Center for Marianist Spirituality & Communities E-News

JUNE - A MONTH WHICH SPEAKS TO OUR HEART

Recently, I was at St. Catherine's parish in Franklin Square, NY. Once a month, I am there as a spiritual director. Between directees, I met two couples. These young people d came to obtain documents necessary to be married in the Catholic Church. Yes, they looked excited and a bit nervous. June has been known for weddings.

When I think of weddings, I think of love, of the heart, of joy and of commitment. June is that kind of month. June is also the month of the feasts of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Those images tell me, and all of us, of the love of Jesus and Mary for us, but there is also a message of suffering. In the images there is a crown of thorns around the heart of Jesus and a memory that it was predicted that a sword would pierce the heart of Mary.

The April 15th issue of the National Catholic Reporter carried a column by Fr. Robert Drinan: Why does the American Government neglect the Poor? "Americans who care for the poor are once again confronted by statistics to the effect that there are more than 40 million people under the poverty line and that the number of children who are poor in America is increasing. But there is more bad news in the budget proposed by President Bush. About 300,000 children would lose child-care assistance, and the same number of parents would no longer be eligible for food stamps…cuts in veterans' benefits, health care, education and environmental protection."

Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you have done to me.
Love one another as I have loved you.
And the second commandment is like it; love your neighbor as yourself.
The above almost quotes from our scriptures have continued to hunt me since I read the article. What can I do? There must be something? If I really love as Jesus loves and asks me to love….

June is a month which pulls at our heart strings. It may take suffering to make beautiful music.

If you wish to respond: woberstersm@hotmail.com is my address.

LOOKING FOR A CONNECTION?

A gentleman from Irvine, California recently wrote asking for information about the Marianist Family. Is there someone receiving this newsletter who lives in the vicinity? If yes, please email me at woberstersm@hotmail.com

SOME FEASTS IN JUNE:

June 3   Feast of the Sacred Heart
June 4   The immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
June 11   St. Barnabas, apostle
June 13   St. Anthony of Padua
June 22   St. Thomas More
June 24   the Nativity of St. John the Baptist
June 29   St. Peter and St. Paul

CMSC ACTIVITIES:

June 3  Bro. Walt participates in a Marianist Volunteer Program applicant's
interview-via conference call
June 4  The Long Island Advisory Committee meets at Molloy College at 10:30AM
June 10  Final reply date for the Marianist Family Picnic
June 11  Family retreat at St. Patrick's in Yorktown Heights, Westchester, NY
June 12  Spiritual Direction at the CMSC office (Br. Walt); Philly Young Adult meeting.
June 13  Br. Walt meets with Brian Reavey-CMSC and LIFE program working together.
June 13  Cor Maria meeting
June 14  Meeting to prepare the summer family retreat at Shelter Island, NY
June 16  Debbie Durand and Bro. Walt visit the Franciscan Retreat Center in Aston, PA to prepare for the September workshop.
June 18  The Marianist Family Picnic at St. John's in Rockaway Park, NY
June 20-25  Br. Walt and Ray McCracken travel to Dayton, Ohio for the NACMS project: Lest We Forget-oral history of the senior members of the Society of Mary.
June 27  Br. Walt at St. Catherine's in Franklin Square-Spiritual Direction
June 28  Cor Maria meets

PLEASE PRAY FOR . . .

Scott and Maria (Bonanno) Fraser who are expecting twin girls in August one of whom
(Grace Mary) is not expected to live long after birth.
Fr. Richard Knuge, SM who is ill with cancer.
Jim Smith's nephew: John Campbell.
The repose of the soul of Al Rinaldi.
Mrs. Grace Walle of Philadelphia the mother of Marianist Sr. Grace Walle. Mrs. Walle is critically ill following hip surgery.
Al Prendergast who is ill.
Our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and peace in that region.
The people of Darfur.
The newly established Region of Korea for the Society of Mary.
Members of the Marianist family in Haitii, Cuba, China and the Philippines

Bro. Walter Oberster, SM, Acting Director
woberstersm@hotmail.com

Cathy O'Rourke, Administrative Assistant
cmsccathy1@aol.com