During the two most recent Provincial Council meetings, we had conference calls with directors of Province programs and offices including development, communications, sponsorship, archives, formation for mission, human resources, vocations, Marianist Mission, MUSP, LIFE, MSJC, JPIC and PULSE, NACMS, MEEC and MLFI.
These discussions build on the face-to-face meeting we had with the directors in November 2014 and a similar set of conference calls last year at this time. The purpose of these meetings is to share information, increase networking among the offices, and provide Province-level support for the many people who assist us in our mission.
Goal G of Vision 2020 calls us "... to develop and sustain an approach to leadership and governance that addresses the complexity of the Province enterprise ..." This is one response; we are discussing others for the coming years.
During our meeting we approved the renewal of temporary vows for two brothers in the Sector of Mexico:
Bro. Jos� Luis Gonz�lez Molina and
Bro. Juan Pablo Espinoza Ch�vez.
For the District of India, we also approved for renewal of vows nine scholastics and 11 temporary professed brothers in full-time ministry. Congratulations to these young Marianists!
AssemblyTogether with the co-chairs of the Province Assembly Committee, we've reviewed the results of the survey on the timing of the next assembly. The top three preferences were almost evenly divided.
There seemed to be a clear preference, though, for a 2018 assembly, instead of waiting one year into the new leadership term. Our goal is to schedule the assembly so that as many of the Province members as possible can attend. This makes early August problematic, because some members are already engaged in ministry activities at that time.
We decided to keep the 2018 dates as originally announced: Thursday through Sunday, June 28-July 1, with July 2 being the departure date.
The Assembly Committee will have its first meeting in September. Members include:
Fr. Tim Kenney (co-chair)
Bro. Jack Ventura (co-chair)
Bro. Mike O'Grady
Bro. Allen Pacquing
Bro. Charles Wanda
Pat Stephens (administration)
Communications (TBD)
The chairmen intend to organize the committee in the Three Offices and add additional members to form teams for each office.
Let's pray this week, especially, for
Fr. Bob Backherms, whose Mass of Christian Burial we celebrate on Monday. Bob was a wonderful example of a dedicated and generous Marianist life. May he now be enjoying life with our Risen Lord and our Blessed Mother, and may he pray for us.
Joseph, who turns 28 next week, was born in Nova Scotia. He met the Marianists through Frs. John Kracher and Luis Melo when he was a teenager, and over the years he's been drawn to the Marianist charism. 
