Dear Brothers:

Marianist Mission

On Sept. 27, the renovated Marianist Center at Mount Saint John was rededicated and blessed as the new home of the Marianist Mission. More than 200 Marianist Family members attended the event, which included Eucharist at Queen of Apostles chapel followed by a reception. I served as the principal celebrant and blessed the building, and Fr. Andr� F�tis blessed the Madonna and child painting that hangs in the foyer. Fr. Pat Tonry served as the homilist. Bro. Mike McAward from the General Administration also attended and spoke on their behalf, thanking the Marianist Mission and the Province for the generous financial support of the GA's work.

  

Fr. Andr� F�tis blesses the Madonna and child painting; Fr. Pat Tonry with Korean novices Peter Choi and Joo Choi

Mission employees led guests on tours of the building. Artwork from Marianist artists is displayed throughout and includes African art donated by Bro. Dave Schmitz and chapel art created by Bro. Don Smith. I thank Allison Hewitt and Linda Hayes and their team for bringing this project to a fine completion, and Bro. Jack Somerville for overseeing the renovations.   

      

Novitiate construction

Work on the new novitiate is progressing well. The construction company projects a completion date of March 7. Fr. Chris Wittmann, Bro. Jack Somerville and Bro. Charlie Johnson have put in many hours working with the construction team of Miller-Valentine and our architect, Greg Martz. The result should be a durable, energy conserving building that reflects the religious life that will be lived there. Thanks Chris, Jack and Charlie.

Novitiate under construction at Mount Saint John, Dayton

Welcome to our brothers

Welcome to Fr. Kwangkyu Simon Choi who has received his U.S. visa and soon will join the novitiate community. Simon will study English at UD. We are happy to welcome Simon to the Province.

Also joining the Province are Bro. Patrice Como� from the District of Ivory Coast and Bro. Tchamie Thierry Kadja from the Region of Togo. Both have joined the Chambers Street community in Dayton. Bro. Patrice will pursue a master's degree in educational leadership; Bro. Thierry, a bachelor's degree in engineering. Welcome, brothers, and may your years with us be graced ones.

The much anticipated arrival of Fr. Bakpenam S�bastien Abalodo from Togo is imminent since his religious workers visa has been approved. S�bastien will join the teaching staff at the International Marian Research Institute and will live in the Stonemill-Kiefaber community. He recently completed his doctoral studies in Rome. We are grateful to Fr. Ignace Pagnan and the Region of Togo for approving our request for S�bastien to assist with this unique and important program.

Archives

Plans are progressing for the move of the Province archives in Dayton to the campus of St. Mary's University in San Antonio. The site is being finalized and preparation is under way for a mid-2015 transfer. Mary Kenney, Province archivist, is working diligently with Bro. Ed Brink preparing for the move. As Mary said, "The archives must be a living reality, pointing towards the future." Thanks to Ed and Mary for their work.

My Dear Brothers:

The Marianist World Day of Prayer is slated for Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014. Each year the World Council of the Marianist Family celebrates this day, focusing on a place where there is a strong Marianist presence of all branches of the Marianist Family.

This year the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima of Villa Soldati, a barrio in the south part of Buenos Aires, capital of the Argentine Republic, is the focus of the celebration. For an interesting history of our developing Marianist presence in Villa Soldati, and our connection with the former Cardinal Bergoglio (today Pope Francis), read more from the World Council of the Marianist Family.    

Book suggestions 

Many times as I travel throughout the Province, brothers ask for suggestions for good books. Here are a few:  

Preaching/giving talks  

"Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds" by Carmine Gallo. TED is an acronym for Technology, Education, Design. TED talks have redefined the elements of a successful presentation and become the gold standard for public speaking around the world. To get an idea of this method, go to TED.com and look up Bro. David Steindle-Rast's talk "Want to be happy? Be grateful."

Theology  

"Mercy: The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to the Christian Life" by Cardinal Walter Kasper. Cardinal Kasper does a fine job of restoring the theological study of compassion and mercy as key attributes of God. Many are referring to the good cardinal as Francis' theologian.

Autumn blessings.   

With fraternal affection,
 

 

Dear Brothers:

Chaminade-Madonna College Prep  

Bro. Peter Pontolillo will serve as Marianist administrator to assist and advise the senior management team of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory. The team will oversee the day-to-day management of Chaminade-Madonna on an interim basis until the new president of the school is in place. There will be no interim president. Bro. Peter also will be seated and serve on the board of trustees and the executive and finance committees. We thank Bro. Peter for taking on this new role.  

Bro. Jim Facette joined a busload of climate activists from Ohio to represent our Province at the People's Climate March in New York City on Sunday, Sept. 21, with about 400,000 other people. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness, march in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable affected by our changing earth, and promote the integrity of creation. On Sept. 23, heads of state worldwide attended the "Climate Summit 2014" at the UN. Countries have agreed on the need for a meaningful, universal, legal climate agreement by the next UN Climate Change Conference in 2015.

Bro. Jim shared, "When we come together as a civil society, we have the capacity to transform policies and change old ways of doing things. The pressure is on. We can and must be that pressure. As Marianists, I am certain we can contribute something more."

For more information on how you and your community can promote the integrity of creation, visit the Catholic Climate Covenant for resources and opportunities of involvement. In honor of his feast day this Saturday, consider signing the "St. Francis Pledge" to pray, learn, act and advocate for the care of creation.