As the point of contact between the Province and its sponsored ministries, I am often a receiver of grace, borne out of gratitude. This occurs every time I receive a card, a letter, or a phone call from someone thanking the Marianists for their generous financial support that fosters the gift of Catholic education.

The financial aid provided by the Marianists helps equip deserving families with the resources they need to send their child to a Catholic school. The programs provided by the Office of Sponsorship help form educators and administrators as animators of Catholic education in the Marianist tradition. Whether a giver or a receiver, God’s grace flows between us because we are partners in mission.

May God bless you abundantly this new academic year. Thank you for all you do to achieve the Marianist vision of education and to support Mary’s mission of bringing Christ to the world.

Deacon Dan Donnelly, Director

After multiple pandemic delays, we are happy to share that Mary’s Lead Cohort 2 has begun its journey. The reflection and picture below are submitted by Dr. Savio Franco, Director of Leadership Development, Research and Partnerships.

Eleven Marianist school leaders began their cohort year with our opening retreat, "Our Marianist Forebears and Us as Leaders," held on June 27-29, 2022, at the Marianist Retreat and Conference Center at Eureka, MO. The cohort engaged in shared prayer, discussion, and fellowship inspired by the leadership examples of our Marianist Founders, Blesseds and Venerables, and other prominent leaders throughout Marianist history.

The cohort was accompanied by Bro. Tom Giardino, Sr. Grace Walle, FMI, and members of the Offices of Education and Sponsorship. They were also visited by Marianist brothers from St. Louis. The retreat included a leadership story-telling tour of St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis, led by school president Rick Davis and his team.

Please pray for these leaders as they continue their journey this coming academic year.

The LIFE (Living in Faith Experience) summer program gives students an opportunity to encounter Christ, share their faith, build community, and learn to be faith leaders in their school and parish communities. This summer, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we completed three successful summer programs (in California, Ohio, and Texas) with students from across the country.

This year’s theme was Fix My Eyes, based on a song by Christian duo For King & Country, which encouraged students to focus themselves and their LIFE Teams on Christ with courage, conviction, and joy. The focus for each day was inspired by one of the pillars of the Marianist charism – inclusivity, community, faith, Mary, and mission. Through a variety of talks, interactive sessions, home and mixed group activities, liturgies, and prayer experiences, students grew in their own faith while coming together as a team to plan for the school year.

Participants included 155 students from 21 different institutions, 34 LIFE Moderators, and 41 Coordinating Team members. All programs were filled with joy and grace. Students were sent forth with the tools and support to begin building Christian community within their home institution and enjoyed a wonderful experience with other students from Marianist schools across the country.

If you would like to learn more about LIFE or how to foster a vibrant, transformative LIFE program in your school, contact Erica Duarte at [email protected] or 702-219-0736.

The four-year Mission Integration and Contact Cycle plays a vital role in the collaborative relationship the Marianist Province has with its sponsored ministries and retreat centers. This process serves as leaven to sustain the ministry’s Catholic and Marianist mission and identity. Visitations will be made in the second semester for schools in Year 2 and Year 4 of the cycle.

Schools receiving Year 2 Visits are:

Schools receiving Year 4 Visits are:

The Office of Sponsorship team will work with each ministry in scheduling these visits. For an overview of the Mission Integration and Contact Cycle, click here.

Upcoming formation programs offered by the Office of Sponsorship:

October 23 – 25, 2022, Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning – Dayton

 Head to Heart: Marianist Spirituality Workshop (H2H)

November 7 – 9, 2022, Marianist Retreat & Conference Center – St. Louis

June 12 – 14, 2023, Marianist Retreat & Conference Center – St. Louis

For more information, and to register for programs, visit www.marianist.com/formation-opportunities.

The Marianist website contains a wide array of valuable information for Marianist-sponsored ministries. Today, we highlight the section on Board Resources.

The Board Resources site contains tools for discernment by board members, a collection of Marianist prayers, and other information that helps form and strengthen governing boards.

To view these important resources, visit www.marianist.com/board-resources, or download the free Marianist App.

Congratulations to Tim Los Baños who has been named principal of Saint Louis School in Honolulu.

Congratulations to Ian Goddard who has been named assistant principal of Purcell Marian High School in Cincinnati.

Congratulations to Lorenzo Jones (previously interim principal) who has been named principal of Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland.

We encourage those at our sponsored ministries to incorporate these two prayers as part of the hiring process for new administrators:

Stay in touch with the Marianist Province by downloading our mobile app!

The app is FREE to download and is compatible with Apple iOS devices and Android devices. The app features direct links to the most commonly used information to support formation and mission integration, as well as other important collaborators, like Marianist LIFE, NACMS, JPIC, and the Marianist Mission.

Marianist Office of Sponsorship | 314.533.1207 | [email protected]