MLC-NA ELECTIONS
Now Accepting Nominations
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Click the button to go to our Survey Monkey page to nominate someone
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MLC-NA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
University of Dayton
July 13-16 2017
BONUS: July 12 is a pre-assembly bonus day with additional speakers and activities.
Save the Dates!
Registration Information Coming Soon
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MLC-NA operates through the generosity of Lay Marianists and Marianist Lay Communities that make up its membership.
Our programs, activities, newsletters, and our support of MSJC, MLFI, and the IO-MLC need your support.
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CONTRIBUTION NOW!
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Did you know that when you buy stuff at Amazon.com, Amazon will make a donation to MLC-NA?
How? By using Smile.Amazon.Com.
Please consider using smile.amazon.com and selecting Marianist Lay Network as your charity. There is no additional cost to you and it really is the same site as Amazon.
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LeeAnn Meyer
Illinois
Vacant
Mallory Green
Missouri
Maureen O'Rourke
Ohio
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Being Church in the Modern World 
It's been almost two years since the new Strategic Plan emerged from the 2014 Assembly and the Leadership Team was formed. We've been working to forge new direction and redefine what it means to be a Lay Marianist.
The new Marianist Formation Handbook will be out very soon and I hope you will be as excited about it as I am. It will help clarify definitions of what it means to be a "Lay Marianist" while keeping a large tent of invitation open that will allow people to "grow into" and "connect with" Marianist spirituality in many ways at their own pace.
What we are trying to do is evolve into a new mindset-one in which we laity take more responsibility for our own formation, direction, and programming. We are trying to grow into being equal partners with the vowed branches of the Marianist family, rather than being fully dependent upon them.
I'd call this stage of development "growing into young adulthood." We don't yet have the wisdom, structures, or resources of our well-established SM brothers and FMI sisters. But we have learned from their reliable, caring support and now want to step up to shoulder more of the work of spreading the Marianist vision throughout North America.
As the Leadership Team talked about this shift in our own thinking, we came to realize that MLNNA is MORE than a "network" of communities. We are the Organizing Unit for the Lay branch in North America and our vision is that we should be a Model of Community for our lay communities.
So at our Leadership Meeting in Dayton in May, we voted to change our name from Marianist Lay Network of North America (MLNNA) to Marianist Lay Community of North America (MLC-NA).
We also decided to change the "tag line" to "Being Church in the Modern World" to echo Pope Francis' call to a new way of being church and changing our attitude, getting out of the buildings, and engaging people.
This makes all the difference in how we operate. Not only are we a governing body for Lay Marianists, we want to offer spiritual connections, learning opportunities, and concern for social justice issues that keep the poor and marginalized in the forefront of our work.
This name change has begun to call us into a new mindset and a new understanding of our purpose. We hope you will embrace this new path with us as we move forward.
Marceta Reilly
At-Large/Communities
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MLC-NA Update
To be Church in the Modern World, we need to change our ideas of what we are as a group as Marceta described above. Groups need strong identities and infrastructures to sustain themselves. And consider that we are spread all over North America and the Pacific ocean.
You may have noticed that we hyphenated our acronym. This is to follow a common format used by other Marianist organizations like SM-USA and IO:MLC. It emphasizes what we are - a Marianist Lay Community and separates out our location like USA, International Organization, or North America.
As we continue to boldly move forward to implement the MLC-NA 2014 Strategic Plan, these next few months we will be rolling out a number of initiatives to strengthen our identity and commitment to living our Lay Marianist vocation, ensuring that we are reaching all of our members, creating opportunities for formation and commitment, and organizing the MLC-NA. All of these will lead up to the Continental Assembly next Summer. Stay tuned!
PS - It will take some time to make all of the changes to convert our email, bank accounts, etc. to the MLC-NA name. Please bear with us during the transition.
We want your feedback so please send us an email.
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Election Update
We are now accepting nominations for new members of the MLC-NA Leadership Team for the upcoming election in September.
We will be electing a new Chair, who begins by joining the team as Chair-Elect for one year and then serves a four year term as Chair; a Head of Spirituality for a four year term; and a Head of Education for a two year term.
If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else, go to our SurveyMonkey form.
If you are interested in helping with the election and nominations, please email us by clicking here.
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Census Update
This summer, we will be contacting all the members in our database and need volunteers to make phone calls.
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2017 Continental Assembly
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Al Prendergast
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The Assembly team is continuing to build a great program for you our members. They have met with Lay Marianists in San Antonio, Dayton, Cincinnati, and St. Louis to gather input. We also very excited so many people and communities are
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Katie Gushoney
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volunteering to help.
We're building a family-friendly program that will include Marianist-themed activities for children of all ages. We hope everyone will consider participating in this fun and faith-filled weekend in Dayton on July 13 to 16, 2017.
We are looking for volunteers to help plan and to help during the assembly. If you and/or your community would like to help, please email us by clicking here.
Let us know, when you are available and we will match you up with a project.
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Community News
The Anawim Community of greater Cincinnati is spending several sessions on "Facilitating Political Dialogue." During this long and contentious political season, they decided to revisit some resources about the spirituality behind Nonviolent Communication (by Marshal Rosenberg). They believe the only way that we have a chance of being heard and understood, is if the other feels heard and understood. They feel these are spiritual skills because they respect the humanity of the other while still being true to oneself.
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MSJC - Changemakers
July 22-24 in San Antonio or
Oct. 28-30 in Dayton
Are you someone who wants to make a difference in the world?
Are you someone committed to action and creating social change?
Then join us for "Changemakers: Creating New Responses for New Times."
Check the MSJC website to register and learn more about how the Marianist Family is responding to issues that impact our world. |
Congratulate the Marianist Sisters on their 200th Anniversary and Support the MSVF!
On May 15, the Marianist Family will began a worldwide celebration of the bicentennials of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (FMI) and the Society of Mary (SM). For more information check out the May 5th edition of Family on Line.
Click here to download the MSVF Brochure.
If you would like to make an on-line donation in honor of the 200th Anniversary, click here. Be creative and donate 200 of something - pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars....
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St. Mary's Marianist Leadership Program is Looking for MLC's to Host Service Trips
In early fall, some students in the St. Mary's University Marianist Leadership Program (MLP) will be taking some immersion service trips around the country, specifically cities that have Marianist religious or lay people, for example: Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dayton, St. Louis, and Philadelphia. (How about your city?)
The goal of the service immersion trips is to broaden the students' perspective of the Marianist family & connect them with Lay and Religious Marianist. It will also strengthen and better establish the students' Marianist Lay Community identity and mission.
If you and/or your community would like to support this program by hosting 4-5 students & 1 staff member for a 3-night, 4-day experience, please email Brian Buchmeyer.
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Family Retreats Still Available
 The Marianist Family Retreat Center has a few openings for their week-long family retreats in the following weeks:
Week 3: July 11 - 16 (with children 8+)
Week 8: August 15 - 20
If you are interested, contact Anthony Fucci at
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Prayer Intentions
Let us pray...
For those suffering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder caused by war, disasters, violence, and other traumatic experiences. (June is PTSD awareness month.)
In gratitude for all Marianist Religious, that these bicentennial celebrations be filled with joy and a spirit of renewal.
For the 2016 MLC-NA Election that we continue to build on our foundation for the future.
For the 2017 Continental Assembly Team as it continues to make preparations.
For Marianist Vocations and for all those in formation.
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Marianist Feast Days
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July 9
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Mary, Queen of Peace
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MLFI - Calling All Marianists!
Have you always wanted to start a Marianist Lay Community but didn't know where to start?
Do you know anyone who may be interested in deepening their commitment to Marianist life through forming a Marianist Lay Community?
Are you currently in a community that could use a little boost? Need a way to re-energize your community?
We are currently in the planning stages for the next gathering of the Marianist Lay Formation Initiative (MLFI).
Call Director Pati Krasensky at 215-634-4116 for more information or visit our website at www.marianist.com/mlfi.
Check out the MLFI Community Resource page here.
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Virtual Learning Community for Faith FormationThe VLCFF courses on Marianist Studies are great ways to meet Lay and Religious Marianists from around the continent and the world. During these 5-week courses you can interact with and learn from others about our Marianist History, Charism, and Spirituality.
The next cycle is July 10- Aug 13. Registration open until July 6; to register, gohere. Courses include:
Marianist Studies: Mary, Holy Possibility - Encounter Mary as our gift from God. Mary will become our teacher, a woman of challenge, and our companion on our journey as we continue to grow in holiness.
Marianist Studies: Community - Enhance your ability to form community in the Marianist spirit as you learn about the roots, expression, and unique characteristics of Marianist communities.
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Your Contribution Makes A Difference
We receive contributions from all branches of the Marianist Family and people who are touched by the Marianist Charism.
Our success depends on having the resources available to provide current and new programs that benefit our members.
If you'd like to make a one-time or recurring on-line contribution, click here. You may also send a check to the address below (in the footer).
If you can offer your time and talent to help, please click here. Thank you for your generosity and support. Together we can grow and expand the Marianist Charism.
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