MLNNA
Marianist Lay Network of North America
Building a Community of Communities
An Important Gathering

Dear Friends,

Rudy Reyes Jr._2011 Election  

On 20-21 July, nearly 20 leaders of MLNNA will gather in Dayton, Ohio, to focus on the great promise of the MLNNA for the future of the Marianist Family in our part of the world. Participants will include current and former elected leaders, community and formation leaders, newcomers, and friends; they represent a wide range of lay expressions of our Marianist life (State Community, Affiliates, MLCs, Young Adults, et al.) and represent the full spectrum of age and geography. Those unable to attend in-person will be connecting via the Internet from across the country.

 

This gathering is the product of several months of planning. Through a series of intentional conversations, this gathering intends to lay the foundation for a true engagement of MLNNA's members and member communities in an effort to better understand and effectively meet the needs of the Marianist laity in North America. All of this, eventually, leading to an Assembly in the Summer of 2014.

 

We ask for your prayers during our time together. Please look forward to a full report of this important gathering, including an opportunity for you to contribute to the conversations coming out of it!

 

Yours in Christ,

 

Rudy Reyes, Jr.

President

MLNNA Elections

 

In an effort to focus on the engagement of MLNNA's membership toward the 2014 Assembly, the Leadership Council has unanimously approved a one-year extension of the secretary and community development positions. We are grateful to Caitlin Jacobs, secretary, and Kay Stone, community development, for their willingness to serve an additional 12 months in their roles. Elections for these roles will take place in 2014, instead of 2013 as scheduled.

 

In addition, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Kathleen Henriksen who has served as co-secretary for the past four years. We wish her well in her new adventures.

 

Please join us in thanking all three of them for their service on our behalf!

Donate Frequent Flyer Miles


MLNNA is preparing to send delegates to the next IO-MLC international meeting that will be January 26-February 2, 2014 in Lima, Peru. We are allowed 7 delegates. MLNNA, however, has very limited income and has cut its budget to the bone. We don't have the money to pay the expenses of even one delegate. In the past we have received generous support from the Society of Mary. However, as responsible laity, attending a lay assembly, we feel the responsibility and burden is on us to make the trip possible. We know that these are still hard economic times for Americans in general, including Lay Marianists. There are two ways you can help - the first doesn't require money.

 

We are especially seeking the donation of Frequent Flyer miles; travel will be a delegate's biggest expense. Delegates are contributing toward their own expenses, but we'd like to show our support because they are attending on behalf of all lay Marianists in the United States. We are looking for 5 economy class, round trip tickets from the continental US to South America and 1 economy class round trip ticket from Hawaii to South America. We are also willing to piece together partial/one-way trips. 

 

If you can donate Frequent-Flyer miles, contact Kay Stone with your name, contact email and phone, name of airline and number of miles. When delegates are confirmed and they are making reservations we will match them up with airlines and miles that are available.

 

Of course a donation to partially subsidize the expenses of a delegate in need is also welcome.

 

If you would like to donate money, you can do that

         Online through Just Give (Select Peru under the Programs options)

         Send a check to MLNNA, 1341 N. Delaware Ave., Suite #301, Philadelphia, PA 19125.

Maranatha Community Celebrates 40 Years!
 
On June 12, 2013, the Marianist lay community of Maranatha celebrated its 40th year. Maranatha

 

Its first meeting was held at the Marianist Center in Chester, Pennsylvania. Bro. Walter Oberster, Laura Leming, and Linda Zappacosta were present, among others, and the community continued to meet every three or four weeks until present. Bro. Walt was a faithful member and recruiter until his death and Laura went on to become a Marianist Sister for which they are very proud.

 

So, what keeps a community going for 40 years? Well, the name itself, Maranatha,, holds some key ingredients. Maranatha means "Come, Lord Jesus" and is usually associated with Advent. For them, Maranatha also means "be ready," and for a community to endure, here is how:

Be ready to be faithful to a commitment of time. It only works if members agree and follow
through on a certain meeting place and date.

Be ready to discuss what living one's faith means in everyday life.

Be ready to share facilitation of meetings for individual investment and ownership in the community.

Be ready to sacrifice one's needs for the good of the community.

Be ready to learn and live the rich spirituality and tradition of the Marianist Family.

Be ready to collaborate and connect with other Marianist lay and religious communities.

Be ready to respond in faith and justice to the needs of the broader community.

Be ready to laugh and cry as members companion each other through life's journeys.

Be ready to break bread and drink wine in celebration of the unique gift of each other as individuals and as a community.

Be ready to pray together in trust of a faithful, loving God.

Be ready to bear Jesus, each day, into lives and ordinary events, as Mary did.

 

"Because of our readiness," says Linda Zappacosta, "we have reaped countless blessings of deep friendships that have born witness to the marvelous work of God in our lives. We remain ready for all the ways Jesus will come into our lives as we continue the journey of Marianist lay community." Photo courtesy of Linda Zappacosta

 

 

MLNNA Extends Its Congratulations!
  

On behalf of all Lay Marianists, MLNNA wishes to acknowledge and congratulate:

  • Brother Mark Motz, SM on his profession of vows
  • Sister Nicole Trahan, FMI as she prepares for her profession of vows on August 3
  • The Marianist Sisters - on their opening of Annunciation House, a discernment community, in Dayton
  • The Marianist Sisters - on their province retreat  
  • The Society of Mary - on its 11th anniversary as the Province of the United States
  • The Society of Mary - on its first of three years of spiritual renewal
  • To NACMS - embarking on strategic planning, to define its future 
A Community Engaged in the Community

Wrightwood  

Marianist Lay Community in Wrightwood (MLCW) was founded around 1999 and was reestablished and announced in the summer of 2010. The group has concentrated on needed spiritual direction as a Small Faith Community in Wrightwood assimilating with surrounding local communities, schools, needy organizations, ministries, charities, local non- denominational groups and churches. The Marianist Lay Community of Wrightwood also enjoys a vitality and success of personal faith and genuine group concern for our local Our Lady of the Snows (OLS) parish community that has been said to serve as a "model that other communities and faiths should follow". Members will continue as intended... grow together, share our charism, generosity, faith, and to live "everyday in union through Our Mother Mary" for Jesus Christ within the community. Members who completed a period of formation have shared a Formal Profession of Promises Ceremony.

 

The Marianist Laity members are proud to independently give their time, talent, and treasure, with nearly all of the members being 100% actively involved or have been involved as volunteers in all ministries of Our Lady of the Snows Parish of Wrightwood, while also assisting the Blessed Junipero staff parish activities in Phelan. They've served their OLS parish as Head of Lectors Ministry, Usher Ministry, Parish Council member, Eucharistic Ministry, Confirmation assistant(s), Head of Art and Environment Ministry, Catechism Teacher, Women's auxiliary Council, Lectors, Snow shoveling organizing, Feeding the needy, Parish Holy Day and Festivity decorating, Parish yard cleanup and more. The MLCW are and will continue to be actively involved in the love, growth, success, and continuing the life of the small and cherished  church at Our Lady of the Snows Parish and the Community of Wrightwood.   


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