Dear Brothers,

Season of Lent

Let us unite ourselves in our common Marianist vocation during this Holy Season Lent . I hope that you have had the opportunity to read the Special Message email that was sent yesterday, Ash Wednesday. Prayers!

Colegio San José

These past few days, I had the blessing of visiting Colegio San José in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the community visitation, to preside at the school Ash Wednesday Mass and the Colegio San José Board meeting. A busy few days! 

I was impressed that each morning the community Mass is offered at 7:00 a.m. Many parents, students, faculty and staff attend the Mass. What is unique is that many times a morning Mass is simple. This Mass is sung each morning. Two of the school theology teachers, Mr. José Balseiros & Mr. Roberto Ortiz, provide the music which is in Spanish with a very Caribbean flavor. This is a good reminder for all of us to thank God for the blessing of the musicians in the midst of our local Marianist communities that help our prayer come alive with the gift of music.  

District Leadership

The District of India still remains the over-all responsibility of the Marianist Province of the United States. As the Major Superior for India, the Provincial (with the consultation of the Provincial Council) appoints the District Superior and Assistant District Superior. Separate consultations were organized by the Provincial Offices in St. Louis. I’m thankful for all of the Brothers that submitted their consultations.

District Superior 

On February 7, 2020, I announced the reappointment of Fr. Sudhir Kujur to a second term as District Superior. This term will be a four-year term. Please click here to read the letter.

  

Assistant District Superior

On February 25, 2020, I announced the reappointment of the Bro. Darwin Joseph G. to a second term as Assistant District Superior. This term will be a four-year term. Please click here to read the letter.

Join me in congratulating Fr. Sudhir and Bro. Darwin for their willingness to serve the District of India and the Society of Mary! Bro. Darwin and Fr. Sudhir will now begin a consultation for the remaining members of the District Council. 

Please pray and ask for God’s blessings on this process.  Bro. Bernie Ploeger and I will be traveling to India this coming June for the installation of the new District Council.  

This Coming Week

Dear Brothers,

Lent

With the advice of the Office of Religious Life Advisory Board, I would like to suggest that each week during Lent your community choose a day (e.g., Fridays) to be a time of atonement as a Province as we pray for greater fidelity to our vows and as we pray for our Province in anticipation of the release of the names. Each community can choose its own form of action or form of prayer for this day (Eucharistic Adoration; half-hour in common; rosary; Stations of the Cross; special prayer service; etc.) Each week, we will have a petition, along with a suggested prayer. As we begin this 40-day journey, we pray today for all young people and our most vulnerable who have suffered from sexual, emotional and psychological abuse. We pray to our God. Let us pray this prayer during the coming week.

Dear Brothers,

Introducing Mary's Lead

The Office of Sponsorship for the past several years has provided significant formational experiences for the leaders of our high schools and retreat centers. Mentoring and formation programs have made a significant impact in deepening our Marianist identity at each institution. I want to thank Dan Donnelly, Larry Keller, Pat Wheadon and Deanna Snyder for their vision and for all their work in this endeavor.

We now take the next step by providing a year-long formation experience for our school leaders. Next year a program is being developed for our retreat centers. The program is entitled Mary’s Lead. My deepest gratitude to Savio Franco for all his work in developing an experience that will allow each participant to deepen their understanding of what it means to be a Marianist leader. Below are more reflections on the program from Savio Franco.

Following submitted by Dr. Savio Franco, Director of Leadership Development, Research and Partnerships for the Office of Education

We are delighted to announce that the Mary's Lead initiative will go live on March 02 with a leadership retreat for the first yearlong cohort, consisting of twelve presidents, principals and an assistant principal at Marianist-sponsored schools in the Province. Mary's Lead is envisioned as a Marianist leadership formation ecosystem that we will collaboratively nurture – offering leadership retreats, video dialogues, a private, interactive website, one-to-one Marianist mentoring, and useful materials co-created for and by current, incoming and rising leaders at Marianist-sponsored ministries. Next week’s retreat is being facilitated by Sr. Laura Leming and Bro. Tom Giardino. For a one-page introduction and vision for Mary's Lead click here.

Here are the participants for cohort 1.

Please keep us all in your prayers next week.

Upcoming Events

February 28-March 1: Education Workshop, Vallombrosa, Menlo, California

March 2-5: Mary's Lead, MRCC, Eureka, Missouri

March 5-9: Provincial Chapter Meetings, MRCC, Eureka, Missouri

Please pray for our Brothers who are celebrating their birthdays

February 27: Donald Geiger, Vincent Wayer

March 2: Richard Dix

March 4: James Bartlett, Thomas Giardino

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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