We have been in touch with the brothers in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. There is widespread destruction on the island, although Colegio San José was spared extreme damage.  

Fr. Donald Wallace and Deacon Armando Añeses are coming to St. Louis today. Don will return to San Juan when life there is more stable. Armando will continue his pastoral experience from the Chaminade community.

Bro. Francisco González says there is probably $1 million worth of damage to school structures. They will be in contact with the insurance company about coverage.
 
The bigger issue is emergency tuition aid for CSJ students whose families have been severely impacted by the storm, as well as aid for students who will seek entrance to CSJ because their schools were destroyed. Getting back to school will be a big step toward a return to normalcy for these boys and their families.

We would greatly appreciate support from members of the province, province communities, and friends and family, for the " Fund for Colegio San José." Please help us help our family in Puerto Rico.

Donations marked for the "Fund for Colegio San José" may be sent to the attention of Allison Hewitt, executive director of mission advancement, at the province office in St. Louis. Or they can be made online here: marianist.com/puerto-rico. Please consider sharing this link.

I also want to thank Fr. Garry Long and his tech students at Chaminade Mineola for their care and assistance at this time of need.

Strife in India

To be Catholic in India is to be a member of a religious minority often viewed with suspicion and distrust. I encourage you read this news article to understand some of what our Indian brothers face.

Bro. Larry McBride returned to Patna, India, earlier this week. His broken leg has mended and he is returning to his mission in Patna. We wish him well in his ministry and community life.

Wherever you are on Monday, please make sure to join in our special bicentennial prayer -- at your appointed local time, if possible. Read more here.

The Marianist World Day of Prayer will be celebrated this Sunday, Oct. 1, to coincide with the Bicentennial Celebration in Bordeaux.

Normally this celebration occurs on the Sunday closest to the Feast of our Lady of the Pillar, which is Oct. 15 this year.

We published the Marianist Ordo before the announcement of Oct. 1 date, so the date we show is incorrect. Sorry for the confusion. If you've planned World Day of Prayer gatherings for Oct. 15, please continue with your plans.

I will be on a bicentennial formation trip to Spain and France with Fr. Chris Wittmann, Bro. Mark Motz, our novices Joseph Kim and Joseph Nugent, and Bro. Tim Driscoll and Meribah Province novices. We'll be away until Oct. 5.

In the event of a death in the province, please contact Patrick Wheadon, assistant to the Office of Religious Life. Contact him at the office: 314.338.7205; on his cell phone: 314.609.7670; or by email: [email protected].

For all other issues regarding the Office of Religious Life, you may contact Pat Wheadon or Donna Tucker.