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At the end of each summer, I reflect on the stories I hear from students and moderators during the program. New moderators describe how being present at a summer program was so much more than they had heard about from previous participants. Returning moderators say that no matter no many times they come back, they are equally energized for the year and rejuvenated by the summer. LIFErs always ask to come back next year. That is music to my ears.
As a 16 year-old at Sacred Hearts Academy, I went to LIFE at Valley of the Moon in Sonoma, CA 25 years ago. If someone had told me then that I was going to be the national coordinator of LIFE in 2016, I would not have believed it. I know that in 1991, I returned home to Hawai'i more comfortable with my faith and myself. I was not necessarily a new person, but a better version of the Toni whom God already created. Each year, we tell students that LIFE doesn't end when they leave the summer program, but LIFE is a lifelong journey. Friends we make at LIFE remain friends for life. LIFErs for life - that is who we are. Those are communities that shape who we become as adults. That is the gift of LIFE.
We pray for our LIFErs and moderators as they work to fulfill their goals for the year. We pray for our school and parish communities who will benefit from the work of our LIFE Teams.
Be well!
Be happy
#BeOne
Peace,
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| LIFE South Moderators: Andres Novela (FL), Toni, Mark Ruiz (TX), Lisa Vega (TX) |
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Marianist LIFE 2016
#BeOne
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LIFE 2016 Summer Programs
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LIFE 2016 Reflection
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Morgan Stern
Marianist LIFE Central
Daniel J. Gross Catholic - Bellevue, NE
I've never had a sibling or close friend go through the LIFE program so when I got on the plane to Dayton I had no idea what I was in for. Little did I know it was going to be the best week of my life. I have never felt so welcomed into a community in my entire life. I cannot put it into words how it felt, but in the first few hours that I was there we already felt like a family. We grew closer and closer each day and I now have over 50 new best friends. The whole week was just amazing. I learned so much about my faith each day, and I can proudly say it has grown so much. In each activity we did I learned about God from so many different perspectives. All of the prayer services and masses were beyond beautiful. I got chills at every single one of them. One of my favorite things about them was the singing. I just loved how every single person in the room was singing and we were all just so happy to be there. Not only did I get close with people from all over the world, but I got very close with those from my school. We were all friends when we first got there, but throughout the course of the week our friendship grew so much, and we have a bond that no one could ever break.
Click here
to read the full text of Morgan's reflection.
Elizabeth Smith
Marianist LIFE Central
Villa Angela-St. Joseph - Cleveland, OH
I have been wanting to go on the L.I.F.E. Retreat since I was in the eighth grade. Two of my sisters had been a part of the retreat and they both came back with the most amazing experiences I had ever heard. During the car ride down to Dayton, I could not contain my excitement. My friends who had come with me even commented on how they were getting more excited just because of how intense my excitement was. My smile was as big as the moon when we walked through the doors. I was also very nervous and afraid I would not make friends for life like my sisters did. My fear was completely wrong! People were talking to me, and I was being more open than I had ever expected to be. I was especially thankful that there were other people who had the same fear as me because then, I knew I was not alone.
Click here to read the full text of Elizabeth's reflection.
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(L-R) Elizabeth, Shelby (2013), & Shea (2014)
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WANTED: LIFEr Reflections!
We are seeking submissions of one-page personal reflections of your summer experience. Share your thoughts, memories and how you might have personally and/or spiritually changed as a result of the week-long summer experience. Please include your full name, school/parish and indicate if you attended Central, Pacific our South summer program. Please also include a digital photo of yourself. We accept submissions throughout the year.
Support Marianist LIFE
Morgan and Elizabeth are just two of thousands of students enlivened by the Spirit at Marianist LIFE over the last 45 years. LIFE Alumni return as Marianist Young Adult Assistants, Staff, Coordinating Team members and school/parish Moderators year after year. As our three current LIFErs describe, their week at the Summer Program had an impact on their lives, which is echoed by numerous LIFE Alumni throughout the years.
To support Marianist LIFE, please click on the image below.
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Attention LIFE Mods & Staff Members!
Mid-LIFE 2017 will be hosted by the South region in the winter. Keep an eye out for more announcements via email this fall.
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Marianist LIFE 2017 Summer Dates
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School and parish LIFE moderators/coordinators! Mark your calendars for next year's summer programs:
Pacific
(Occidental, CA)
Moderators - June 15-23
Students - June 18-23
South
(Mountain Home, TX)
Moderators - July 9-18
Students - July 12-18
Central
(Dayton, OH)
Moderators - July 14-22
Students - July 17-22
Schools and parishes are invited to register for a summer program in another region. Registering for two different summer programs in one summer is possible in order to accommodate large LIFE Teams. Contact Toni Mesina for more information.
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Free Resources for MLCs
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If your Marianist LIFE Communities need some ideas for your gatherings, please check our website for some resources meeting ideas and prayer services for you and your communities to use throughout the year. We will continue to add more resources as long as moderators and students keep sending them our way! To access this valuable information
- Go to our webpage: www.marianist.com/life
- Click on "MLC resources" at the bottom of the page
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What's Going on in the Marianist World?
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Bicentennial Celebrations
Throughout the world, Marianists Sisters have been celebrating the foundation of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. Novices Gabby Bibeau & Caitlin Cipolla-McCulloch were surprised with a celebratory cake at Marianist LIFE South's Marianist Family Gathering on July 9 at Tecaboca.
Stay tuned for more information on celebrations around the Province on Facebook (Marianist Family, Marianist Sisters - Province of the U.S.) and Marianist.com.
Lay Assembly
The next Lay Marianist Assembly will be held July 2017 in Dayton, OH. LIFE alumni, moderators and staff members who are looking to connect with more Marianists from around the Province are encouraged to register. More information will be available in the coming months. In the meantime, click here
for the latest MLC-NA e-newsletter.
Changemakers
The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative is hosting a second Changemakers weekend October 28-30 in Dayton, OH. For more information click here for the flyer.
Happy Anniversary, Bergamo!
2017 marks the 50th Anniversary of Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning. So many LIFErs and moderators have walked through those doors since its opening, and it would be wonderful for many LIFE Central alumni to revisit where it all happened. Starting in October of this year, Bergamo will be celebrating. For more information, contact executive director, Brent Devitt, or visit their website at
http://www.bergamocenter.org/index.htm
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