Almsgiving
There are many great causes out there worthy of our almsgiving. Rather than listing things that might be available online or through parishes and schools we encourage you to get to know more about Marianist ministries and support them!
The Partnering with the Poor Sponsorship Programs are ministries of the Society of Mary in Africa and India. These programs provide for daily necessities, but more importantly provide training and opportunities for personal empowerment and sustainability. More information about these programs and opportunities to support them are available at
The Marianist Environmental Education Center, located at Mt. St. John in Dayton offers the "energy fast" found above. Additionally, MEEC tends to the land at Mt. St. John and offers year-round programming related to sustainability, native plants, and care for the integrity of creation. Join in their efforts by supporting them at http://meec.udayton.edu/JoinUs.asp
The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative consists of issue teams comprised of volunteer members of the laity, FMI and SM. Teams advocate and volunteer on a variety of issues and offer opportunities for individuals and communities to do the same. Resources are available to communities on a number of topics. http://www.msjc.net/default.aspx
Last year, Mission of Mary Farm (Dayton) grew 6,000 lbs. of food and served its neighborhood through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, a roadside stand, free community meal events and food pantry donation. This coming season, they are excited to be farming twice as much land in the neighborhood, double their food production, and have an impact on the lives of even more of its neighbors. They will also be providing summer employment to four teens from the neighborhood and start a summer day camp program for kids.
Please consider supporting the Mission of Mary Farm with a Lenten donation. Donations can be made out to Mission of Mary Cooperative, and mailed to 619 Silver Lane, Dayton OH 45410.
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Adding some Silence(s) to Lent
When we think of fasting, we often think of giving things up. These often include foods, excesses, and ways we use our time. Many people also try to add things to Lent or do something different in an effort to make themselves a better person.
Consider these ideas of "fasting" by silencing some bad habits so that God can always be first and foremost in our thoughts, words, and deeds:
"As you know, for Father Chaminade the silences were really positive virtues. For him, "silence" did not mean just keeping quiet; it did not mean not using our imaginations; it did not mean to stop thinking. He refers to silence of speech, silence of action, silence of thought, silence of emotions, and silence
of the mind and he defines each one as a positive thing. What he is talking about is disciplining our faculties so they do serve us and in fact help us to do what we are trying to do. He is not talking about some way of deadening them."
- Joseph Stefanelli, SM,Our Marianist Heritage, 79.
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Thank you!
The Marianist Lay Network is your organization! Let us know what you'd like to see in our newsletters! We look forward to seeing you at the Assembly in July!
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