Last week, eight members of the Sector of Mexico attended the final session of a year-long course on pedagogy and educational leadership, which has been led by Dr. Rita Ferrini.  

This course has been part of a larger plan to begin an educational ministry in Quer�taro. The brothers have found the course stimulating and informative. Their next steps may include an immersion experience in a school run by a religious order in Mexico.

Thanks to Fr. John Thompson and Bro. Juan Pablo Espinoza Ch�vez for organizing this important program.

The Mexican education ministry team, front row: Bros. Juan Manuel Azamar and Nereo Ram�rez Hern�ndez, Dr. Rita Ferrini and Bro. Juan Paul Espinoza Ch�vez. Back row: Frs. John Thompson and Raymundo Dom�nguez Gonz�lez, Bros. Rigoberto Mart�nez Hern�ndez, R�gulo Garc�a Hern�ndez, Ferm�n Garc�a Garc�a and Fr. Marty Solma.

Fr. Gerry Hammel will be returning to the United States later this month to address some health issues. He will be staying at the Marianist Residence in San Antonio. He expects to return to Lusaka at the end of his treatment. Welcome, Gerry.

I am pleased to announce that the Provincial Council has approved Don Eggleston to be a member of the Province Sponsorship Commission. Don replaces Dr. Steve Neiheisel, who finished his term on the commission.

	Don Eggleston

Don brings valuable experience. Since 2007, he served as the vice president for mission integration with SSM Health Care, a major Midwest Catholic health care system. He retired from this position in May.

He also served as the chair of the board of trustees of St. John Vianney High School; he continues to serve as the chair of its Mission Integration Committee.

Read more about Don.

Don will join the Sponsorship Commission for its June meeting next week, which includes a morning session with the Provincial Council.

The commission's agenda includes:

• Update on the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School sponsorship discernment
• Review of policy on need-based tuition finances
• Response to the GA document "Assuring the Marianist Identity of our Apostolic Works."

Please keep these meetings in your prayers.

Most of us are still struggling with the mass shooting in Orlando. As people of justice and peace I believe that we can -- and should -- do something. Three words come to mind: action, solidarity and prayer.

In the second chapter of James, we're told that "faith without works is dead." Education and advocacy are effective forms of action. You may wish to read this America magazine article by Fr. James Martin, SJ, about how gun violence is a pro-life issue. He wrote it in December 2012, just a week after the mass shooting of children and their teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

In terms of advocacy, we invite you to educate yourself and consider contacting your legislators to share concerns about gun violence.

Learn more at these links:

Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence
Everytown for Gun Safety

You may identify and contact your lawmakers at these links:

U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Senate

Finally, as we pray for the murdered and injured in Orlando, it's important to remain in solidarity with people who feel like the "other" in our midst. Whether it's those we serve in impoverished areas of Africa or India, marginalized students in our Marianist schools or the LGBT victims in Orlando, consider how you can stand in solidarity with the "other."

You may wish to watch this Fr. James Martin video on the topic.