Dear Brothers,

District of India

Please pray for God’s blessing upon the visitation of the District of India by the General Council. The visit began early this week on September 23 and will conclude on October 19. As we all know, the visits by the General Council are an opportunity for a unit to share its strengths and its areas for growth.  

This Coming Week

Dear Brothers,

Directors Meeting

Reminder: This year’s directors weekend at the Marianist Retreat and Conference Center, Eureka, Missouri, will be from Thursday, October 4, with Mass beginning at 5:00 pm through Sunday, October 6, concluding with lunch at 11:30 am.

Please keep in your and the community’s prayers both our Brothers making final vows and blessings for this meeting.

Dear Brothers,

RSVP Perpetual Vow Eucharist & Reception

We continue to pray for our two Brothers, Jean Dossous and Juan Pablo Espinoza, as they prepare for their big day!

The RSVPs for the upcoming Province vow gathering were due on September 23. Because we are working with a variety of entities to make the gathering go smoothly, I am asking that, if you have not sent in your RSVP, you call my administrative assistant, Terry Eversole, no later than tomorrow, September 27. Terry's direct number is 314.338.7223. The directors attending the Directors Meeting do not have to do this since we have already included you in the numbers. Thank you very much.

Marianist World Day of Prayer

This year, the Marianist World Day of Prayer will take place on October 13. Every year, the World Council of the Marianist Family highlights a particular Marian Shine. This year, it is Our Lady of Atacora located in Natitingou, Benin (West Africa). Please click here for more information and photos to help promote this day of prayer. 

Dear Brothers,

A Portrait of Hope and Joy

This past year, a new competition was launched in Ireland that fosters creativity, originality and self-expression in children and young people. The Zurich Young Portrait Prize, a national art competition, selected twenty finalists.  Mathews Pascoal De Leon, 17, a student at Saint Laurence College, was among the finalists with his submission entitled, Bro. Fred’s Portrait. It was created with graphite and pastel, pencil on paper. Bro. Fred's portrait is to hang in the Millennium Wing Studio of the National Gallery of Ireland for several months.

What a beautiful way to pay tribute to Bro. Fred Rech, a man who has dedicated so many years to Saint Laurence College and who continues to be a humble and passionate witness to our Marianist Charism in Ireland.

Bro. Fred Rech and Mathews Pascoal De Leon

Dear Brothers,

Welcome to Bro. Bob Metzger

Bro. Bob Metzger arrived in St. Louis last week and has begun his work in the Office of Temporalities. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from his many years at the National Religious Retirement Office in Washington, DC. He also has extensive experience in finance and in day-to-day operations of the temporalities office. His knowledge and expertise will be put to good use.

Thank you Bob for being willing to serve in this capacity. We are very grateful to have you here. 

Dear Brothers,

2019 Feast of St. Francis Resource

Every October 4, the Catholic Climate Covenant celebrates the Saint who saw all created beings as his brother or sister. Inspired by this example, Catholic Climate Covenant produces a free educational program to help your faith community explore how it can better care for creation and the poor. This year’s program, "We Are All Connected: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor," complements and accompanies the Vatican's Amazonian Synod. It focuses on integral ecology, environmental/climate justice and lifting the voice of indigenous communities. The program contains prayers, readings, a short video and suggested activities. Click here to access the free resource.

Respect Life Month Resource

October is Respect Life Month, a time for Catholics to reflect more deeply on the God-given dignity of all human life. Beginning on Respect Life Sunday (October 6), Catholics across the United States will recommit themselves to the work of uplifting this core tenet of our faith. The Respect Life Month Toolkit from Catholic Mobilizing Network offers dynamic, easy-to-use resources designed to assist Catholic communities, parishes and individuals as they advocate for a culture of life and an end to capital punishment. Inside, you'll find prayer service templates, parish bulletin articles, social media resources and more. Explore the Respect Life Month Toolkit here.

Catholic Nonviolent Action for Immigrant Children

Next National Action: El Paso, Texas

Phase 3 of our campaign will be at the southern border in solidarity with National Latinx Catholic Leaders, Hope Border Institute and the many religious and Catholic laypersons working with migrants in El Paso.

Since this campaign began and with the help of many other partner actions, over 2500 migrant children have been released from the now empty influx facilities and the overall discharge rates have been increasing. Yet, the administration may re-open these in late October and they are trying to increase family detention. The unsafe policies of Remain in Mexico and turning away of asylum seekers also continue.

Join us in El Paso

Register for the Teach-In

Sign on as an individual to this DHS Appropriations Letter to keep families together and invest in alternatives to detention; reduce funding for deportation, detention and border militarization; and support funding for refugee resettlement and asylum. 

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, September 29 by Joe Serano, O.Praem

Personnel Notification

Sr. Mary Beth Hefti of the Temporalities Office has decided to leave her position. We want to thank Sr. Mary Beth for her many years of dedicated service to the Province.

We are very appreciative of everything she has done for us and will certainly miss her. We wish her the very best.

Questions regarding your insurance or provider invoices may be referred to either Bro. Joe Markel or Gina Marty.

Please pray for our brothers who are celebrating their birthdays

September26: Raymond Malley

September 27: James Kunes, Edward Longbottom

September 29: Régulo Hernández García

September 30: Hugh Bihl, James Burkholder, Fred Stovall

October 1: Allen Pacquing

October 2: Gary Marcinowski

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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