, learned about, or learned from other communities dealing with the same or similar issue?

�      Solidarity: What direction will best empower us to live in solidarity with the world? How can we better emphasize community, family, and a place at the table for all?

Click here for an example of a community exercise of discernment. 
Called to Community  

 

UD Spring 2013  

Welcome to the newest members of the Marianist Family. The Ardeo Spiritu Community made its commitment at the University of Dayton in April. Photo by David Brun. 

 



 

Call to Advance Justice   

Marianist Call to Advance Justice - that's the name of the new initiative that all MLC's are invited and encouraged to take part in.  It's a two hour workshop, sponsored jointly by the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative and the SM Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office, to help communities discuss and discern how they are called to respond to social injustice. 

Check out the flyer about the program and then contact Jim Vogt to discuss any questions you have and to schedule a time for the workshop.

 

Thank you!
  
MLNNA is your organization! We appreciate all who made contributions as part of our annual appeal, as well as those who regularly provide on-going support. Your generosity is truly appreciated and continues to help us provide resources, such as this newsletter, for your benefit!