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Dear Friends,
Many thoughts and images came to mind as I worked on this issue of
‘Gifts and Tasks’. Those of us who attended the 4th International
Meeting of MLC in Bordeaux might remember Bro. Dennis Schmitz and Kay Stone from Hawaii leading us in the song, “Weave One Heart from the many strands.”.
These many strands are apparent in the Philippines. The first MLC in Manila was founded by our FMI Sisters in Japan,
and is now also supported by the new foundation of the Society of Mary, a
truly multicultural community. I invite you to read the “Alive
in the Philippines” newsletter to learn more.
The update from Hawaii continues these
strands weaving across the globe – from the Marianist Family Retreat
programs from the eastern shores of the USA
to Hawaii to Korea. They even reach to the
heavenly communion of saints where our friend, Basilio Choi continues to pray
for us!
These stories also show how blessed we are for the ongoing efforts and
support of the Daughters of Mary and the Society of Mary in our collaborative
work of building communities in the Marianist tradition. Our Family Spirit is
alive and well.
Let's celebrate our Foundation Day on
Feb.2nd with joy - joining our prayers, these many strands, in thanksgiving
for our one heart, one family in mission with Mary for the glory of her Son!
Peace to all,
ISABELLA R. MOYER, MLC
RESPONSIBLE FOR NORTH AMERICA AND ASIA
INTERNATIONAL TEAM
MARIANIST LAY COMMUNITIES
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Lay
Marianist Consecrations in Manila
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Dear Isabella, Tony and members of the
International Team,
Yesterday I came back from Manila. Saturday
(January 20th) were the consecrations of our Marianist Lay
Community members. It was a simple and nice celebration. Finally 24 members made their consecration. There
were 2 more, originally, but they couldn’t come for family and working
problems. Hopefully they will do it in February, when Richard Joyal will go there, or in March,
when I have to go back. Sister Fumiko
Yamada FMI, with the president
of the MLC- Japan, Ms Seiko and
other 2 members of the MLC in Japan,
were present. Sister Fumiko presented the candidates and the Japanese women
gave them the medals. I am sending you some pictures and the
“rite” we used, some parts in Tagalog.
Blessings in your works
Pablo Rambaud, SM
Click
to read ALIVE IN THE PHILIPPINES - Dec.2006 Newsletter
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Excerpts
from Filipino Celebration
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PRESIDER: (Addressing the candidates)
God manifests the mystery of divine love in countless ways. You have responded
to the mystery of that love by your expressed desire to live the most
faithful imitation of Jesus Christ, son of God, become Son of Mary, crucified
and risen for our salvation. This is the mission for anyone who belongs to
the Marianist Family. You will share in the prayer and good works of the
entire Family of Mary throughout the world. We ask you now about your
intentions.
Ipinakita ng panginoon ang msiteryo ng pag
ibig na walang hanggan sa ating buhay. Sinagot mo an misteryo ng pag ibig na
ayon sa iyong pagpapahayag at gusto mong mamuhay katulad ni Kristo, anak ng
Diyos, na naging anak ni Maria, ipinako sa Krus at nabuhay para tayo
mailigtas. Ito ang ating misyon sa lahat ng miembro ng pamilya marianista.
Tuwing kayo’y magdadasal ibabahagi ninyo ang inyomg panalangin sa lahat
ng miembro ng pamilya marianista sa buong mundo.
DELEGATE: What are you asking for?
Ano ang iyong intention? Ano ang hinihiling
mo?
CANDIDATES: Gusto ko pong maging bahagi ng Pamilya Marianista lalo na sa kanilang
mabuting gawain at mag spiritual na bagay.
I ask to be consecrated in the Marianist Family and share its good works and
life of prayer.
DELEGATE: Do you understand the obligations
you will assume as Consecrated Lay Marianist? Naiintindihan mo ba ang obligasyon na ito bilang bahagi ng Pamilya
marianista?
CANDIDATES: Opo (I do)
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Hawaii
Updates
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 Chicken Skin Moments in Hawaii!
by Bro. Dennis Schmitz, SM
I know that many readers from the USA are associated with Cape May and the Family Retreat Program.
After a number of fumbling efforts, there are 4 Marianist Lay Communities in Hawaii
which will be making their first
commitments at a ceremony on campus on Feb. 4th. They are talking about leading a Family Retreat as
a joint ministry project in September. Barb
Belle, who worked on the family retreats at Governor's Island, has offered to coordinate these efforts. A few
weeks ago the group got a call from people on Maui
looking for someone to lead a family retreat. They already had a location,
the families, etc. These families, who don't really know the Marianists yet,
are seeing themselves as a pilot program for something they want to start on
their island. The Hawaiian MLC's are borrowing a Cape May Program and some
lay Marianists (Vince and Laura from Philadelphia)
to help teach the Hawaiian MLC members and these families how to do this kind
of retreat. One of these members, Jayne
Mondoy, is the religious education director for the diocese and
sees this as a pilot for what she wants to do in her programs. All of a
sudden, this has all fallen in the Hawaiian MLC's laps. This seems to be an
example of believing in something enough to move to action. Belief in the
Marianist charism seems to move the members to share it.
A recent phone call from Basilio Choi's (president of the Korean
MLC's a few years ago) widow, Gemma,
sparked a conversation highlighting that Basilio must be praying hard for the
Hawaiian MLC's. Then Gemma revealed that the Korean MLC's are making
their commitments on the same day as those in Hawaii. Gemma decided to send the Hawaiian
MLCers a gift and the Hawaiian MLCers are sending the Koreans shell leis.
Many parts of the country would say that something gives them "goose
bumps" but in Hawaii
everyone says, "chicken skin." There's
a lot of "chicken skin" moments for Hawaii right now!
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Alliance
for Marianist Lay Formation
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The recently formed "Alliance for
Marianist Lay Formation" gathered in Dayton, OH the weekend of December 1-3, 2006 to help discern the
future of lay formation in the Marianist family. The meeting was convened and
sponsored by the Society of Mary's Office
of Religious Life. Present, left to right, were Brian Reavey (Marianist LIFE), Isabella Moyer (International
Organization of Marianist Lay Communities), Marge
Cavanaugh (MLNNA), Bro. Tom
Giardino, SM (International Center for Marianist Formation), Bro. Mike O'Grady, SM (Office of
Religious Life), Carol Ramey (NACMS),
and Joan McGuinness Wagner (former
director of the Lay Formation Initiative). Not pictured are Bro. Jack Ventura,
SM (Office of Religious Life) and Pati Krasensky (CMSC).
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Marianist
LIFE
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 Dear moderators and friends of Marianist LIFE,
Registration paperwork for our 2007 summer
programs is now available online:
http://www.marianist.com/ministries.php?
pid=124
Similar to last year, information will not be mailed to you and/or your
institution. Therefore, you must download and photocopy all of the
information for you, your administration, your participating moderators,
and/or your students using our website.
Please note these important dates:
March 15, 2007 ...
Pre-registration forms (# of students and moderators) and deposits are due to
the national office in Philadelphia
April 15, 2007 ... All moderator
and student Registration forms are due to the national office
May 15, 2007 ... Final payment
due to the national off (checks made payable to Marianist Province)
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or our Administrative Assistant, Marie Wyman, at
marianistlife@sm-usa.org. We look forward to another meaningful summer of
building communities of faith with you and your students!
Peace to you and your communities,
Brian F. Reavey
National Coordinator, Marianist LIFE
www.marianist.com/life
1341 N. Delaware Ave. #302A
Philadelphia, PA 19125
215.634.4116 (office)
breavey@sm-usa.org
"Let us attach ourselves to God
alone, for only God is eternal." - Adele de Batz de
Tranquelleon
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Cyber
Communities Growing
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 By Marceta Reilly
The Harvest Women’s Prayer Group is
a telephone MLC begun in September, 2005. The six members, five from Kansas
and one from New Jersey, meet monthly on a telephone bridge line to discuss
common spiritual reading and learn about the Marianist charism. The first
book they read was The Cup of our Life
by Joyce Rupp. Now they are reading The
Rule of Benedict by Joan Chittister. The group has been meeting
for more than a year and plans to host a Women’s
Retreat in Hoyt, Kansas, at the end of February. Joanne McCracken, a group member, and Chris Suriano will be the retreat
facilitators. Both Joanne and Chris are members of Our Lady of the Round Table cyber MLC.
In June, 2006 another faith-sharing
community based on the experience of Our Lady of the Round Table
began "meeting" in cyber space. The group currently consists of
five women from across the United States who e-mail reflections on the upcoming Sunday Gospel to the
other members of the group. Few members knew any of the others before the
group began, but intimacy and trust were quickly displayed in the postings.
In the short time the community has been in existence, members have shared
stories of anger, confusion, loss, and fear. In return they've received
messages of support, hope, and love based on the common bond of faith they
share. The group is in the process of inviting friends to share in this high
tech faith-sharing experience.
Brian Reavey, National
Coordinator Marianist LIFE, from Philadelphia,
initiated a weekly cyber group in
November of 2006. Though only
two months old, this MLC “jelled” quickly! The seven members post
“lectio” reflections about the Sunday readings anytime during the
week. The experience is like getting little spiritual “boosts” at
unexpected times all week long! And it has the added benefit of preparing one
well for the Sunday Mass each week.
If you are interested in becoming involved in a cyber community, contact Joanne McCracken at maypoint@gmail.com.
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Virtual
Learning Community Courses
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February 25-March 31 2007
The North American Center for Marianist
Studies (NACMS), in partnership with the Institute for Pastoral
Initiatives at the University
of Dayton, is offering
two Virtual Learning Community courses in February
2007.
An Overview of Marianist Charism,
Spirituality, and Mission
(New Course)
What does it mean to be Marianist? This course will explore the concept of
charism and what is special about the Marianist charism. Participants will
delve into spirituality and the principles and practices of Marianist
spirituality; as well as become familiar with the Marianist apostolate and
its importance in forming Marianist life. The real and potential impact of
the Marianist mission on the wider Church and global community will be
examined. Ultimately, participants will have a deeper and broader
understanding of what it means to be Marianist. (Course Facilitator, Ray McCracken).
Community in the Marianist
Tradition
From the first days of the Church, people longing to know and live the Gospel
of Jesus gathered into small communities. This way of being Church evolved
into structures we now know as parishes. However, the need for smaller, more
personal ways to develop one’s faith remained. Within Marianist
tradition, community is a key component of its spirit and charism. This
course will investigate both the general elements of Church life and the
principles around which small faith communities operate and the particular
characteristics of Marianist faith communities. Class members will be
introduced to the Marianist Family, religious as well as lay communities.
Various ways are described of how communities support members and address
critical needs the Church and of our world, now and in the future. (Course
Facilitator, Dan Jordan).
To register go to vlc.udayton
.edu from now until February 21, 2007.
For more information contact Patti Gehred,
VLC Coordinator (NACMS) at Patti.Gehred@notes.udayton.edu
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Call
to be Christ-Centered
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 Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM reminds us that we are all called to be more
Christ-centered. His reflections can be found in The B.C. Catholic, the
newspaper of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, Canada.
Click
here to read the article.
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Ecumenical
Appointment
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 Fr. Luis Melo, SM of the Region of Canada, has been appointed by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity a
member of the Joint Working Group (JWG) between the Catholic Church and the
World Council of Churches for the period 2006- 2013.
Fr. Luis attended the 2nd and 4th International Convocations of MLC in Lliria, Spain
and Bordeaux, France. He is also the spiritual
advisor and member of the Circulo da Boa
Nova MLC in Winnipeg,
Canada. We
rejoice with him in this exciting appointment!
Click
here to read an article from the PRAIRIE MESSENGER...
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February
2nd Feast Day
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 February 2, 2007 is the 206th anniversary
of the Foundation Day of Marianist Sodalities. The Marianist Family Council of North America
invites all Marianists to unite in praying the “Prayer of the Marianist Family” on
this day, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Read
the prayer...
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Gifts
and Tasks -February Issue
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We need local and national stories,
reflections, and photos for Gifts and
Tasks! Please send submissions and ideas for next month's issue to
moyerfam@mts.net by February 20th.
And kindly forward this issue to contact
persons within your country to help with its distribution. If anyone would
like to be added to the subscription list, please send email addresses to
moyerfam@mts.net. Thank you!
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Quick Links...
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