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CALENDAR
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dec. 12
Provincial Council Meetings
Dec. 14 - 16
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From Fr. Marty Solma
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Dear Brothers:
Travels
Bro. Tom Giardino and I arrived in Dublin on Monday and have been visiting the community members. We spent one day at St. Laurence College and expect to be back in St. Louis on Saturday evening.
The Provincial Council will meet from Dec. 14 - 16 in St. Louis. Fr. John Thompson and I leave on Dec. 22 for the Charism V program in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. We will present "Our Marianist Life Today" and will be present for the perpetual profession of 10 African Marianists on Dec. 30. Also attending and presenting at the Charism program are Bro. Jack Ventura and Fr. David Fleming.
Unfortunately, John was unable to obtain a visa for India, so Bro. Dennis Schmitz and I will represent the Province for the perpetual vow celebration of three Indian Marianists on Jan. 3.
I am writing this on Dec. 8, feast of the Immaculate Conception and the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. May this jubilee help us to deepen our sense of God's mercy and extend that mercy to others, especially to the brothers within our communities. Pope Francis has asked us to do three things: to be more merciful, especially to those on the margins; to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy; and to make more frequent use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. May we be merciful as the Father is merciful.
F raternally,
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From the Office of Development
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Dear Brothers,
I'd like to recognize Bro. Don Neff for his work in cultivating a longtime donor who recently gave a substantial amount of money to our "Join Her Mission" endowment campaign.
The donor is an alumni of North Catholic in Pittsburgh (now North Catholic Cardinal Wuerl) and lives part time in Florida. The gift was due to Development Officers Kevin Manley and Jenee Gonzales, but Bro. Don did years of relationship building to help get them to the point of the gift. I commend all brothers who are helping to build relationships with possible donors (our development officers usually do the asking). Please contact me if you have suggestions for a possible donor, or if you would like to help us in any way! Blessings at Advent,
Allison Hewitt Executive Director of Development
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From Bro. Joe Kamis
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 Dear Brothers:
Congratulations to Fr. Tim Eden and Bro. Tim Pieprzyca, the nominees for the Area of Texas for a two-year term on the Provincial Chapter. We also congratulate Bro. Brandon Alana-Maugaotega and Fr. Bob Jones, the nominees for representation for the "under 50 cohort" for a two-year term on the Provincial Chapter.
The Provincial Council is pleased all four nominees have accepted the nomination. Materials for the run-off election for both positions will be sent to the directors tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. If anyone has not received the election materials by Monday, Dec. 14, please contact Pat Stephens at the Provincial office.
Province Directory Revision
A reminder that all suggestions for changes, additions and deletions to the Province Directory should be submitted to me at the Provincial Office by Dec. 31, 2015. The Province Directory Revision Committee asks that all members take a look at the current Directory on the Marianist PORTAL (under Documents) and make suggestions for revisions. Bro. Tom Giardino and I (co-chairs of the committee) thank you.
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From Fr. Bill Meyer
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My Dear Brothers:
National formation conference
From Dec. 6 - 9, I joined our Province Formation Team for the first-ever national formation conference sponsored by Saint Luke Institute and Saint Meinrad Archabbey, Seminary and School of Theology at Saint Meinrad. Our team includes Bro. Tom Wendorf, vocations; Bro. Dennis Bautista, aspirancy; Fr. Chris Wittmann and Bro. Charlie Johnson, novitiate; and Fr. Oscar Vasquez, temporary professed.
The conference, "Practical Models for Celibacy Formation," offered effective models for religious and dioceses to create and strengthen their celibacy formation programs.
Archbishop Joseph Tobin, CSsR, of Indianapolis opened the conference with a stimulating talk on "Human, Faith-based Formation to Celibacy." Plenary sessions and workshops covered critical topics such as teaching the theological dimensions of celibate chastity, understanding sexual identity, spiritual dimensions, motives for celibacy, moving issues from the internal to external forum and fostering affective maturity.
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Oscar Vasquez, Nicole Trahan, Dennis Bautista, Tom Wendorf, Charles Johnson,
Bill Meyer, Tim Driscoll, Chris Wittmann, Ed Brink, Steve Balletta
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Speakers included Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, Bro. John Mark Falkenhain, OSB, Dr. John Cavadini, Sr. Jane Becker, OSB, Dr. Emily Cash and Fr. David Songy, OFMCap. Bros. Tim Driscoll and Steve Balletta of the Province of Meribah and Sr. Nicole Trahan of the Marianist Sisters also attended. Bro. Dennis and Sr. Nicole participated on a panel of men and women religious sharing what they felt was most helpful in their formation, what they wished had been included, and what facilitated openness and trust in the formation process. The plan of the sponsoring institutions is to stage such a conference every two years. The topic in 2017 will be "Multi-Cultural Formation."
Vatican document on religious brothers
Bro. Stephen Glodek reports on a special announcement from the Religious Brothers Conference. The board of directors of the RBC announces that a Vatican document about religious brothers should be released on Monday, Dec. 14, at 11:30 a.m. (local time) during a press conference in Rome. Details will be posted as they are available. Please share this news with the members of your community and dioceses.
With fraternal affection, 
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From Bro. Tom Giardino
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 Dear Brothers:
Visitor from Spain
Bro. Lander Gatzelumendi, SM, from the Province of Spain, has been visiting communities and educational institutions in the Province of the United States since October. He has been sent by his Province to lead the design, building and administration of the first Marianist school in Brazil. His Province asked him to come to the United States to look at Marianist school management, campus ministry, classroom design, sports areas, etc.
Bro. Lander started in Honolulu, then traveled to West Hills, California, then to San Antonio and St. Louis. He is now in Dayton, and will leave for the Meribah Province on Dec. 26. I thank our communities, schools and universities for graciously offering their fraternal welcome to him. Below is his reflection on the experience.
From Bro. Lander
"There are so many reasons to be grateful for my time in the United States. I am learning so much by living in different communities and visiting schools and universities all over the country. Talking about schools, I am impressed by many things. I can't share them all here, but some of them would be how nice, new and beautiful the buildings are. I really like the service programs, how explicit is the Marianist spirit and pedagogy at schools through posters, statues, pictures, Father Chaminade's quotes . . . and, of course, the efforts of campus ministry teams.
"Again, thank you so much for your welcome and for sharing with me a little bit of your Province and mission life. I hope I will be able to serve the Brazilian Church and education as well as you are doing it here."
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