Bro. James Vondran is assigned to the Cupertino Marianist Community. Bro. Vondran's assignment will continue to be a ministry of prayer, support of the community and helping visually impaired persons in the Cupertino area. This assignment begins on February 8.

A reminder to community directors to please remember to place the consultation from the General Council: For a Synodal Church on the community schedule. The General Council asks that we respond before February 27. (That's less than one month away.)  View the document.

On January 28, the District of India celebrated the Ordination to the priesthood of our Brother A. Santosh Savarimuthu in Bangalore.

See photos of the Ordination.

As I stated in last week's Notes from the Provincial Council, the reports from the Provincial Council were posted last Friday, January 28. Please login to the portal and navigate to the Provincial Chapter Section located in the center of the fourth row. Please contact Bernadette Groner if you need assistance accessing the portal.

On December 20, 2021, NACMS welcomed a new member to their team. Mallory Fowler has taken on the role of program and technology assistant. Her experience includes working as an archival assistant in the Cincinnati Museum Center, being a public librarian in Amelia, Ohio, and starting her own freelance genealogical research business. Mallory is excited to be working at NACMS, and she can’t wait to meet the amazing people affiliated with the Marianist Family.

Last August, I was asked by Fr. Stephen Wanyoike, Regional Superior of the Marianists in the region of Eastern Africa, if I could come to Kenya in December and January to lead a training session directing the Spirit of Saragossa. I was also asked to direct two of our brothers on a 30-day retreat as part of their preparations for final vows. Following a conversation with Father Oscar Vasquez, our Provincial, we both agreed this would be a very good thing to do.

NACMS has developed the 30-day Spirit of Saragossa Retreat into the Retreat in Daily Life, a format more accessible to those who cannot get away for 30 days. Click here to learn more.

Andrew Villareal, a Contact who is a graduate of Central Catholic and a parishioner of Holy Rosary Parish, will move to the Stonemill Kiefaber Community in Dayton. During this time, he will work to support himself but live in the community to help him discern Aspirancy. Many thanks to Fr. Jim Fitz, who will mentor him as his Contact Brother, and the Stonemill Kiefaber community for hosting Andrew and supporting vocation ministry once again.

“He who receives God’s call must learn to welcome it and respond to it. The primary means for helping him is to accompany him. The well-known example of the vocation of the young Samuel (1 Sm 3) shows how important it is that he who believes he has received the call from God find at his side a wise person to enlighten him along that road. That is true at the beginning, but also throughout life: accompaniment helps one to remain attentive and faithful.”

(Fostering New Vocations, P. 30-31)

How can we be of accompaniment to those who are discerning their vocation? And what type of new and modern ways can we use to engage them to follow that path when they hear God’s call?

February 4: Kenneth Straubinger

February 6: Pitar Tirkey

February 7: Francisco González

February 8: Leanne Jablonski