I will be on retreat this week; I have just a few updates.

In last week's Notes, I should have included Bro. Sylvester Burkemper among the workers who've made significant improvements at the Holy Rosary Parish offices in San Antonio in recent weeks. Thank you, Syl, and please forgive my omission.

The Marianist Sisters are in the middle of their General Chapter in Rome, with Srs. Leanne Jablonski and Laura Leming representing the U.S. Province. The sisters shared the chapter's first three newsletters  and a video, as well as the FMI's new website. (Click on the Union Jack in the upper right for the English version.)

Please keep the Marianist Sisters -- and those of us on retreat in Eureka -- in your prayers.

The Provincial Council met last weekend in Cupertino and celebrated the final Bicentennial Area Gathering with the California brothers. We also used the occasion to install Bro. Jack Somerville as the new director at Cupertino and to thank Bro. Tom Redmond for his years of dedicated ministry there.

Tom will take a short sabbatical before beginning service at NACMS in Dayton; he'll be part of the Marianist Novitiate Community.

This week, Bro. Ed Unferdorfer moves from the Cape May Point Community to the Siena Woods Community. We wish Ed the best of luck in his new community.

The discussion will focus on ways to reduce human trafficking and to assist survivors. If you can't join the Facebook discussion, you may wish to explore these resources:

• NGO Human Trafficking Committee

• 2017 Human Trafficking Report from U.S. State Department

• USCCB's Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Trafficking 

• United Nations Blue Heart Campaign

We're pleased and excited to embark on the second year of Marianist Partners in Urban Service, Leadership and Education. Please join us for the PULSE volunteer commissioning Mass:

Please RSVP if you can join us.

The 2017-2018 personnel directory is in the works. Please send any email or cell phone changes to [email protected] by Aug. 7. Please be sure to include your name with the change.

Now that all the area gatherings are complete, the bicentennial video has been uploaded to the Marianist YouTube channel. You are invited to view it again and share it if you wish.