North America E-News 

This I Believe . . .

by Bob Wiethorn, SM

I believe each person in our group (Marianist Lay Community) has unique gifts to bring to our world and to each other.

I believe we were called together to be, and have become a unique gem in the Marianist Family.

I believe that as we share our lives together we blend into a diamond-each of us a facet, each of us gifted and flawed, but beautiful as a unique entity, and beautiful individually.
 
I believe we have an energy for the world, just as the diamond sparkles, so we radiate to others Marianist life.
 
I believe we are seeking our mission while living our mission-that of being part of the Church (the Church of St. Francis DeSales).
 
I believe living the spirit of Mary, who "lived fully the mystery of her vocation," is for me the energizing call in my life. For me, faith, service, and community are essential parts of living the mystery of my/our vocation.

I believe that seeing with "faith of the heart" means that everything is holy (nothing is profane).

Consequently, I believe we are constantly called to discernment, change, and growth-to become, to be alive for others, for our world.

This is my passion. Passion is energy and fervor, but it is also painful at times-as Jesus' passion. Passionate love carried Jesus through passionate pain.

[Editor's Note: Brother Bob wrote these words while on a 2006 retreat with the Marishka Community, a Marianist Lay Community in Greater Cincinnati with ties to the Church of St. Francis DeSales.]

 

 

On February 23 and 24, sixteen women participated in a retreat at the Hoyt, Kansas, home of Marceta Reilly, a member of the Harvest Women MLC. Joanne McCracken and Chris Suriano, both from New Jersey, were the retreat facilitators. The retreat theme was "The Cup of Our Lives" based on the book by Joyce Rupp.  Through storytelling, small group discussions, and yoga movement, the retreat helped women look at the connections between Scripture and the ordinary stuff of their lives.

 

Harvest Women is a monthly tele-community of six women that has been meeting by phone for almost two years. The mission of the group is to "harvest women" to deeper spirituality. All but one of the women, Joanne McCracken, live in Kansas. The women meet monthly on a conference call, read common books and materials (like Things Marianist), and through the discussions, help deepen their own spiritual lives. The retreat was an extension of this mission, and they hope to make it an annual event.

 

For more information, or to join, contact Marceta Reilly, marcetar@aol.com or 785 608-8899.

 

 

 

 

Interested in getting involved in a Catholic peacemaking effort?

 

We invite you and your community to participate in A Peoples' Peace Initiative, a collaborative effort of many Catholic organizations to articulate the challenges of peacemaking in the 21st century and our response as people of faith.

 

Small groups use a three-session reflection booklet, prepared by Pax Christi and written in both English and Spanish, to discuss the challenges of promoting peace today in light of the Gospel. Responses from groups throughout the country will be synthesized into a national Catholic statement on peace.

 

The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative will provide the reflection booklets free (regular price $5) to Marianist groups who want to be involved in this process. For more information or to get copies of the booklet, contact Jim Vogt at jimvogt2@yahoo.com or 859-291-6197.

 

Myles McCabe delivers Marianist Sharing Fund Grants in San Antonio.

 

 

(Left to right: Richard Salazar, Holy Rosary Parish, Comunidades de Base Marianistas; Angie Cortez, Holy Rosary Parish, Comunidades de Base Marianistas; Myles McCabe, Marianist Sharing Fund; Patricia Mejia, 21st Century Leadership, St. Mary's University; Father Chris Janson, SM, pastor, Holy Rosary Parish)

 

 

"People are Fragile, Handle with Prayer."

Please pray for the repose of the soul of my father, Charles P. Paone, who died Saturday, March 24, at the age of 98. May he rest peacefully in the bosom of Jesus. Also pray for peace and consolation of my family. (Requested by Steve Paone)

 

I would like to pray for the homeless individuals around the globe, especially families who struggle to make ends meet. I pray that God will bless them with some peace in whatever struggles they have to overcome each day. May God provide some mild weather and refuge from their pains. (Requested by Barbara Belle)

 

Please remember the elder sisters of Fr. Gerald Chinchar SM in your prayers. Both have Alzheimer's and are in Assisted Living. Anne Rose (Chinchar) Kotnik is 77 and lives in Columbia, Maryland, near her daughter. Dorothy (Chinchar) Janovac is 83 and lives in Euclid Ohio near her husband. (Requested by Jerry Chinchar, SM)

 

Please continue prayers for Janet and Jack Krumm and their family. They have an indomitable spirit in dealing with Janet's abdominal cancer, and their positive outlook-combined with all the prayerful support they are receiving-is having a positive effect. (Requested by Laura Leming, FMI)

  

A prayer request for Barry McLaughlin, father-in-law of Carrie McLaughlin (daughter of Sue McKamely-SM West Pine Office), who was diagnosed with leukemia. (Requested by Sue McKamely)

 

For my friend, Audrey Blessing, who has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. (Requested by Marilyn Schwieterman)

 

Please lift up Kathy, the mother of two young children, who lives in New York. Kathy has been fighting her battle against cancer for some time, and she is asking for prayers that "storm the gates of heaven" for a cure. (Requested by Pati Krasensky)

 

For Rich Csarny. (Requested by Mary Andrews)

 

Please pray for Kate Shropshire who is recovering from a life-threatening staph infection. (Requested by Joe and Patti Kavanaugh)

 

For the Carlson family. (Requested by Lawrence Wakaruk)

 

Your continued prayers are asked for my mother, Marie Allemand, who is suffering with bone cancer. (Requested by Brenda Fitzpatrick)

 

Please pray for Alice Makodanski who has been battling cancer of the stomach. Alice has been treated for the last few years  . . . undergoing chemotherapy and its side effects. Also pray for Alice's husband Tony, who has been suffering from serious kidney disease and has been in and out of the hospital. (Requested by Val Bergeron)