The last few weeks have been difficult for our Province membership as we have dealt with the deaths of our Brothers. Let me encourage all of us to, once again, take to heart the health precautions as we deal with the virus.

The release of the vaccine has been in the news for the last few days. The USCCB has issued a release on the use of the vaccine. Please click here to read. I want to encourage all members of the Province to receive the vaccine as soon as you are able, based on your age and availability, and by the guidance of your health professional.

I am constantly thankful for the many Glimpses of God (GOG moments) in my life. Sometimes, our world seems to emphasize the negative or the problematic, and yet I’m reminded that we, as Brothers, and our ministries are doing many, many good things. Recently, I received an email from the new Outreach Ministry Director at MRCC (Marianist Retreat & Conference Center), Mr. Paul Masek. He informed me that during their retreat programs, since October 1, they have given the youth on the retreats the opportunity to assist others in need. They have raised funds to sponsor five students at Our Lady of Nazareth School in Nairobi, Kenya. Welcome to Paul!

All the readings for this Fourth Sunday of Advent focus on the fulfillment of God’s promise to David to, “raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.” When the angel appears to Mary in today’s Gospel he says, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” This was and still is a message of hope, not only for the people of Israel but as the reading from Romans states “to all the nations.”

As we end the difficult year of 2020 we need to remind ourselves that hope is a verb. It requires action on our part. As Pope Francis states in Fratelli Tutti, “Hope speaks to us of a thirst, an aspiration, a longing for a life of fulfillment, a desire to achieve great things, things that fill our heart and lift our spirit to lofty realities like truth, goodness and beauty, justice and love... Hope is bold; it can look beyond personal convenience, the petty securities and compensations which limit our horizon, and it can open us up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worthwhile.”

This week, we also celebrate the Winter Solstice, a special Earth holiday, so I would like to share with you a very good video on Advent hope by kids from around the world courtesy of the Global Catholic Climate Movement. Click here to view the video.

Our Brothers in the district have put out an informative newsletter that I want to share. It is a great reminder to us of what we can each do in our own part of the world. Please read here.

The annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in 2021 will be virtual. You may remember that a handful of Marianists went last year and we found it to be an excellent conference. This year, it was just announced that Cardinal Tagle from the Philippines will be one of the speakers. If you would like to explore the workshop offerings or consider registering, please click here. Leading voices in our Church and society will come together to advocate for the elimination of the disparities revealed by Covid-19.

As we prepare for the final week of Advent and the celebration of Christmas, we keep repeating over and over that God is Emmanuel. Times were hard when Isaiah, the prophet in the Old Testament, tried to offer encouragement and hope to his people. Times were hard when Mary and Joseph were in exile and gave birth to their son who became our Savior. Times are hard for us as we continue to live in these pandemic times. God has always been with people in their messiness and hardships. God is with us. That is why we sing in Advent, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Emmanuel means God is with us. God has never left us. God is always waiting for us to open our eyes and our hearts to his ongoing presence in our lives!

I have canceled my annual trip/time with my family in California and will remain here in Saint Louis. The Salve Community has begun the decorations! As I look back over 2020, I am so grateful to God for my service to the Province and to you my Brothers. I look forward in seeing you in 2021!

In a school year that has been unlike any other, Bro. Justin Quiroz is introducing the Marianist tradition of Sodalities to the eighth graders at Our Lady of the Rosary School in Dayton, where he teaches 7th and 8th grade religion. Bro. Justin shares his excitement below along with some photos of the scholars.

I am very excited to share this part of our charism to the scholars that I work with here at Rosary. My hope is to help our scholars to grow in their faith and become who God has called them to be. We do this through a shared experience of prayer and community support with one another. The sodalities are split by gender. We operate on the same plans, but I lead the boy's group and Sr. Virginia (a Mercy sister), is leading the girl's group. Looking to the future, I have high hopes to grow this program and expand it, not only across the middle school level, but also to reach out to the families of our scholars as well.

December 18: Stephen Tutas

December 22: Timothy Pieprzyca

December 20: Fourth Sunday of Advent