GIFTS & TASKS
"DONS et DEVOIRS"
Helping each other live the Gospel at home & around the world
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International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities (IO-MLC)
Region of North America,
Asia, Australia, and Ireland
NOVEMBER - 2016
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Community is lived on a local level, BUT...
as Lay Marianists, we are part of something bigger than our local community.
Every November, your International Team meets in Rome to talk about
you - about the successes and challenges of all the local MLCs around the world.
We are privileged to see the big picture of how some areas are growing and others are losing members. We count numbers, but most importantly we hear stories about the strengths and weaknesses of Lay Marianist Communities all over the world. It is a personally enriching experience but it is not just for me. The purpose of this newsletter is to share these stories with you all so that you can be encouraged by each other.
This year our main agenda items (in addition to reports about each country) were:
- To finalize the draft we started last year of what it means to be a Lay Marianist and a Lay Marianist Community. For the past year we've sought your feedback on that draft document and have made a few changes. I am pleased to now share with you To Be a Lay Marianist within a Marianist Lay Community. This document will soon be officially published on our website in English, French, and Spanish.
- To plan for the 2018 International Assembly which will be held in Korea. The theme will be Walking Hand in Hand: The Gift of Laity to the Marianist Family.
We also meet with the World Council of the Marianist Family at this timeto learn from and support each other better. We also consulted with the World Family on the above Lay Marianist identity document and discussed ways to collaborate on various Marianist feast days.
Fondly,
Susan Vogt
Representative for N. America, Asia
Ireland and Australia
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FOCUS ON YOUR INTERNATIONAL TEAM
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Front: Francisca Jere (Regional Rep. for Africa)
Susan Vogt (Regional Rep. for N. America & Asia)
Isa Duarte (Regional Rep. for Latin America
Beatrice LeBlanc (Regional Rep. for Europe)
Back: Felix Arquros (President), Pablo Rambaud SM (Asesor)
At work: Beatrice, Francisca, Susan, Isa, Pablo, Felix
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INDIA - World Day of Prayer
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Sanjay Saraiya Nat. Rep. India |
Dear brothers, sisters, and MLC members,
Greetings!
We would like to share with you some of activities that were held for the Marianist World Day of Prayer in India. On October 23 we celebrated in two different regions of India.
Bangalore area:
The brothers, fathers, and REDS trainees in the south gathered at Mother of Mines Shrine, Oorgaum, KGF. At the Shrine, the parish priest (Fr. Arockiadoss) welcomed the group and gave an introduction about the Shrine. After that we had Holy Mass at the parish. The main celebrant and homilist was Fr. Sudhir Kujur SM, Assistant District Superior of India. Frs. Gallelli, Maria-Francis, Rymond, and Lugun were the concelebrants. At the beginning of the Mass Bro. Augustus Surin, the District Superior of India, welcomed each one of us for this great day. After Mass we had a rosary service inside the Shrine led by the aspirants and staff. This was followed by a family meal. Overall, it was a very successful and inspirational event.
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World Day of Prayer participants at the Mother of Mines Shrine near Bangalore
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Ranchi area:
The Family of Mary in Ranchi (to the north) also celebrated with a day of reflection on the Year of Mercy. Fr. Ajay Kumar (seminary professor) was the resource person. He emphasized the meaning of mercy in the bible, Church teaching, and life experience. This was followed by a rosary procession, Eucharist, lunch, and holy hour followed by cultural dances.
There were 200 people including, SM, FMI, MLC. MLC members came in large numbers from different groups and contributed to the function. The money was handed over to Mr. Sanjay Saraiya, the national coordinator, and Miss Thara, the secretary. The MLCs will soon be opening a bank account.
We thank each and every one of the participants of these programs. They were wonderful experiences in which the oneness as a Family of Mary was felt by all.
Marianist World Day of Prayer participants in the Ranchi area
Sincerely in Christ and Mary,
Mr. Sanjay Saraiya MLC (National Director)
Fr. Varghese Chacko Manooparampil SM
Bro. A. Arokia Doss SM
LET US PRAY
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For the people of the USA who have just concluded a very contentious election for president. May we heal our divisiveness but hold on to our ideals and integrity.
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In thanksgiving for the beauty of nature, mind, heart, hands, and feet; for food to eat and time to work.
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For the will and means to protect nature, provide education, compassion, health, food, work, and the necessities of life to ALL people on earth, not just people who are near to us or look like us.
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WORLD COUNCIL of the MARIANIST FAMILY
The World Council met November 9 - 11. (See photo below) To read a summary report and a common calendar of Marianist commemorative events, click one of the official languages below.
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Front: Susan Vogt, Franca Zonta FMI, Ana Lucia Goes FMI,
Sonia Galarza AM, Madeleine Couture AM,
Agathe Senou AM
Middle: Charles Henri Moulin SM, Francisca Jere, Isa Duarte, Christiane Barbaux AM,
Jean-Edouard Gatuingt SM, Mike McAward SM
Back: Felix Arqueros, Andre Fetis SM, Manuel Cortes SM, Maximin Magnan SM Gretchen Trautman FMI Pablo Rambaud SM. Missing: Susanna Kim FMI, Beatrice LeBlanc
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Agathe Senou AM, Madeleine Couture AM
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Susan Vogt, Gretchen Trautman FMI
FRIDAY MAGNIFICAT - November (Togo, Africa)
Pre-K & Kindergarten in Tchébébé
For the last 7 years the Marianist Sisters have maintained a school for children in pre-k and kindergarten. Each day 110 children between the ages of 3 and 5 are fed, thanks to the help of an Italian association.
This diocesan school was created because the sisters saw the necessity of helping these children who were playing in the streets and in places that were very dirty. Read More...
The following articles are in the November #255 issue of Via Latina 22, the newsletter for the General Administration of the Society of Mary, Rome, Italy.
- Documents for preparation of the General Chapter
- General Council visit to the Province of Meribah
- Two newly ordained for priesthood around the SM
- Marianist World Day of Prayer & Profession in the Region of Eastern Africa
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