Dear Brothers,

Precautionary Measures

Province-sponsored meetings, jubilees and workshops are postponed until further notice. The Provincial Council will continue to monitor the situation based on guidance provided by authorities in each state.  

Fr. David Fleming Revised Funeral Arrangements

Based on the guidelines in several states, we sent our REVISED funeral arrangements for Fr. David. Because of the concern for Marianists and family members, there will be no Mass of Transferal in Dayton. We are respecting the Archdiocesan guidelines for the size of groups.  

Central Catholic Community

Taking into account the current health and mobility issues of the Brothers in the Central Catholic community, the Provincial Council in dialogue with the Brothers, has decided to close the community for the coming personnel year. 

As requested by the Superior General, the Archbishop of San Antonio has been informed. We have stressed to the Archbishop that Central Catholic High School continues to be a Marianist school and that we will continue to assign Brothers to the ministry as they are available. Central Catholic High School will also continue to be one of the ministries where aspirants can be assigned for their ministry experience. Brothers will use this semester to move to their new communities. The Central Catholic Marianist Community has been in existence since 1932. It also traces its heritage to the first community in San Antonio in 1852. 

New Assignments of Community Members

These new assignments and the necessary moves will be completed by August 15.

A Clarification

My announcement last week with regards to Magdaleno Ceballos, SM, was not as precise as it could have been. My apologies. The Provincial Council has given unanimous approval for Leno to profess first vows in the Society of Mary. The Mass is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2020, in Dayton. Please join me in praying in Thanksgiving for Leno’s life and vocation. We also thank God for his family and their support of his vocation. 

Special Call for Prayer, World Council of the Marianist Family

In case you didn’t see the notice. The World Council of the Marianist Family has issued a “Special Call to the Marianist Family for Prayer.” We are asked to pray for all the people affected in their health or living conditions by the coronavirus. Please click here for the prayer. 

Prayers

Reminder that today, as we celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph, that the community Eucharist is offered for the Superior General. Let us also unite ourselves in prayer with the General Council. 

This Coming Week

Dear Brothers,

Saint Joseph

Husband of Mary

Foster father of Jesus

Patron of workers and the dying

Patron of the universal Church

Patron of the Society of Mary

Listen to the words of Blessed Chaminade on St. Joseph “Yes, my dear children, our destiny is in the hands of Joseph. What a powerful motive for hope and what a happy presage! Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and the Head of the Holy Family, has been kind enough to accept us as his children and to permit us to call him father! Let us then pray to Saint Joseph with all fervor and confidence. Great power has been given him in heaven and on the earth. He can obtain for us from the august Mary, all that is lacking to us, all that we need, even in the temporal order, and he wishes for us all kinds of good. Let us then, my dear children, have for him an entirely filial devotion and may his name be blessed without ceasing in our hearts and on our lips with those of Jesus and Mary. “ (Chaminade, Letters, no. 1253, Circular Letter to the Marianist Communities, March 21, 1841)

Annunciation of the Lord

Patronal Feast of the Family of Mary

Please click here for a beautiful prayer service (Morning and Evening Prayer) prepared by Bro. Gary Marcinowski with psalm tones.

Prayer for Healing and Atonement

During Lent, as a Province, we continue as communities to be in solidarity with each other as we pray for our Church and our Province over the abuse crisis and our preparing to release names. We pray for people who have been abused whether physically, emotionally, mentally or sexually that our God of all tenderness and compassion will restore them and give them peace.

This week we would like to suggest this prayer service .

Since the beginning of Lent, we have suggested the following services to be adopted for your community prayer:

March 24: 40th Anniversary of Death of St. Ó scar Romero

In a few days, we join with our Church in remembering the anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Óscar Romero, a modern day saint who invites us to have the courage to be counter cultural by our baptism. 

Dear Brothers,

Mother Seton Academy

I had the honor of returning to Baltimore last Friday to lead a retreat with the Mother Seton Academy faculty and staff. The retreat was held at St. Mary’s Spiritual Center, home of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton.

 

The Holy Spirit led us at the start of the retreat by sharing our feelings around the coronavirus pandemic. This was a graced, authentic and honest sharing around our concern for the students, their families and the world. We called upon our God to give us peace and the wisdom needed to go forward. It was a truly blessed day.

Mother Seton Academy Faculty and Staff

Dear Brothers,

Prayers of Wellness for All

Here is some inspiration during these uncertain times of self-isolation to promote the common good:

And the people stayed home.

And read books, and listened, and rested,

and exercised, and made art, and played games, and

learned new ways of being, and were still.

And listened more deeply.

Some meditated, some prayed, some danced.

Some met their shadows.

And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed.

And, in the absence of people living

in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways,

the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed,

and the people joined together again,

they grieved their losses, and made new choices,

and dreamed new images,

and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully,

as they had been healed.

(Kitty O’Meara)

Resource Guide to Care for Creation

The USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development has released a study guide (y en español) on Querida Amazonia that includes prayer, study materials and action ideas. This reflection/discussion guide, for use with Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, Querida Amazonia [ Beloved Amazon], can help individuals and small groups explore and dialogue with this important document related to listening to “the cry of the poor,” the rights of indigenous persons, solidarity and action to care for God’s creation. The guide also includes a template for small group discussion, as well as questions for either individual or small group reflection on particular themes in the document. Learn more with this summary of Querida Amazonia and this statement by Archbishop José H. Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

Linking Lectionary to Justice and Peace

Below you will find homily resources from CMSM members and other people of wisdom in our community for your reflection. If you are not preparing homilies, please consider sharing with your local presider.

Sunday, March 22 by Dawn Nothwehr, OSF, PhD

Please pray for our Brothers who are celebrating their birthdays

March 20: Peter Pontolillo

March 21: Giancarlo Bonutti

March 22: Reinaldo Berríos, Thomas Oles, William Schlosser

March 24: Stanley Murakami

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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