Marianist Lay Community
of North America
Being Church in the Modern World
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Greetings!
One of my deepest joys about being a part of the Marianist Family comes from the gift of presence. The presence of others in my life who are joy-filled, who pray deeply, and who give of themselves to me and to others. This time of being called to stay-at-home, separated from those I love and care about is difficult. This time has me giving some thought about how to bridge these two opposing dynamics of presence and separation.
I keep returning to the fact that, for me, it is about how I continue my relationships, how am I present with family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers. Some of you may know that I do not like virtual gatherings, whether it is for meetings or informal conversations, because I do not feel present in the same way to those I am interacting with. I value the nuances and expressions that are seen and felt more strongly when I am in the room with you. What do I do now?
I am learning to be present without you in the room with me. I am learning to watch you more closely and to listen to your words more deeply when we connect virtually. I am learning to keep you in my heart and soul, and to live in this time of separation with your presence guiding, strengthening, and calling me to be intentional in my interactions with others. I am learning that I can meet new people, like the MLC-NA area reps, to build new relationships and to pray with those outside my local community, like the communities of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Cincinnati and St. Joseph Catholic Community in Eldersburg.
As we approach the Feast of the Ascension, it strikes me that the apostles were impacted deeply by Jesus’s absence. He was the person in their lives who gave them hope, love, understanding, joy, but now he was physically separated from them. What could they do? They could keep Jesus alive in their hearts and souls. They could keep Jesus alive in their interactions with their family, friends, and neighbors. They could keep Jesus alive in their words and actions.
I believe I am called to do the same at this time. I believe we are called to be present despite our separation. I believe we can do this together.
Peace & Blessings,
Margy Lisjak
Chair-Elect
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Marianist Sisters Vocation Fund Committee
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Consider joining our vibrant volunteer committee of lay and vowed Marianists. For more information about joining our committee please complete the
Current members include Paul Combest, Bro. Stephen Glodek, Jenee Gonzales, Sr. Laura Leming, Matt Meyers, and Linda Zappacosta.
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2020 Lay Assembly Postponed
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After prayerful discernment and dialogue with many involved partners, the MLC-NA Leadership Team and the Assembly Planning Committee have decided to officially postpone the 2020 Lay Assembly in San Antonio. We are saddened by this decision but feel it is in the best interest of our gathering and the health and safety of our Marianist Family.
We are very hopeful that we will be able to postpone this Lay Assembly to the summer of 2021 and we have already been in contact with St. Mary's University in San Antonio. Please stay tuned for more details and official dates for the rescheduling of the Assembly! We would also like to ask you to hold Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th open as the Assembly Planning Committee is exploring options for gathering virtually in some way in lieu of the planned face-to-face gathering. If you are a confirmed workshop presenter or you already registered for the 2020 Assembly, please be on the lookout for an email from one of our Assembly Team Members to assist you with next steps.
Please watch this
announcement video
to hear more from one of our Assembly Planning Committee Co-Chairs, Katie Gushoney. Stay safe wherever you are and know that we look forward to emerging from this crisis and gathering with you all again!
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As an expression of our commitment to "do whatever he tells you" in support of Mary's mission to respond to the needs of the world, the Visitation State Community has chosen to put some of the resources with which we have been blessed at the service of others. We are particularly committed to enabling small communities and fledgling service projects to thrive; to grow, and respond to the genuine needs of the young and the poor and to engage in the struggle for peace and justice.
All Marianist are invited to be a part of the Visitation State Community’s Seed Grants.
Either through
submission of a grant request
or by making a financial contribution (503c tax deductible) to the fund from which the grants are sourced.
For financial contributions, make checks payable to Marianist State Community and mail to:
Visitation Marianist State Community
6539 Harrison Avenue # 1118
Cincinnati, OH 45247
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Marianist State Commitment and the Vow of Stability
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One of the unique vocations within the Marianist Family is the "State of Religious Living in the World' with lay people taking a vow of stability to continue to live according to the Marianist charism. For short, it is called a State Commitment. The Visitation Marianist State Community has developed an educational/formational program for those wanting to learn more about a State Commitment and about the Vow of Stability such a commitment entails. The program is available for groups of individuals or for existing Marianist Lay Communities and can be delivered in-person or virtually. For more information, please contact Jim Vogt,
[email protected]
, Linda Zappacosta,
[email protected]
,or George Lisjak,
[email protected]
.
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Invitation to Spirit of Saragossa Retreat
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The Marianist Province of the U.S. is pleased to invite you, our cherished Lay Marianists, to join your Marianist Brothers and Sisters for a unique retreat experience!
The Spirit of Saragossa Retreat is a silent, directed retreat for Marianist laity and religious who seek to confirm and strengthen their commitment to living the Marianist charism.'
The retreat will be held from Sunday afternoon, June 21, 2020 till noon on Sunday, June 28, 2020 at beautiful St. Meinrad Archabbey Guest House and Retreat Center in St. Meinrad, Indiana.
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Marianist Digital Retreat for a Pandemic
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An all-new, all-online retreat made for the entire Marianist Family! This retreat can be completed on your own and at your own pace but we encourage communities (e.g. Marianist Lay Communities, schools, and parish groups) to make the retreat together and gather virtually in small groups to share in discussion, reflection, and prayer. The retreat is split into four modules, each of which would only take about 20 minutes to go through on its own.
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As a faith community, MLC-NA is the national association to which all Lay Marianists in North America belong. It is self-supporting through contributions from individuals and local communities.
Your support helps us to:
- Employ a part-time Administrator
- Maintain communication tools such as the newsletter, database, and Zoom accounts used by numerous committees and communities
- Support the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative and the International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities
- 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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Reflections on Marian/Marianist Feast Days
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Throughout this liturgical year, reflections will be provided to heighten awareness of those feasts holding special significance for the Marianist Family and to allow for more focused reflection on the meaning of those days. The reflections are available at
Reflections on Marian/Marianist Feast Days
. Thanks to Shannon Kaschak for sharing a reflection on the Feast of the Annunciation during March.
We invite volunteers to sign up to provide a reflection for one or more of the dates via this link -
Marianist/Marian Feast Days
- or contact LeeAnn Meyer, at
l
[email protected]
with a request for a specific date or to be assigned one of the feast days.
Details regarding length and due date to meet publication deadlines will be shared with those who volunteer.
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May 12
May 13
May 21
May 25
May 31
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Mary, Mother of Graces and Mediatrix
Our Lady of Fatima
Feast of the Ascension
Mary Help of Christians
Pentecost & Visitation
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See more information and prayers for all these Marianist Feast Days
here
.
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Mary, Our Model
Mary, Mother of God, Our Mother,
You were Jesus’ first disciple.
Help us to be faithful followers of him, too.
Be our model and our guide.
Help us to consider God’s Will for us, as you did.
May we say “Yes” to the joy of bringing Jesus into our community,
“Yes” to the wisdom in following him, and even
“Yes” to the sorrow of suffering and standing in solidarity at the foot of the cross.
Holy Mary, Blessed Mother, pray for us.
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Sarah Carlton
Marianist Family Prayer Book, 2
nd
ed.
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Risen Lord, hear our prayer…..
With deep gratitude, we ask you to bless in a special way our vowed religious brothers and sisters. Their continuing commitment and presence bring grace to our lives.
For the many graduating students who are not able to celebrate their accomplishments in the traditional ways, may they continue to be challenged and blessed as they seek their place in our world.
In a special way, we pray that those who are suffering from physical, mental, emotional, financial, or spiritual struggles be blessed through the intercession of Mary, our mother.
As we ask Blessed Adele’s intercession for the marginalized and the most vulnerable among us. May her witness to the poor give us encouragement to be generous and compassionate and continue to advocate for systemic change.
That Mary’s example of contemplation and reflection gives us a model for listening more deeply to one another, while together we navigate this uncertain time.
Lord, send us your gift of hope….
as we hold in prayer those who are enduring loss, anxiety, and suffering because of the global health crisis and related economic impacts. May God’s healing embrace give them strength for their journey and comfort in their suffering.
for those suffering or in need of healing, may we wrap them in our arms of comfort and walk by their side in love.
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 fellowship 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)
Texas
West Coast (CA, OR, WA)
Hawaii
Canada (French-Speaking)
UD-formed Communities (Many are virtual)
To Be Determined
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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
Margy Lisjak
Abbey Saurine
Vacant
LeeAnn Meyer
Rob Brodrick
Caitlin Cipolla-McCulloch
Kelly Welling
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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