From John 17:21 (NRSV): "that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us."

The last two days have highlighted the spirit of division and even hatred that has been growing in our country. Let us be united in our prayer for our country and those who were injured, even died, in Wednesday’s illegal/immoral violence. As Marianists, we are called to be people of hope and joy who promote justice and reconciliation. We must also go one step further by modeling a civil and positive tone in all our actions. Let us also provide for a place where difficult conversations can take place. Please join me in praying that God’s Spirit guide our National leaders and that they seek what is just and promote the common good. There are many resources available to us including the MSJC website that you might look to visit as you gather resources.

Fr. Gene Contadino will be assigned to the Alumni Hall Marianist Community with the ministry of Spiritual Director to the Marianist Mission. The details of the transition at the Mission are in process.

Thank you to Fr. Pat Tonry for his years of service to the Marianist Mission as the Spiritual Director. This accompaniment is so important for our donors and the staff at the Mission. Fr. Pat will continue to support communities and ministries in the Dayton area with clerical assistance.

You're invited to a prayerful gathering on the Feast of Blessed Adele, January 10, from 4 - 4:20 pm (CT). Please join us for prayer and a brief reflection given by Sr. Gabrielle Bibeau. See attached flyer for link, "A New Hope...in the Spirit of Adèle." Please share with your friends!

Please remember to pray for our donors (to our communities, ministries and the Marianist Mission). We pledge that we will pray for them and their intentions daily. Our benefactors and their families are truly thankful for the prayerful support. In particular, please pray for those who are part of the Marianist Spiritual Alliance (Marianist Mission, Perpetual Enrollments). Linda Hayes, Marianist Mission director, notes, “All of this prayer creates a ripple effect of love in their lives and in the world.”

Following are helpful resources on surviving in this time of COVID.

As I prepare my section of Notes in the first week of January, I am reminded that we are still in the Christmas season. YES, until after next Sunday (January 10) when we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. And also, since it is still early in January, we have to keep asking ourselves, “what are you most looking forward to in 2021, and how will you grow more spiritually."

I was given a challenge for 2021 to focus on one word each week. I have accepted that challenge as I concentrate this week on the word “diligent."

There are so many different descriptions for this word: energetic, eager, tireless, devoted, working hard, intense concentration, which are all good and words that I am thinking about this week. But then I read that the Latin root gives it another meaning, “to value highly, take delight in.” When I went to the Scriptures, I found a number of references, but two stood out for me: Proverbs 4:23: "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life"; 2 Peter 1:10 "...be all the more diligent to confirm your calling, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall."

I thought you might enjoy this very well done five-minute video of Pope Francis, which describes his beautiful letter, Fratelli Tutti. He speaks about our social responsibility to give greater attention to poor and marginalized people and to care for our Earth.

There are some very interesting statistics in the Ecology Newsletter for the Marianist District of India assembled by Bro. Larry McBride. Some of the info comes from the New York Times, January 1, 2021 issue.  Click here to read.

According to the United States Federal Bureau of Prisons, there have been 47 federal executions carried out since 1927. Ten of those took place from July to December 2020. It was in this context that Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, asserted in early December that: “We are all sinners. Some have done terrible things. Victims need help. Justice is needed for peace. But executions solve nothing.”

With three more executions slated for this month, there is an urgent call for education and action on this issue. An online dialogue titled “Killing in Our Name: Federal Executions and Pro-life Witness” is being offered this Friday, January 8, by Georgetown’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and the Catholic Mobilizing Network.

Panelists include Bishop Daniel Flores, Bishop of Brownsville, Texas, and the chair-elect of the USCCB’s Committee on Doctrine; Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, which seeks to end the use of the death penalty in the United States and promotes restorative justice; and Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, a leading advocate for the abolition of the death penalty who has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on capital punishment and in shaping the Catholic Church’s vigorous opposition to all executions. The session is free, but you must RSVP in advance.

As we celebrate this New Year, may we be reminded that it is the acts of kindness that matter. This is illustrated beautifully in the sharing below. May 2021 be a year where we spread the love of Jesus and Mary to one another.

Submitted by Brianna Wilson, director of Campus Ministry and English teacher at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

Bro. Don Neff has been a long-time member of the Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School (VASJ) community in Cleveland. His mission of spreading the name of Christ continues and has once again reached his VASJ community.

On October 20, 2020, students at VASJ attended their Rosary Prayer Service in the Founders' Chapel during religion classes, and virtual students Zoomed in to the experience. The Rosary Prayer Service is an annual tradition at VASJ that is typically celebrated with the entire student body at the same time and in the same space. This year it needed to be reimagined in light of the safety guidelines with the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Bro. Don Neff, VASJ was able to supply each member of the community with their own rosary.

We are grateful to Bro. Don for thinking of us and for donating over 500 rosaries so that all in our school community might have one. This year alone, Bro. Don has donated rosaries to nine parishes, Chaminade-Madonna College Prep, Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School, Colegio San José and us. He is still looking for more people with whom he can share the rosary. Thank you, Bro. Don!

Recently, the US Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and the President has signed the act. This new legislation includes a second round of stimulus payments to all Americans, including members of religious institutes. The US Treasury has begun mailing out individual checks in the amount of $600 to eligible recipients.

Most of the individual checks were mailed directly to the Province Office in St. Louis for the first round of stimulus checks last spring. However, if you receive the check directly, would you please forward it to my office? As we did for the first round, these funds will be used to assist in the support of our senior members and the ever-increasing cost of health care.

January 9: Quentin Hakenewerth

January 10: Donald Smith

January 10: Blessed Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, Virgin & Founder

January 10: Solemnity of the Baptism of Jesus