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LA CONGRESS: A GREAT PLACE TO MEET THE MARIANISTS

Fr. Ken Templin and Bro. Dennis Schmitz assist a visitor at the Marianist booth at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. Photos courtesy of Contact Heribertus Denny

Requests for more information about the Marianists almost doubled at this year’s Los Angeles Religious Education Congress held Feb. 28 to March 3 in Anaheim, Calif. The event is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education and is the nation's largest annual gathering of Roman Catholics. Over 40,000 people attended this year. The Marianists are regular exhibitors at the Congress. According to Bro. Dennis Schmitz, this year there was a considerable increase in visitors requesting more information about the Marianists. “Most years we get 30 to 40 filling out cards, this year we had almost 60,” he said. In addition to Bro. Dennis, Marianists assisting at the event included Frs. Ken Templin, Jim Heft and John McEnhill and Bros. Jim Wisecaver, David Betz and Gerry Mc Auley and Novice Luis Gamboa. Also helping were Lay Marianists Margaret and Soane Uiagalelei and Contacts Michael Chiuri, Brandon Paluch, Norman Capinpin, Chris Nieport and Heribertus Denny. Marianist friends David and Helen Haas, Fr. George DeCosta and Joe Camacho offered encouragement to booth visitors and the Marianist contacts. According to Bro. Dennis, there were many collaborators, religious and lay, who made the event a success. “We have met a number of our young men in formation through this Congress,” he said. “One from last year is applying for aspirancy. We hope for continued good results with the people we met this year.”

LA Congress booth staffers Bro. Gerry Mc Auley, Novice Luis Gamboa, Fr. Jim Heft, Bro. Jim Wisecaver and Fr. Ken Templin

Clockwise from top; Novice Luis Gamboa chats with Fr. Jim Heft; Fr. Jim and Bro. Gerry Mc Auley; the LA Congress Marianist booth staff gathers for dinner; and Contact Brandon Paluch and Fr. John McEnhill

Slideshow courtesy of Heribertus Denny

PERSONNEL NEWS

Fr. George Cerniglia, assistant for the Office of Religious Life, announces that Bro. Brian Halderman, a fourth-year temporary professed brother, has requested perpetual vows in the Society of Mary. Bro. Brian received his master’s degree in social work in December 2007 and has been serving with the Marianists in Lima, Peru, this past year. In gathering feedback regarding the request, the Provincial Council has consulted with Bro. Brian’s present community and brothers he has lived with for the past three years. Fr. George invites anyone in the Province to offer comments regarding Bro. Brian’s request for perpetual vows by April 15, 2008. Please keep this consultation in your prayers over the next several weeks.

Bro. Charles Johnson (national vocation director) announces that effective July 1, 2008, Bro. Sean Downing (Stonemill-Kiefaber, Dayton) will assume the role of regional vocation director of the Marianist Office of Vocations at the University of Dayton. Bro. Sean will work with Bros. Tom Pieper and Charlie Wanda and Sr. Patricia Knopp to organize retreats and other vocation activities in Dayton. A special thank you to Bro. Tom Pieper for his work as regional director. The Province is grateful for his efforts.

THIRTEENTH SESSION OF PROVINCIAL CHAPTER MEETS IN ST. LOUIS

At the Chapter, Frs. Larry Doersching, Kip Stander and Ralph Siefert

The thirteenth session of the Provincial Chapter of the Marianist Province of the United States was held March 7 to March 11, 2008, at the Marianist Retreat & Conference Center in Eureka, Mo. Chapter members discussed the Province’s strategic planning process, the report of the Provincial Council, and reports from the offices of religious life (including vocations), education, temporalities and development. An extensive presentation on the District of India was given by Fr. Pragasam T., district superior. The Chapter also read reports on the Districts of Eastern Africa and Mexico. Prior to the Chapter, area coordinators organized meetings for Province members with Chapter delegates to encourage dialogue about the work of the Chapter. Several post-Chapter meetings also are scheduled. Provincial Stephen Glodek will send members of the Province a summary of the Chapter work in the near future.

Clockwise from top, Bros. Joe Markel, Roberto Hanss, district superior of Mexico, Robert Johns and Jim Droste; Frs. Richard Wosman and Pragasam T., district superior of India; Bros. Tom Wendorf, Chola Mulenga, district superior of Eastern Africa, Tom Redmond and Ken Jung (Bro. Tom Wendorf was visiting from Dayton); and Frs. Ralph Siefert and George Cerniglia

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OKAYS PROCESS FOR EASTERN AFRICA

The General Administration has given approval to the District of Eastern Africa to begin the process of becoming an independent region in 2010. The formal discussion began in Eastern Africa in early January 2008 at the District Assembly and District Chapter. A request was sent to the Provincial Council of the United States and was approved. The process involves the completion and review of a Memo of Understanding with the Province of the U.S. and detailed financial planning.

YOU’RE INVITED: MARIANIST MISSION MASSES IN ST. LOUIS, DAYTON

Fr. Pat Tonry with a guest at the Marianist Mission Appreciation Mass in San Antonio in 2007.

All members of the Marianist Family are invited to special Masses in St. Louis and Dayton sponsored by the Marianist Mission. The St. Louis Mass is at Our Lady of the Pillar Church in St. Louis at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. The Dayton Mass is at Queen of Apostles Chapel on the Mount St. John property at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 20. The Masses will honor patrons and donors of the Mission, as well as the living and deceased members of their families. Receptions will follow. Marianist Mission Spiritual Director Fr. Pat Tonry will preside at the Masses. Other members of the Marianist Mission/Development staff, including Executive Director of Development Lisa Gooding, will be in attendance. Please RSVP to Mary Ann Townsend (937.222.4641, ext. 249) by April 2 (St. Louis) and April 7 (Dayton). Appreciation Masses are being planned for other cities in the Province. Marianist Family members are encouraged to attend these events to meet and thank the loyal supporters of the Marianists and its ministries. The Marianist Mission helps fund many works and formation programs in India and Eastern Africa, the Marianist Urban Students Program, scholarships for Marianist schools, health care for senior Marianists and many other Province ministries.

MARIANISTS IN HAWAI’I ANNOUNCE LOGO CONTEST

Marianists from Hawai’i at a vow ceremony in 2006 in Dayton. Shown are Norman Capinpin, Bro. Dennis Schmitz, Fr. Ken Templin, Novice Brandon Alana, Bro. Jim Dods, Contact Reynard Nivera, Fr. Allen DeLong, the late Bro. Franklin Pao and Bro. John Campbell

Bro. Dennis Schmitz (Hale Malia, Honolulu) invites all members of the Marianist Family to submit ideas for a logo to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Marianists in Hawai’i. The logo will be used on print materials and promotional merchandise created to honor this milestone. Anniversary celebrations will take place in September 2008. A large anniversary celebration is planned for Jan. 24, 2009, at Chaminade University of Honolulu. A $250 prize will be awarded for the winning logo idea. Deadline for logo submission is April 2, 2008. Read the logo contest guidelines. The Marianists arrived in Hawai’i in 1883 to serve at Saint Louis School in Honolulu and St. Anthony in Maui, where they still serve today. The Marianists in Hawai’i have grown to include Lay Marianist communities, Marianist Educational Associates, and other Marianist collaborators.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Read the March 2008 issue of The MVP Newsletter by Dan Richter, coordinator of the Marianist Volunteer Program. Do you have what it takes to be a 2008-2009 MVP? Applications are due April 1, 2008. Don’t be an (April) fool, submit yours now! Check out MVP on Facebook and online at www.marianist.com/mvp.

Read the March 2008 issue of The Fulcrum, the newsletter of Marianist LIFE by Brian Reavey, national coordinator of Marianist LIFE.

NATIONAL RETREAT COMMISSION MEETS IN ST. LOUIS

The Marianist National Retreat Commission, from top, Sr. Gretchen Trautman, Bro. Bob Wiethorn, Sr. Mary Louise Foley, Fr. Jerry Chinchar, Bros. Sean Downing, Tom Jalbert, Jack Ventura and Tom Redmond, and Fr. Rudy Vela. Not present were Fr. Tim Dwyer, Bro. Bernie Stratman and Fr. Bill Meyer, the new chair of the commission.

The Marianist National Retreat Commission met in St. Louis for its annual meeting March 14 to March 16. The group worked on Province sponsored retreats for 2008 and 2009. Fr. Rudy Vela, outgoing chair of the commission, said, “Many thanks to our four outgoing commission members who made a great contribution with their dedication and hard work: Sr. Mary Louise Foley and Bros. Tom Redmond, Bernie Stratman and Bob Wiethorn.” Welcomed as new members of the commission were Sr. Gretchen Trautman, Fr. Tim Dwyer and Bros. Sean Downing and Tom Jalbert. Fr. Jerry Chinchar is ad hoc chair of the Liturgy Committee; Bro. Jack Ventura is liaison to the Office of Religious Life.

WEARIN O’ THE GREEN…

Enjoying some good, green fun at the West Pine Office St. Patrick’s Day luncheon in St. Louis are, kneeling, Joan Suda; standing, Bro. Tom Payne, Patti Reeg, Ruth Hinde, Dan Richter, Ann Mueller and Sue McKamely

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE OF THE SOUL OF . . .

Bro. François Marie Jestin (Province of France), 93, who died Feb. 15, 2008, in Créteil, France. May he rest in peace. Read Bro. François Marie’s obituary.

Please pray also for Carl Brueckner, Thomas Conran, Sheila Ernst, Alan Fitzpatrick, Sr. Jean Frances, CSJ, Fr. Ralph Haas, Carmen Salvador and Floyd Straubinger. Read more.

MARIA LAACH, GERMANY

Photo courtesy of Bro. Bob Resing, S.M. Bro. Bob's images are available for sale as note cards or prints. To order, visit www.resingart.com

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HEALING OF . . .

Bro. Ray Kane (Jackson Street, Hollywood, Fla.), who is recovering from a mild stroke.

Fr. Richard Kuhn (Baltimore), who is recovering from knee replacement surgery.

Bro. Ronald Luksic (Montgomery Road, Cincinnati), who is hospitalized with an infection.

Bro. Stanley Mathews (Mercy Siena, Dayton), who underwent a procedure to receive a pacemaker.

Fr. James McKay (Alumni Hall, Dayton), who will be receiving a pacemaker.

Fr. Thomas Schroer (Mercy Siena, Dayton), who is recovering from surgery.

Bro. Frank Smith (Mercy Siena, Dayton), who is recovering from heart surgery.

Please pray also for Mildred Betz and Sheryl Boyd Dansby. Read more.

WHO'S DOING WHAT. . .

Bro. Ray Fitz (Stonemill-Kiefaber, Dayton) has been named the “Scholar-Activist-in-Residence” at Cabrini College in Pennsylvania and will speak at the college March 25-29. His opening talk is “Advancing Justice & Community: Creating Community Partnerships at Catholic Colleges & Universities.” Bro. Ray is the Fr. Ferree Professor of Social Justice at the University of Dayton and executive director of the Association of Marianist Universities.

Congratulations to Fr. George Montague, whose latest book, Holy Spirit, Make Your Home in Me: Biblical Meditations on Receiving the Gift of the Holy Spirit, has already sold over 450 copies. It contains short meditations for the new outpouring of the Holy Spirit and is available from Catholic bookstores or from Fr. George, 1701 Alametos, San Antonio, TX 78201, gmontague@stmarytx.edu, $12.95, plus $2 postage.

Bro. Dan Klco (Stonemill-Kiefaber, Dayton) is mentioned in a March 10 story in the Dayton Daily News on finding ways to cut the price of textbooks. Read the story.

Fr. Larry Doersching (Fort Worth, Texas) published an article, “Fine Tuning the Work of a School Board,” in the winter 2007 Issue-Gram, the newsletter of the Department of Boards and Councils of Catholic Education of the NCEA. Read the article.

Fr. Jim Mifsud (San Jose, Calif.), pastor emeritus of Queen of Apostles Church in San Jose, is now on YouTube. Fr. Jim’s homilies and talks from his Advent and Lenten series have been made into videos. View the videos.

Bro. Bob Moriarty (Vernon, Conn.) appears in an article about small Christian communities in the March 2008 issue of “The Moriarty Clan.” The newsletter is a forum for news and information about people named Moriarty. Read the article.

UD GROUPS ENJOY GOVERNOR’S ISLAND FOR RETREATS

Fr. Jim Schimelpfening (back row, 2nd from left) directed a guided retreat with a University of Dayton group at Governor’s Island in Ohio. Governor’s Island is hosting seven retreat groups from UD during the second semester.

DISCERNMENT SUNDAY AT THE WEST HILLS COMMUNITY

At the Palm Sunday Mass, Fr. Jim Mueller, Bro. Tony Pistone, Kristin Firestone, Contact Paul Trozzi, Bro. LeRoy Viera, Contact Mike Chiuri and Fr. Dave Schuyler. Photos courtesy of Bro. Jim Wisecaver

The West Hills community hosted a “Discernment Sunday”on Palm Sunday. Guests included Kristin Firestone (campus ministry director at Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills, Calif.), Contacts Mike Chiuri and Paul Trozzi and Fr. Dave Schuyler, who was visiting from Cupertino, Calif. Fr. Jim Mueller was the celebrant.

Clockwise from top, Fr. Jim and Bro. Tony; Mike Chiuri; the blessing of the palms, and Fr. Dave

PEACE & JUSTICE UPDATE: Marianist Sharing Fund. On March 5, Bro. Jack Somerville (novitiate, Dayton) presented a $10,000 Marianist Sharing Fund check to the LEAD organization in Dayton. The funding will assist its efforts to create better public transportation and decrease crime and violence in certain areas of Dayton. Bro. Jack with Nikki Hogarth, LEAD organizer Israel Immersion Experience. SIGN UP NOW! May 31-June 10, 2008. Meet representatives of Palestinian and Israeli authorities. Speak with Catholic Relief Service workers and others working with Palestinians and Israelis. Talk with witnesses on both sides of the conflict. Find out more. Border Awareness Experience. SIGN UP NOW! El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, June 11-16, 2008. Meet representatives of the Border Patrol and Labor Rights workers in Juarez. Tour a maquiladora in Juarez. Speak with immigration specialists and undocumented migrants. Participants are invited to join Marianist Volunteer Program Steering Committee member and Lay Marianist Neomi D’Anda in commemorating her wedding at a Mexican/American celebration! Find out more.

MEEC AND MSJ STAFF WORK TO SAVE ASH TREES

Showing the effects of a native ash borer insect are MEEC Founder Bro. Don Geiger (far left), and MSJC staff members Steve Elrich, Bro. Jeff Sullivan and Bro. Jack Somerville. Photo courtesy of Tara Poling

On Feb. 28, the staff of the Marianist Environmental Education Center in Dayton hosted the staff of Mount St. John Facilities to discuss plans to combat the invasive Emerald Ash Borer, an insect that threatens native ash trees in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Approximately 25 percent of the Mount St. John woodlands and several of the large trees around the central campus are ashes.

REGISTER FOR MARIANIST ONLINE LEARNING COURSES

Patti Gehred, coordinator of the Virtual Learning and Curriculum Innovation for NACMS, reminds us that the last day to register for the spring courses is March 26. Read more.

NEW COMPUTER CENTRE OPENS AT OUR LADY OF NAZARETH

The DiCola/Pinto Computer Centre recently opened at Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya. The building was a gift of Vera DiCola of Cleveland and the Pinto family of Kalamazoo, Mich. The computers and generator came from Computers for Schools/Kenya and Len Shaefer, a 1966 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Cleveland. LEFT: Fr. Martin Solma, back, far right, in the computer lab; RIGHT: The new building. Photos courtesy of Fr. Martin

GOOD TO KNOW     March 21 Good Friday March 23 Blessed Easter March 25-28 NCEA Convention in Indianapolis March 26 The Annunciation of the Lord MORE OUT AND ABOUT. Read the upcoming travel schedule of members of the Provincial staff in St. Louis. PROVINCIAL OFFICE CLOSED. The Provincial Office in St. Louis will be closed on March 21, Good Friday. PERSONNEL CHANGES. Read the changes. Remember that personnel information on SM Connect (PORTAL) is updated on a regular basis. A PDF version of the Personnel Book is also available on the PORTAL under the “Personnel” link.

ALUMNI HALL COMMUNITY HOSTS VISITORS FROM RWANDA

Visitors from Rwanda pose with Marianists who served in Africa. Shown, seated, Bros. Bill Callahan and Ray Gohring; standing, Bro. Charles Gausling, Fr. Florent, O.F.M., Bishop Mbonyintege, Fr. Steve Tutas (who was visiting the community), Fr. Leonard, Jean-Baptiste and Bro. Dave Schmitz. Photo courtesy of Fr. John Putka

The Alumni Hall Community recently hosted visitors from Rwanda, including Bishop Smaragde Mbonyintege, of the Diocese of Kabgayi, Rwanda, and president of the Catholic University of Rwanda, Fr. Florent, O.F.M., and Jean-Baptiste, a Franciscan tertiary. Fr. Leonard, a priest of the Diocese of Kabgayi who is studying at Boston College, also visited to meet with his bishop. The bishop presided at a farewell community Mass and gave a moving tribute to the warm hospitality of the Alumni Hall community as well as to the Marianists and others at the University of Dayton.

FROM THE SCHOOLS . . . UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON has experienced a 37 percent increase in undergraduate applications in 2008, an increase six times higher than the national average of six percent, as reported by the National Association for College Admission Counseling. The increase is the result of a comprehensive marketing campaign on the part of UD. Read more. PURCELL MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL. On March 13, Novice Nicole Trahan and Contact Brian Myers were “Cavaliers for a Day” when they toured Purcell Marian to learn more about the school and its Marianist ministry. While visiting, they observed classes and met with students and teachers. Bro. Bob Jones, a teacher at Purcell Marian, with Contact Brian Myers and Novice Nicole Trahan. Photo courtesy of Bro. Bob CHAMINADE COLLEGE PREPARATORY participated in the first annual “Battle of the Cans” event March 9 in St. Louis to benefit Operation Food Search, a local food bank. Students from Chaminade performed at the event, which raised $1,171 and over 1,000 pounds of food.   Chaminade students performing at “Battle of the Cans.” ST. ANTHONY JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL in Maui collected over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society through a “Survivor’s Walk” event it participated in and a “Survivor’s Dinner” that the school sponsored. Members of the St. Anthony school community at the “Survivors Walk.”

AN EASTER REFLECTION…

Rome flower market by Bro. Bob Resing

HOW IS THE DATE OF EASTER DETERMINED?

Get out your calendar as Bro. John Samaha (Cupertino, Calif.) sheds some light on how the date of the Easter holiday is determined. Read more. Photo by Bro. Bob Resing of the Resurrection sculpture at the cathedral in Orvieto, Italy

RECORD ATTENDANCE AT CAPE MAY LATINO RETREAT

Almost 50 people participated in the Latino Family Retreat March 7 to March 9 at the Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May Point, N.J. The retreat was organized in conjunction with the Office of Latino Ministry in the Camden Diocese. Shown with the staff of the Latino Family Retreat are Bro. Ralph Neumann (seated, left); Bro. Jerry Sullivan (standing, left) and Fr. Ted Cassidy (standing, second from left). Contact Ben Pollicino, who is a Marianist intern at Cape May, is standing second from right. Photo courtesy of Anthony Fucci

NEWSLETTER CENTRAL

INDIA. Read the March 2008 newsletter from the District of India.

REDS. Read the February 2008 issue of the Ragpickers’ Education & Development Scheme newsletter.

GOVERNOR’S ISLAND. Read the Spring 2008 issue of the Governor’s Island newsletter.

GALLERY ST. JOHN. Read Gallery News, the newsletter of the Marianist Gallery at Mount St. John in Dayton.

MARIANIST SOCIAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE. Read the March 2008 issue of Justice Jottings, a newsletter from the MSJC.

MLNNA. Read the March 2008 issue of the Marianist Lay Network of North America newsletter.

HANGING WITH THE NOVICES IN RANCHI, INDIA

ABOVE: First year novices gather for an outing in February. Shown, front, are Novices Prince, Anil, Deepak and Pratap; back, Novices Chandra, Kiran, Santosh, Amit and driver Kalam; BELOW: Novices enjoy a day in Jamshedpur, a small town three hours from the novitiate in Ranchi, India. Photos courtesy of Fr. Nicky D’Cruz

ALIVE MAGAZINE

The Spring 2008 issue of ALIVE magazine is mailing this week. All members of the Marianist Family are welcome to subscribe to ALIVE. E-mail Ann Mueller to add your name to our subscription list. Send us the names of friends/family who would also enjoy receiving ALIVE.

JUST ONE MORE...

Captain Jessica Sherwen, Marianist Family Retreat Center program director, gets in character to present the theme for the 2008 Summer Family Retreat Program in Cape May Point, N.J. The 2008 theme is “Discover the Way.”

PROVINCE BIRTHDAYS

Editor's Note: If you would like your e-mail address eliminated from FamilyOnline for security reasons, please e-mail Ann Mueller.

March

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VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT www.marianist.com

Editor: Joan Suda; assistant: Ann Mueller. This biweekly e-mail newsletter produced by the Society of Mary features news about the Society of Mary (SM), Daughters of Mary Immaculate (FMI) and lay Marianists. Bro. Stephen Glodek, SM, provincial; Fr. Jim Fitz, SM, assistant provincial. Read the 2008 publication schedule and deadlines. Read hints about submitting photos and copy. NEWS: We'll include news of travels, health updates, prayer requests, community celebrations, professional accomplishments, birthdays, and whatever personal or community news you'd like to share. Send news, digital photos and comments and suggestions to Diane Guerra at dguerra@sm-usa.org and use "FamilyOnline" as your subject line. TECHNICAL PROBLEMS: If you're not receiving this newsletter in the proper format, with proper spacing and photographs and art appearing, please let us know and we'll try to find a solution. If we can't, we'll put you on our "NOTIFY ONLY" list. CHANGE IN E-MAIL ADDRESS: Send to Ann Mueller at amueller@sm-usa.org. NOTE TO DIRECTORS: Please print this newsletter and post or distribute to brothers who do not have e-mail. BACK ISSUES/SEARCH: Visit www.marianist.com/fol. SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: Visit http://www.marianist.com/subscribe.htm. Remember: you can search the archived issues of FamilyOnline at www.marianist.com/fol. Type in the word(s) you're looking for, open the issue, pull down the "Edit" bar and click on "Find on This Page," which will take you to the exact spot you need.

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