Marianist Lay Community
of North America

Being Church in the Modern World

April 2017

Featured Articles In This Issue
2017 Assembly Update
Social Media Intern Needed
Marianist Moment
MLC-NA Census
Cape May Retreats
Tecaboca Retreats
Prayer Intentions
Marianist Feast Days
Annual Contribution
MLC-NA LAY ASSEMBLY

University of Dayton

July 13-16 2017


Scholarships and Payment Plans available! 
 
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.

JustGiveMAKE A TAX DEDUCTIBLE
CONTRIBUTION NOW!
AMAZON DONATION PROGRAM! 

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.

Mike Wasno
Maryland

Matt Dunn
Ohio
 
Head of Education
Jim Barrette

Head of Temporalities

LeeAnn Meyer
Illinois

Head of Spirituality
Mallory Green
Missouri


 Vacant

Vacant
 
Ken Barrett
Ohio

Mallory Green
Missouri
Maureen O'Rourke
Ohio

Is Your Contact Information Accurate?

 

Click on the "Update Profile/Email Address" link at the bottom of this email. You'll be sent an email with instructions on how to update your contact information for our MLC-NA database.

 

Thank You!

 

MLC Google Map

 


Noticing God's Activity 
I must admit that this Holy Week has not been as quiet or reflective as I had planned.  In fact, this entire Lent has not been what I had hoped.  I was feeling a bit discouraged until I found an article by Marianist Brother Patrick Cahill that talked about noticing.  He begins the article by asking, "How have I noticed God's activity in my life in a more particular way this Lent?"  and  "How have I responded to the call of Ash Wednesday to "turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel?"
 
These questions penetrated my heart and brought me to reflect on how I have been called this Lent to walk with three people who are severally ill or dying.  I have questioned why all three people have asked me to come alongside them during this time in their lives.  What I have realized is that God gave me the gift of presence.  As I reflected further I recognized this is one aspect that Mary did on Good Friday by the foot of the cross.  How awesome to notice I had been living the Gospel message and didn't realize it.  I guess it is like the quote from Jean Vanier that I use at the bottom of all my emails, "Love doesn't mean doing extraordinary or heroic things.  It means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness."  So how do you notice these moments?

I leave you with these questions as you enter this Holy weekend.  What do you need to notice this coming weekend?  How will the movement from Good Friday to Easter Sunday be a source of reflection and inspiration for your life?  I encourage you to share this with someone you love or your Marianist community. 

Many Easter Blessings.
 
Marg Van Herk-Paradis
Partner Outreach, MLC-NA
2017 Continental Assembly  
(C) GE Mullan-Used with Permission
Register now for the Marianist Lay Continental Assembly July 13 - 16 at the University of Dayton.

For information go to: 

We encourage you to read the registration instructions before you begin because the registration process is a bit complex. If you have questions throughout the process, please contact University of Dayton Conference Services at [email protected] or a member of the Assembly team at [email protected].

The Assembly is open to everyone who shares the Marianist charism and will include several breakout sessions and keynote addresses. Hear from nationally recognized speakers such as Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, and Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, as well as Marianist Movement promoter Bro. Ray Fitz, SM, former president of the University of Dayton. A full schedule is available online.
 
----
Scholarship funds and payment plans are available. See details on the registration page.  Register now and pay monthly.
 
This Assembly will be an opportunity for ALL Marianists to join together and commit to the Marianist Movement - to be a model of Church in the Modern World and Bring Christ to the World. 
 
Please direct questions to: [email protected]

We are looking for volunteers to help plan and to help during the assembly.  Consider volunteering as a community!  It's a great way to serve and you already know who's on your team.  Send an email to us by clicking here.  And thanks to those who have already contacted us!
Community News
The Harvest
Harvest Women MLC
 
Women MLC hosted their annual Women's Retreat at Mayetta, Kansas on April 1, 2017.  This was the 11th year for hosting the retreat at St. Francis Xavier parish in Mayetta.  The theme was, "Loving Yourself As God Loves You."
 
Joanne McCracken and Patti Jarvis were the retreat facilitators.  They are experienced retreat leaders from the Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May Point, New Jersey.  Eighteen women spent the day exploring the depth of God's mercy and love for us. 

Marianist Group at St. Mary's Tackles Racial Justice Topic.  The
Growing with Mary MLC in St. Louis has been sponsoring a series of talks.Read the full article in the St. Louis Review here.


On March 11th, the
 
North East Marianist Family Council met at the Marianist Center in Philadelphia. Brian Reavey, a Lay Marianist and Director of the Office of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation for the Society of Mary, led a workshop entitled, "NGO-101" (Non-Governmental Organization) regarding his work at the United Nations.
Social Media Intern Needed 
Are you looking for a way to apply and practice your skills in a real world experience? Do you love the Marianist spirit and want to find a way to contribute your talents to it?

MLC-NA is seeking an Intern who will design, implement, and oversee a social media campaign to attract, inspire, and engage Lay Marianists in sharing and dialogue in order to build community spirit among MLC-NA members and promote MLC-NA events.

The Social Media Intern will receive a stipend and free
  registration to the Marianist Assembly this summer. If you are interested, send your resume or listing of your work experience to Jim Barrette
A Marianist Moment 
Christian tradition holds that Jesus died at three o'clock in the afternoon. The Three O' Clock Prayer is based on that belief and focuses on the final moments of Jesus' life when he entrusted the care of his mother Mary to his beloved disciple. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade believed that when he proclaimed to John that from this time forward Mary would be his mother, Jesus entrusted the Church into the care of his mother. The Marianists adopted that prayer as a means of uniting the Marianists, lay people and students around the world in an act of prayer and solidarity for their common mission.

Lord Jesus, we gather in spirit at the foot of the cross with your Mother and the disciple whom you loved.

We ask your pardon for our sins which are the cause of your death.

We thank you for remembering us in that hour of salvation and for giving us Mary as our Mother.

Holy Virgin, take us under your protection and open us to the action of the Holy Spirit.

Saint John, obtain for us the grace of taking Mary into our life, as you did, and of assisting her in her mission.
Census Update - On-Line Form Available!
Thank you to all who have visited our web form - we have over 100 updated records. 

If you haven't updated your information, please take a few moments to fill out this brief questionnaire (it's a Google form).  Each member of a family should register separately so we have individual emails for future elections, etc. 
Marianist Family Retreat Center
The MFRC in Cape May, NJ offers unique family retreats in the Marianist spirit.   For more information and online application visit www.capemaymarianists.org Apply Now!
Tecaboca Retreat Center 
Tecaboca provides Marianist retreat programs in the foothills just north of San Antonio.  Boys camp registration is open. 

Click here for more information.
Prayer Intentions
Let us pray...

For our Church and all peoples, as this Lenten season comes to an end, may we rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus.

For the Assembly Team and the success of the 2017  MLC-NA Assembly.  May this be a fruitful time for the Marianist Movement.

For the Society of Mary and the Marianist Sisters during the bicentennial celebration.  May the joy of this celebration lead to an increase in Marianist Vocations.

For all people with Autism and the family, friends, and professionals who support them during - April is For all those who are ill, especially those suffering from cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and other diseases. May they know the healing touch of our Lord.

For Hank Martin of the Marianist Family of Coppell, TX who passed away on February 1st, may he rest in peace. 
 
Submit your prayer request here: Prayer Requests
Marianist Feast Days
Apr 16

May 12 
 
Easter Sunday

Mary, Mother of All Graces - Pius IX
approves of the Society of Mary, 1865
Your Annual Contribution Makes A Difference
We recently mailed our Annual Contribution Appeal via the postal service and email. If you did not receive a copy, you can find it here.

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.

We ask each Lay Marianist to contribute the equivalent of 2 hours wages.  (One for MLC-NA and one for the International Organization.)

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).

Our annual report will be sent out in early February once we have closed our 2016 books.

If you can offer your time and talent to help, please click here.

Thank you for your generous support.  Together we will grow the Marianist Movement.