Dear Brothers,

Notes Regular Schedule

The next issue of Notes from the Provincial Council will be on August 8. The regular weekly schedule for Notes will resume on August 15.

Commendation from the District of India

I received a letter of gratitude and commendation from the District of India Chapter for the prayerful support and special novena by Province communities and individuals during the recent Chapter.

Preparation for Perpetual Vows

Let us continue to pray for our Brothers on the perpetual vow retreat:  Jean Dossous and Juan Pablo Espinoza Chávez. We also remember Bro. Tom Redmond, the retreat director. In addition, we are thankful to the Cupertino community for providing accompaniment during the prayer times. The retreat will end on July 28. As is the custom, Bros. Jean and Juan Pablo will renew vows at end of the Spirit of Saragossa retreat. They will profess perpetual vows during the directors weekend in October.

Policies for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Persons

As you may remember, as part of our regular Praesidium accreditation responsibilities, we have spent the last year reviewing our child protection policies. We have asked for input from the members of the Province, the Province Review Board and the Provincial Chapter. We have updated the policies to include what we have learned since the last revision and in light of current best practices. 

The policies are now available on the Province Portal. They will be formally released at the Directors Meeting at the beginning of October. Communities will be asked to review and discuss. Each Brother will be asked to sign to verify that he has read and understands the policies. It is important that we learn the policies and, more importantly, that we implement them with the spirit of fraternal support and challenge that are necessary. 

As we send our normal reports to Bishops/Dioceses in November and as media outlets invite us to share our policies, we will present these policies.

This Coming Week

Dear Brothers,

Upcoming Retreats

Please keep our Brothers in prayer who will be on retreat over the next couple weeks.

Pre-Novitiate/Aspirancy Program, San Antonio

With the support of our Formation Team and the Provincial Council, a decision has been made to have our candidates from Korea and Mexico live in the Casa Maria Community in San Antonio with English language studies in the International Program of St. Mary’s University. This will begin in early August. Bro. Dennis Bautista will return from his sabbatical year and mentor these candidates. I am very grateful to the members of the Casa Maria Community for giving their fraternal support. We are delighted to welcome two candidates at this time:

Let us pray for these two men as they make this transition and move to the U.S. with a desire to embrace Marianist spirituality, learn English and enter into further discernment by living with us. 

Dear Brothers,

Save the Date

Province Education Workshop 2020

In collaboration with our Marianist Sisters, our Offices of Education are happy to remind you of a workshop that will be available next year for members of our provinces. Sr. Nicole Trahan and I have invited Dr. Hosffman Ospino, associate professor of Hispanic Ministry and Religious Education at Boston College, to provide a workshop entitled, “The Changing Face of U.S. Catholicism: Priorities, Challenges and Opportunities.”

The workshop will begin on Friday, February 28, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. with registration at the Vallombrosa Center in Menlo Park, CA. The workshop will conclude the evening of Saturday, February 29. Sunday will be a travel day. Registration for the workshop will open October 2019. 

Dear Brothers,

Vocation News

June began with a gathering of contacts, those in initial formation and their formators. We rearranged our plans for the first day in order to help with the clean up efforts following the tornados in Dayton. We borrowed chainsaws and tools from the Mount Saint John facilities crew and got to work cutting up fallen trees and cleaning up brush. It was great to have such a large crew of Brothers, Sisters, novices and contacts working together. 

We then spent an extended weekend at Governor’s Island for the biannual "Look, Listen and Lounge." This weekend is part retreat, part vacation and part formation program all rolled up into one. Thanks to the Governor’s Island Community for hosting us and to Fr. Bob Jones, Bro. Joseph Nugent and Sr. Gabby Bibeau who spoke on our panel. We had four contacts, two pre-novices, two novices, three temporary professed and five professed.  

After "Look, Listen and Lounge," I accompanied a group of University of Dayton students for two weeks in Eastern Kentucky. We participated in the UD Summer Appalachia Program. These students live, work and pray in community for nine weeks. Traditionally, many of these students have gone on to participate in the Marianist Family and several have joined the Society of Mary. 

Even if none of these students pursue Marianist religious life, I think it is important for us to walk with those who are actively discerning their vocation and helping their friends discern as well.  

I wanted to share some other news from the Vocation Office. After many discussions with Fr. Tim Kenney, we are going to add several regional vocation offices to the team. 

These offices are similar to our Province areas but do not exactly represent the same geographic area. My hope is that they help focus and energize vocation efforts in their surrounding areas. 

Thank you to Bro. Joseph Nugent, Fr. Ken Templin, Bro. Charlie Johnson, Bro. Nereo Ramírez Hernández, Fr. George Cerniglia, Bro. Mitch Schweickart, Fr. Dave McGuigan, Fr. Bob Bouffier and Bro. Reinaldo Berríos for their willingness to serve. 

Please pray for our brothers who are celebrating their birthdays

July 25: James Jaeckle

July 27: Brandon Alana-Maugaotega

July 30: Paul Metzger, Robert Politi

July 31: James Facette

August 1: Brandon Paluch

August 3: Joseph Markel, José Ramirez

August 5: J. Donald Cahill

August 6: Frank O'Donnell

August 7: Norbert Burns, Jerome Matz, Justin Quiroz

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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