Marianist Lay Community
of North America
Being Church in the Modern World
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Greetings!
I write to you as the representative from the Society of Mary on the Marianist Lay Community of North American Leadership Team. I have been on the team for four years now. I asked to join it because of my deep interest and love for this precious ministry. It has been an adventure that I have very much enjoyed.
As a member of the team I have been able to work with lay and religious Marianists from all over the world. The tough part is the monthly calls that go sometimes past 9:30 at night when my body is fighting to pay attention. The part I love the most is the enthusiasm that is present on our team.
Of course the trip last summer to South Korea for the International Assembly was really an extraordinary experience. I can tell you we worked hard in preparation for that gathering with many calls, but being there with Marianists from the five continents and experiencing the comradery and the real fun we had especially in the evenings with the national parties of foods, dances, music from so many parts of the world still brings joy to my heart.
I want to tell you that the leadership group is hard working and a pleasure to be a part of. We dig into ways to plan the annual assembly, create geographic area groupings of Marianist lay communities, help create local Family Councils and keep up communication systems. We have developed formation programs, are creating a system of listing and enabling you all to see the various members and communities in our Marianist Family.
Presently we are working on a new plan to enable each lay community to discover how to enhance its mission. An exciting part of this is a new understanding of the place of Venerable Marie Therese de Lamourous had in the forming of the Family of Mary. She developed the Misericord as a lay person. She modeled what a lay community can do. For me this gives vision for our lay communities. They are in mission as was that of Marie Therese well-functioning community with its extraordinary mission. This is a visionary model for all our communities.
We as a team are discovering and leading all of us to be together as Marianists in forming a Family of Communities that network in close relationships to one another.
For me to be part of the team helping to bring this about is truly a joy.
Blessings and love to you all.
Fr. Ted Cassidy, SM
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North American Center for Marianist Studies
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Marianist Charism Webinar-- Deadline July 15, 2019
NACMS will present a webinar on the Marianist Charism featuring Dave Fleming, SM and Gabby Bibeau, FMI August 19-23, 2019. The webinar will run for five consecutive days, Monday through Friday, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm EDT.
Topics include: The Starting Point: Southern France under Napoleon; A Developing View of Mary in Chaminade and Adéle; Marianist insights into Mary after the Founders and Beyond France; and The Relevance of this Charism in the 21st Century
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The webinar is available to anyone with internet access via Zoom Video Conferencing. A very limited number of spaces will be available in-person at NACMS. The cost of the webinar for all participants is $100 payable to NACMS by the registration deadline, July 15, 2019.
(Please note this is an advanced course for those already familiar with the lives of the Founders and the characteristics of the Marianist Charism).
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Mark your calendars for our next
Lay Marianist Assembly
Our first confirmed keynote is
Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ
July 16-19, 2020
being held in San Antonio in conjunction with the
50th Anniversary of Marianist LIFE
Co-chairs: Katie Gushoney and Jessica Gonzalez-Uhlig
Watch future newsletters for details and opportunities to volunteer.
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ELECTIONS this Fall
Are you being called to serve the Marianist Family?
This fall, MLC-NA will hold elections for a Chair-Elect for the Leadership Council to shadow current chair, Matt Dunn in 2021. The Chair-Elect will then assume the role of Chair in 2022.
MLC-NA will also be seeking nominations for a Head of Education for a term to begin January 2021.
Please pray and consider whether one of these might be an opportunity for you or someone you would like to nominate.
Job Descriptions and the nominating procedures will be in the next newsletter. However, if you'd like more information or have any questions, please feel free to contact Matt Dunn at [email protected].
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Sunday Reflections in the Marianist Tradition
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Deepen your connection to the Sunday readings with these reflections for
July and August 2019
from members of the Marianist Family. Thank you Lillian Shaw, Rose Marie Giasolli, Bro. Tom Spring, S.M., and Bro. Ed Brink, S.M. for providing the reflections for the month of June.
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We invite you to write a brief reflection for one of the remaining Sundays in the upcoming liturgical year. Would you write a reflection? Would your community consider providing reflections for an entire month?
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MLC-NA is a tax exempt non-profit organization and is self-supporting through the contributions of people like you!
Your support will help us to:
- Hire a part-time National Director for the MLC-NA
- Create an online membership portal for searching for other Lay Marianists and sharing community resources
- Support the creation and launch a new lay formation process for initial and on-going formation
Contributions can also be sent to the address at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Mary Queen of Peace
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
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See more information and prayers for all these Marianist Feast Days
here
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June 16
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
We must allow the precious seed which God casts into our hearts to develop good roots.
It must not fall on hearts of stone,
but on hearts that are tender with the love of God.
Nor must we allow it to lie on an unprotected path…
rather let us guard it with Christian vigilance and humility…
The seed, having fallen into a heart that is pure and well-prepared, will yield a hundredfold.
(33.3, 4)
Walking with Adele
By Marie-Joëlle Bec, FMI
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Lord, send us your Spirit….
That we might be your instruments in sowing peace in our world and bringing light where there is darkness.
As we seek to find our passion in the ordinary moments of each day and see the face of God in those around us.
As we hold in prayer those who suffer from pain and illness. May they experience healing and comfort through the gentleness and patience of the care providers.
As we continue the work of our Founders. We pray that together we can engage in the work of God, moving the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Lord, give us hope…..
For all those continuing to be impacted by the recent tornadoes and natural disasters, serious illnesses and injuries. May our neighbors be blessed with patience and healing and may we continue to console, to love, and to give.
As we hold in prayer those who are enduring pain and suffering because of their faith, their race, or their differing views. May God’s healing embrace give them strength for their journey and comfort in their suffering.
As we pray for our departed Marianist Brothers and Sisters and Marianist family members who have enriched our lives through their presence. May they be held in God’s loving embrace as they join the community of saints.
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Thank you to all who have visited our web form - we have hundreds of updated records.
If you haven't updated your information, please take a few moments to fill out this
brief questionnaire
(it's a Google form). Each member of a family should register separately so we have individual emails for future elections, etc.
Please also encourage your community members to keep their information current. Individuals may follow the link or a community rep can send us a community roster.
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MLC-NA Area Representatives
(Click on names for emails)
Southeast (FL, NC)
Northeast (PA, NY, NJ, MD, VA)
OH, KY, IN
Central States (CO, IL, KS, NE, MO, WI)
To Be Determined
Texas
West Coast (CA, OR, WA)
Hawaii
Canada (French-Speaking)
UD-formed Communities (Many are virtual)
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NEWSLETTERS
Read the Signs of the Times and Sign Up for these Marianist Family Newsletters
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Matt Dunn
Chair-Elect
Vacant
Head of Education
Jim Barrette
LeeAnn Meyer
Margy Lisjak
Rob Brodrick
Caitlin Cipolla-McCulloch
Maureen O'Rourke
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AMAZON DONATION PROGRAM!
Did you know that when you buy stuff at Amazon.com, Amazon will make a donation to MLC-NA?
How? By using Smile.Amazon.Com.
Please consider using smile.amazon.com and selecting Marianist Lay Network as your charity. There is no additional cost to you and it really is the same site as Amazon.
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