Notes from the Provincial Council

March 31, 2016

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Annunciation
and
World Day of Prayer for
Marianist Vocations
April 4

Provincial Council
April 14-16

From Fr. Martin Solma

Dear Brothers,

Chapter report

The link below has my report on the 25th session of the Provincial Chapter.

We'll now send the ACTS of the Chapter to the General Council for ratification. There is a great deal of information in this report and I wanted to share it with you in a timely fashion.

Thanks again to all those who helped with the Chapter.

Read the report

The Provincial Council will be in contact with the co-chairs of the assembly committee, and we'll make a decision about dates for the 2018 Assembly at the upcoming Provincial Council meeting. Thanks to all those who participated in the survey. There was a fairly even distribution of preference among the four options.

Celebrations on Sunday

We have two special events on Sunday, April 3. First, there will be a jubilee celebration at St. Joseph Church, Fullerton (Baltimore metro) to honor Fr. Richard Kuhn's 70 years of religious profession. Fr. Bill Meyer will be the celebrant; Fr. Pat Tonry will be the homilist. This is the first of the jubilee celebrations this year.

On the same date, the Chaminade Center on the campus of Mount Saint John will be officially opened and blessed. This new facility houses the North American Center for Marianist Studies and the Madeleine Room, which is a gathering space for Marianist Family. Bro. Tom Giardino and I will be there to represent the Province.

Patronal feast April 4

Because of the date of Easter this year, we celebrate the Marianist Family patronal feast, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, on April 4. The World Council of the Marianist Family offers this prayer service with reflections on Marianist vocations.

With the Church, we observe this "week of solemnities" as we celebrate the Risen Lord. May this time be a grace for us and may the peace and joy of Easter be ours.

Fraternally,

From Fr. Bill Meyer

My Dear Brothers:

Implementation dates for Order of Celebrating Matrimony

The USCCB has issued a decree formally publishing the Order of Celebrating Marriage; Second Edition. The new matrimony rite may be used as early as Sept. 8. Its use is mandatory in the United States beginning Dec. 30, the Feast of the Holy Family.

Several publishers have expressed interest in producing this liturgical book. (They didn't say which publishers, so keep an eye out for your favorite liturgical publisher!)

The Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions is sponsoring 30 one-day workshops on the rite. These workshops take place across the United States from late April to August. Learn more.

USCCB approves Book of the Chair

The Latin Church bishops of the USCCB approved a new liturgical text, Excerpts from the Roman Missal: Book for Use at the Chair. The book will be forwarded to the Holy See for the requisite confirmations.

The Roman Missal is a large volume that can be difficult to manage at the Chair. The Book of the Chair provides a lighter option containing only the materials commonly used at the presidential chair. The resulting text is less than half the length of the full Missal.

Those parts of the Order of Mass that are done at the chair will be included, and a typical Mass formulary will include the Entrance Antiphon, Collect and Prayer after Communion. It will include appropriate musical chants, along with material for processions and ceremonies that take place at the door of the church.

Once confirmed by the Holy See, the USCCB will make the text available to publishers interested in creating editions for purchase.

With fraternal affection,

From Bro. Tom Giardino

Dear Brothers,

Congratulations to Bro. Peter Pontolillo, who received special recognition this week at the National Catholic Educational Association Conference in San Diego.

This year marks Peter's 50th consecutive NCEA Convention! He received congratulations and a certificate from NCEA Interim President Tom Burnford.

Bros. Tom Giardino and Peter Pontolillo with Tom Burnford, NCEA interim president.

I can personally attest to Peter's longevity in Catholic education. I was among the lucky students in his Spanish class during his first year of teaching at Cathedral Latin School in 1959!

Fraternally,

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