Jan. 16, 2014  


QUICK LINKS

 
   
 
  
  

 

CALENDAR 

  

Martin Luther King Day 

 

Jan. 20 

 

Death of Blessed Wm. Joseph Chaminade   

(1850)

 

Jan. 22 

 

From Fr. Marty Solma
  
Dear Brothers:
  

I hope the new year has begun well for you. The Provincial Council members are in Dayton where we will begin an area visitation this weekend.

 

ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ 

 

On Jan. 22, I have a meeting with Archbishop Jos� Gomez of Los Angeles to discuss our presence in his archdiocese and how we can more effectively serve the pastoral needs there. Along with Hawai'i, San Antonio, Dayton and Philadelphia, this area will be important for our future as a Province. Thanks for your prayers.

 

NOVITIATE

 

A big thank you to the novitiate community for its effort to clean out the now-vacant novitiate building at Mount St. John. We are salvaging and recycling as much as possible. Special thanks to Fr. Chris Wittmann and Bro. Jack Somerville for their time, effort and dedication.

 

NEW FACILITY 

 

The committee planning the new NACMS/Marianist Family facility, led by Carol Ramey, will soon begin its work. We are proposing the name "Founders Center" to reflect the wider Marianist Family. Bro. Ed Brink is the Council liaison.

 

MARIANIST MISSION 

  

The Office of Development continues to look for ways to strengthen its operations for the benefit of Marianist ministries. The Marianist Mission has identified a good source of savings by outsourcing some of the operations, taking effect over the next few months. This requires us to downsize several departments, affecting about 10 positions. These employees will receive appropriate severance. Their years of service are much appreciated.  

   

DISCERNMENT

 

We received a letter from Syl Burkemper of San Antonio, who was a member of the Society of Mary for some years. He spent much time building and maintaining the facilities at Tecaboca. Syl is considering a return to the Marianists and has asked to live in a Marianist community for a period of discernment.    

 

He will be welcomed to the Marianist Residence Community in San Antonio next week and will live with the community until the end of May, when we will decide with him the next steps in the process. Many thanks to the brothers at the Marianist Residence for their hospitality.

 

PERSONNEL  
    

Bro. R�gulo Garc�a Hern�ndez, who has been studying at the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) in San Antonio, has moved to the University of Dayton to enroll in its intensive English program for this semester. R�gulo will live at the Chambers Street community.

   

Bro. Bill O'Leary (Chaminade Community, St. Louis) will spend the next two months at the Marianist Residence in San Antonio while health issues are addressed. He is expected back in St. Louis before Easter.

 

Fr. Bob Osborne will have an extended visit to the Marianist Community in Cupertino from the beginning of February until the end of May.

 

INTERCESSIONS 

 

This month we commemorate the anniversaries of the deaths of Venerable Mother Ad�le and Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. Let's ask their intercession for the intentions of the Province and Marianist Family. Please keep in mind, as a special intention, the International Assembly of Marianist Lay Communities in Lima, Peru, from Jan. 26 through Feb. 2.

   

  

Fraternally,

 


From Fr. Bill Meyer
 
My Dear Brothers:  
 

MARIANIST AFFILIATION 

 

Marianist Affiliation, a unique vocation in the Church and Marianist Family, has been part of Marianist culture since its foundation. Affiliation involves a dedicated prayer life, ongoing formation, and a relationship with the Society of Mary and Daughters of Mary Immaculate.

 

Last spring our office hosted a "Marianist Affiliate Colloquium" at the Marianist Retreat & Conference Center in Eureka, Mo. In attendance were nine affiliates, SM spiritual advisors, scholars and Province employees. The group clarified the meaning of Marianist Affiliation, discussed standardizing the formation process, and recommended further action.

 

We are in the process of creating an Affiliation Steering Committee, an advisory body to the Province. Our spiritual advisors for affiliation will be an integral part of this. Those desiring affiliation should be supported by the local Marianist community. The community contacts the regional spiritual advisor, who then initiates a period of discernment and initial formation. The following working definition of Marianist Affiliation was developed at the colloquium. 

 

Marianist Affiliation is a spiritual, communal and apostolic relationship to the Society of Mary and the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. It is a personal, lifelong commitment to the vision of the founders and the works of the Marianist Family. Affiliation is a specific vocation in the Church and the Marianist Family, journeying with Mary as guide and companion to bring Jesus to the waiting world.

 

Questions? Please contact me or a regional affiliation coordinator: Fr. Pat Tonry (East Coast), Fr. Bert Buby (Dayton), Fr. Al McMenamy (Midwest) or Bro. David Betz (West Coast/Hawai'i).

 

 

MATTERS LITURGICAL 

 

The 2014 Ordo/Liturgical Calendar, the Roman Missal and the Lectionary for Marianist feast days are now available on the PORTAL in time for the Jan. 22 celebration of Chaminade Day. Printed copies will be sent to communities in February.

    

Triduum to Blessed Father William Joseph Chaminade

As we prepare for the feast of Blessed Chaminade, I encourage communities to pray the Novena Prayer (Marianist Prayers, pg. 38) in a Triduum - Jan. 20, 21 and 22. I ask that during the Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours and private prayer, you remember those who have been recommended to our holy founder's intercession in the past year. Read the prayer intentions.

 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins this Saturday, Jan. 18. Specific intentions may be inserted in the general intercessions at Mass and the Hours. For the celebration of the Eucharist throughout the week, the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, the Mass for the Unity of Christians (#17), For the Evangelization of Peoples (#18), and For Persecuted Christians (#19) would be appropriate.

  

With fraternal affection,

  

  


From Fr. Paul Marshall

Dear Brothers:
   
 

ROE V. WADE ANNIVERSARY 

 

On Jan. 22, 2014, our nation will mark the 41st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the United States. Since then, more than 55 million children's lives have been lost to abortion, and many suffer that loss, often in silence.  

 

Join thousands of Catholics across the country in prayer for a "culture of life" from Saturday, Jan. 18 through Sunday, Jan. 26. Find resources from the United States Bishops Conference initiative, "9 Days for Life." We invite communities to join the bishops and participate in the Nine Days of Prayer, Penance & Pilgrimage Novena. You can receive the novena on your cell phone each day by texting "9DAYS" to 99000.

   

Fraternally, 

  

 

 

From the General Administration

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