Dear Brothers,
This Coming Week
• February 6–8: St. Mary’s University Board Meeting, San Antonio
• February 10–12: Provincial Council Meeting, San Antonio
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Dear Brothers,
Marist/Marianist Third Age Spirituality Program: October 20-December 15, 2020
I am very happy to announce that the collaboration of the Marist and Marianist sabbatical renewal program continues. Over the years, since 2003, we have partnered together to provide a wonderful program for Brothers who are in need of renewal, rest and rejuvenation. The program takes place in Manziana, Italy, just outside of Rome. Included in the program is a pilgrimage to France. If any member of the province is interested in receiving more information and/or application forms, please let
me know.
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The aim of the program is to offer Brothers, in their later years, an opportunity to:
- Review their life journey in grace and gratitude, and
- Be nourished for their Marist and Marianist life in the years ahead.
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Province Retreats
Information and registration for our six retreats will be sent out at the beginning of next week. Stay tuned!
Changemakers 2020
Registration is now open for Changemakers 2020!
- When: Saturday, April 4, 9:00 am-5:00pm
- Where: LaSalle University, Philadelphia
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Deacon Brandon Paluch
and
Bishop Larry Silva
(Diocese of Honolulu) at the Ad Limina visit in Rome last week.
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Upcoming Calendar
- February 8: Office of Religious Life Advisory Council meetings, St. Louis
- February 9-12: Provincial Council Meetings, San Antonio
- February 13-16: St. Anthony's Parish and Community visitation, Maui, Hawaii
- February 16-19: Hale Malia Community visitation, Honolulu
- February 21-24: Our Lady of the Pillar Parish and Community visitation, St. Louis
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Dear Brothers,
Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning - A New Chapter
The Bergamo retreat center, located on the campus of Mount Saint John, is undergoing a major repair project. To date 20% of the bedrooms have been gutted, insulated and rebuilt complete with all new HVAC and plumbing; the Saragossa meeting room has been gutted, insulated and rebuilt; new, well-insulated bedroom roofs with gutters have been installed; and the courtyard and surrounding grounds of the retreat center have been regraded to direct water away from the building. Over the next year and a half, the remaining 80% of bedrooms will be reconstructed, new air conditioning for the main building will be replaced, supplemental HVAC systems will be installed in the offices and kitchen, a potable water pressure boosting system will be installed and crawl space encapsulation will occur.
Progress thus far has been excellent, and the project is well ahead of the original schedule.
Bergamo has been serving the spiritual development of people through retreat experiences for 50+ years. The investment in this important repair project helps further the Marianists’ mission to continue serving God’s people. It is the beginning of a new chapter in the Marianist’s commitment to serve the spiritual needs of youth and adults through retreat experiences.
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Bergamo bedroom under construction. The finished product!
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Office of JPIC - Brian Reavey
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Dear Brothers,
Province JPIC Advisory Committee
The Province JPIC Advisory Committee met this past weekend in Dayton for our annual in-person meeting. Our committee discussed ongoing collaboration with MEEC, PULSE, MSJC and other JPIC-related initiatives. In addition, we discussed SM inspired ideas and spent most of our time visioning, planning and evaluating. We ended our two-day meeting together with Mass, dinner and conversation with the PULSE Community.
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Global Catholic Climate Movement
The Global Catholic Climate Movement extends an invitation to apply for their
Laudato Si' Animators program. Animators are champions of Catholic action on climate change. Through this course, one will: learn from experts and environmental leaders through online trainings, witness the call to protect creation in your community, get support for taking action to enliven your local community, share your experience and ideas and join a global network of Catholics committed to bringing
Laudato Si' to life. For more information, please visit
GCCM's program page.
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Office of Vocation Ministry - Bro. Mark Motz
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Dear Brothers,
January has been a wonderfully packed month that included three-weekend retreats, three new inquirers, four new contacts and two vocation talks at schools by other members of the Province. Enjoy the following pictures and see more details.
Contact Retreat
The annual Contact Retreat was on January 3-5. A few contacts could not attend at the last minute for various personal reasons, but that did not stop the rest of us from having an exceptional retreat. Many thanks to
Fr. Bob Bouffier
for presenting several talks about both the FMI and SM
Rule of Life
. Also, thanks to
Srs. LaVon Lampf
and
Nicole Trahan, Bros. Les Kaehler, Allen Pacquing
and
Brian Zampier, Pre-Novices Steve Kim
and
Jesus Alverez
who helped in a variety of ways throughout the weekend. Thank you to the Marianist Residence, Holy Rosary and Marianist Sisters for hosting us for prayer and meals.
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"God Calling"
On January 9,
Bro. Stan Zubek and
Fr. Dave McGuigan (Regional Vocation Director) gave presentations on vocations entitled “God Calling” to 7th and 11th grade classes at Cape Trinity Elementary School and Wildwood Catholic High School.
Anthony Fucci's son,
Eddie, was in the 7th grade group and gave Bro. Stan and Fr. Dave good marks. Anthony is the director of the Marianist Family Retreat Center, Cape May Point, New Jersey.
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Life Awareness Discernment Retreat
During the weekend of January 10-12, I was part of the team for the annual Life Awareness Discernment Retreat. I was asked to give a keynote address. It was a great opportunity to gain awareness in the San Antonio Archdiocese and to accompany these women and men discerning religious life.
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"What-a-Brother"
The Casa Maria Community hosts a weekly open house for students to join them for prayer and dinner. On January 28, the tables were turned and the Casa Maria and Holy Rosary communities were invited to join the students in Founders Hall for an event called “What-a-Brother” which began with
Setting the Marianist Table and then hamburgers from a local chain “What-a-burger.”
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Catholic Schools Week/Marianist Heritage Week
The Brothers at the West Hills Community participated in vocations talks for the 7th grade class at Chaminade College Prep Middle School. The talks were part of Catholic Schools Week/Marianist Heritage Week. Many thanks
Bros. Jack Dempsey, Tom Oles and
David Betz.
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San Antonio Regional Discernment Retreat
During the weekend of January 31-February 2,
Sr. Nicole Trahan, Aspirant Peter Evans, Bro. Charles Johnson
and
I hosted a San Antonio Regional Discernment Retreat. We had twelve participants, most of whom were from St. Mary’s University.
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More Presentations
On January 29, I presented on vocations and storytelling to the students who were going on an EMPOWER immersion to the border with St. Mary’s University.
On January 30,
Bro Charles Johnson
and I presented to the Central Catholic High School Board meeting on vocations.
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Please pray for our Brothers who are celebrating their birthdays
February 7:
Francisco González
February 12: Robert E. Hughes
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On the Calendar
February 10-12:
Provincial Council meetings, San Antonio
February 11:
Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes
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This publication is for members of the Society of Mary. Please do not forward it. Also, please provide a printed copy for brothers who do not use email.
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