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FIRST MEETING FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE

The Strategic Planning Committee, front, Bro. Jim Burkholder, Fr. Steve Tutas and Pat Stephens (liaision to the Provincial); back, Bros. Francisco González, Jack Ventura and Bob Hoppe; Tony Fitzgerald (facilitator); Bro. Ray Fitz and Fr. Jim Tobin; not shown, Bro. Bob Jones

In its first face-to-face meeting June 16-17 in St. Louis, the Province Strategic Planning Committee came together in prayer and focused conversation.

The Strategic Planning process will assist brothers in the U.S. Province in deciding how they will carry out their apostolic mission and the mission of the Province over the next 10 years. Input from all Marianists brothers and Province ministry leadership will be used in formulating a plan that is intentional and sustaining through 2020.

"This process is about allowing the Spirit to work through each brother and provide energy, hope and excitement for the future," said facilitator Tony Fitzgerald. "We're working with intention rather than letting things slip away. The plan is centered in the mission and the vision of the Province."

The committee developed a timeline for all activities associated with the Strategic Planning process through March 2010. The group is developing a process for gathering input from brothers and ministries to identify critical issues and goals.

PERSONNEL NEWS

Congratulations to Bro. Bob Metzger who will join the staff of the National Religious Retirement Office in Washington, D.C., as assistant director of planning and education, effective Aug. 25, 2008. Bro. Bob has volunteered as a consultant for NRRO and the National Association for Treasurers of Religious Institutes since 1987.

Our best wishes to Bro. Tom Payne (Maryland Ave., St. Louis) who has accepted a position as safety officer at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Bro. Tom will begin his new position in August. Aloha Bro. Tom!

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ANNOUNCES DIRECTORS Congratulations to the following brothers who have accepted three-year director assignments. The assignments are effective Aug. 15, 2008. We pray for their ministry. Bro. Reinaldo Berríos, San Juan, Puerto Rico Bro. Joe Grieshaber, Maryland Ave., St. Louis Fr. Bob Hackel, Fort Worth, Texas Fr. Tim Kenney, Curé of Ars, St. Louis Bro. Joe Markel, Marycliff, Eureka, Mo. Bro. Steve O’Neil, Rockaway Park, N.Y. Bro. Don Smith, Meyer Hall, Dayton Bro. Alex Tuss, Sawmill, Dayton Fr. Oscar Vasquez, Waldron, St. Louis Bro. Ed Zamierowski, Washington/Franklin Streets, Dayton SECOND TERM Bro. Norb Karpfinger, East St. Louis, Ill. Bro. Tony Pistone, West Hills, Calif. Fr. John Putka, Alumni Hall, Dayton Fr. Tom Schroer, Mercy Siena, Dayton Fr. Jim Tobin, Our Lady of the Pillar, St. Louis Fr. Rich Wosman, Woodlawn, San Antonio Bro. Brian Zampier, Marybrook, St. Louis THIRD TERM Bro. Jack Dempsey, Marcella Road, Cleveland ACTING DIRECTOR, ONE YEAR Bro. Bernie Ploeger, Marianist Hall, Honolulu The Provincial Council thanks those who have completed their service as directors: Fr. Larry Doersching, Fort Worth, Texas Bro. Jim Droste, Marycliff, Eureka, Mo. Bro. Francisco González, San Juan, Puerto Rico Fr. Paul Landolfi, Rockaway Park, N.Y. Bro. Gene Meyerpeter, Curé of Ars, St. Louis Fr. Jack McGrath, Washington St., Dayton Bro. Ron Overman, Meyer Hall, Dayton Bro. Louis Pinckert, Waldron, St. Louis

CELEBRATING TWO WAYS: FR. GEORGE’S 50TH; BRO. STEVE’S 60TH

FR. JOE KOZAR LEADS RETREAT FOR PERPETUAL PROFESSED

Fr. Joe Kozar (back, in gold vestment) with perpetually professed brothers from the District of India. Also shown, front, Fr. D’Cruz Nicholas (striped shirt) and Bro. Darwin Joseph (far right); standing, Bro. Delmar Jorn (far left), Fr. Dave Fleming (striped shirt), Fr. Pragasam T., district superior (center), Bro. Marianus Bilung (to the right of Fr. Joe) and Bro. Jim Fitzgibbons (far right). Photos courtesy of Fr. Joe

In early July, Fr. Joe Kozar (Alumni Hall, Dayton) led 40 perpetually professed brothers from the District of India on a retreat at the Bethel Prayer Centre in Guwahati, India. Fr. Joe gave presentations on Mary’s significance in the Scriptures and Blessed Chaminade. While in India, Fr. Joe also visited the novitiate community in Ranchi and the aspirancy and scholasticate communities in Deepahalli. Fr. Joe was a guest at Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand. Bro. Tom Oldenski and Fr. Bob Bouffier are teaching at Assumption his summer.

LEFT: At the retreat, Bros. A. Arockia Doss, Kuldeep Ekka and Rajesh Kumar Lakra; RIGHT: Fr. Joe with Anand Prakash Kujur (director of the scholasticate)

MUSP PROGRAM IS THRIVING AT PURCELL MARIAN

MVP COMMISSIONING CEREMONY SET FOR AUGUST

Dan Richter, coordinator of the Marianist Volunteer Program, invites all members of the Marianist Family in the St. Louis area to join in the commissioning celebration of the 2008-2009 Marianist volunteers on Sat., Aug. 2. Mass will begin at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Pillar Church in Creve Coeur, Mo. A social will follow in the parish center. Please RSVP to Ruth Pera, assistant program coordinator, by e-mail or call 314. 533.1207. The volunteers will be serving in St. Louis and Karonga, Malawi.

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

Bro. Bill, early years

Bro. Bill, recent

Bro. Bill McCall (Cupertino, Calif.), 81, who died July 9, 2008. May he rest in peace. Bro. Bill taught English and was an administrator in schools in the former Province of the Pacific for over 30 years. He initiated the High Sierras Mountaineering Program at Chaminade College Preparatory School in Canoga Park and West Hills, Calif., and at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Francisco. He also was a moderator for forensics and speech and debate. A Mass of Christian Burial is being celebrated this evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Marianist community in Cupertino, Calif. Fr. George Cerniglia is presiding and representing the Provincial Council. Fr. Ted Ley is the homilist. Burial is July 16 at 11 a.m. at Gate of Heaven cemetery in Los Altos, Calif. Read Bro. Bill’s obituary.

Fr. José Antonio Romeo (Province of Madrid), 83, who died July 5, 2008, in Madrid, Spain. May he rest in peace. Fr. José Antonio's obituary will appear in the next issue of FamilyOnline.

Please pray also for Virginia Boehnlein, Mike Cammarata, George Dofing, Wilbert Ferguson, Elsie Helfrich, Alvena McGhee and Raymond Metzger. Read more.

A VIEW FROM THE HILLS OF ASSISI, ITALY

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. Elmer Dunsky (Cupertino, Calif.)

Fr. Jim Mueller (West Hills, Calif.)

Fr. Kip Stander (Casa Maria, San Antonio)

Please pray also for Porfirioh Berríos, Teresa Braier, Helen Buckley, Sophia Koenig and Eileen LoDato. Read more.

BLESSINGS ABOUND FOR BRO. BOB’S WYD TRIP

Bro. Bob Jones (center) receives a blessing from members of the DeSales Crossings community and St. Francis de Sales Parish in Cincinnati.

On July 6, members of the DeSales Crossings community and St. Francis de Sales Parish gathered for a blessing and commissioning ceremony for Bro. Bob Jones, who is attending World Youth Day July 15 to July 20 in Sydney, Australia. Fr. John Manahan led the assembly in prayer and gave a blessing created by Bro. Jack Ventura, Province World Youth Day coordinator. After the celebration, the group enjoyed brunch at the Chapel Street house. Happy travels to Bro. Bob! Read about other pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati who are attending World Youth Day, including some traveling with the Marianist LIFE program.

WHO'S DOING WHAT. . .

Fr. Jim Fitz’s trip to the District of India in June kept him busy: He facilitated the District Chapter at the Nirmal Deep novitiate in Ranchi, visited the REDS program in Ranchi and Bangalore, and preached a retreat for 29 temporary professed at St. Theodore’s Retreat Centre in Ooty in the heart of the Nilgiri Hills. (Some temporary professed had university exams and made a later retreat preached by Fr. José Ramón Sebastian.) Bro. Xavier Raj handled the retreat arrangements. After the retreat, Fr. Jim gave a short workshop to brothers considering an application for perpetual vows.

Bros. Bill Grundish and Bob Wiethorn (DeSales Crossings, Cincinnati) were featured in a July 8 story in the Cincinnati Enquirer about their work with adult education programs at Mercy Connections in Cincinnati. Read the article.

Bro. Bill with student Lucille Mulholland. Photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer

Bro. Chas picking hot peppers

A story about Bro. Chas Lohrenz (Marianist Residence, San Antonio) and the vegetables he grows to help feed the needy in San Antonio appeared in the July 4 issue of Today’s Catholic. Read the story.

Fr. Chris Conlon (Chambers Street, Dayton) is featured in an article in the July 10 issue of the University of Dayton Campus News. The article discusses Fr. Chris’ work on “Living Liturgy,” a book that assists homilists. Read the story.

Congratulations to Sr. Paulette Patritti, director of the Marianist Retreat & Conference Center in Eureka, Mo., who recently celebrated her 50th jubilee as a Dominican Sister. Sr. Paulette has ministered at the MRCC since 1993. Our best wishes on this special anniversary!

Fr. Roland Bunda (left) and Fr. James Graham preside at the celebration Mass

An article about the farewell celebration in June for the Marianists in the Diocese of Monterey in California appeared in the July 2008 issue of the diocese’s Observer publication. Read the article.

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON PROGRAM GROWS IN DEEPAHALLI

Bro. Darwin Joseph (back, second from right) and Fr. Dave Fleming (back, third from right) with students and staff members of the University of Dayton program in Deepahalli, India. The program is designed for young people entering religious communities who are interested in ministering in India. Coursework is offered for a bachelor’s degree in either philosophy or sociology, with a minor in religious studies. There are 29 students currently enrolled in the program. Photo courtesy of Bro. Darwin

July 24-27 MEC Summer Workshop, Dayton July 27-Aug. 8 MVP Orientation, St. Louis MORE GOOD TO KNOW FREE CAMERA EQUIPMENT. Bro. Louis Pinckert (Waldron, St. Louis) has cameras and lenses (film, not digital) to give away. Contact him for details. ALIVE MAGAZINE . The latest issue of ALIVE magazine is in the process of being distributed. E-mail Ann Mueller for additional copies. FAMILY ONLINE. The next issue of FamilyOnline will be Aug. 5, 2008. HAVE YOU VISITED THE FAMILY ONLINE ARCHIVE? Did you know that FamilyOnline is archived online? Just go to www.marianist.com/fol to search any issue since November 2002. Type in the word(s) you're searching for and then click on the issue(s) that appear. Once you open an issue, go to "edit" and then "find on this page." BLOGS. Read the latest from our Marianist bloggers. Bro. Eugene Frank (Cupertino, Calif.), Marianist Resources Fr. Bert Buby (Stonemill-Kiefaber, Dayton), Scriptural Reflections

NEW BOOK CHRONICLES HISTORY OF CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Bro. Herb Janson (left) and Deacon Pat Cunningham, principal of Central Catholic High School (right), present the new “History of Central Catholic High School” to Archbishop José H. Gomez.

In 1852, 16 years after the battle of the Alamo, four Marianists traveled the dusty roads of Texas by stagecoach to bring education to the tiny settlement called San Antonio de Bejar. The first school was established in an old livery stable on the southwest corner of Military Plaza. Classes began on Aug. 25, 1852, with 12 students. From these modest roots grew Central Catholic High School and St. Mary's University in San Antonio.

A newly published hardbound book called "A History of Central Catholic High School," written by the late Bro. Martin "Mac" McMurtrey and Bro. Herb Janson and updated by Fr. Joe Tarrillion and Deacon Pat Cunningham, chronicles the challenges the school has endured over the past 156 years such as floods, a polio epidemic and economic hardships. Order the book. Read more from the San Antonio News-Express.

FROM THE SCHOOLS NOLAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL in Fort Worth, Texas, has been voted the best private school in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram 2008 Readers’ Choice Awards. On average, 99 percent of Nolan students go on to college. In 2008, the school received over $7.2 million in scholarships. Nolan’s 35-year-old ecology program is the longest running in the nation. Congratulations to the Nolan Catholic community!

MARIANIST CENTER IN PHILLY GOES GLOBAL WITH WORKSHOP

As part of the workshop, participants joined the worldwide "Fair Trade Coffee Break" to show their solidarity with efforts to promote Fair Trade coffee. Shown with the workshop participants are Pati Krasensky (kneeling, second from left), Jim Vogt (kneeling, center), Bro. Steve O’Neil (back, second from left) and Fr. Ted Cassidy (back, red sweater). Photos courtesy of Marie Wyman

Jim Vogt, director of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative, facilitated a workshop “Think Globally, Act Locally” on May 10 at the Marianist Center in Philadelphia. The workshop, which focused on how to be a more responsible and effective global citizen, was co-sponsored by the MSJC Anti-Racism Team and NACMS, Philadelphia.

Jim Vogt dreaming globally

A TRIP TO TECABOCA IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

Bro. Jim Wisecaver recently traveled to TECABOCA, the Marianist retreat center in Ingram, Texas. While there, he visited with Novice Ray Dominguez who was assisting with the summer camp programs. According to Bro. Jim, the name TECABOCA is not Indian, as many people think. “It is the first two letters of Texas Catholic Boys Camp,” he said. View Bro. Jim’s photos from TECABOCA.

PLAN A GETAWAY AT THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY LIVING CENTER

Marilynn Shackelford, director of the Christian Family Living Center on Topsail Island in North Carolina, invites individuals, friends and families to enjoy the ocean at the CFL in July or August at the following rates: single room-$ 40 per night; double room-$ 80 per night; and family room-$100 per night. A retreat program and meals are not part of the package. E-mail Marilynn or call 910.328.1584 for reservations. In early July, the CFL announced that due to financial issues, the buildings of the CFL – which have housed Marianist Family Ministries, Inc. since 1978 – are being sold. The CFL center will close on Sept. 15, 2008. The ministry, however, will continue. Details on the new ministry programs will be announced at a later date.

CAPE MAY OFFERS BROTHERS WARM WELCOME TO AMERICA

The Marianist Family Retreat Center in Cape May Point, N.J., proved to be the perfect spot to introduce Bros. Bhaskar Gallelli (front, center) and Rajesh Kumar Kandulna (behind Bhaskar) of the District of India to America. In early July the brothers were visiting the U.S. for the first time and attended one of the family programs at Cape May. Shown with the brothers are Anthony Fucci, (third from left) retreat center director, Aspirant Joe Janosik (back, second from right), Fr. Ted Cassidy (back, far right) and Jessica Sherwen (front, second from right), retreat center program director. Photo courtesy of Anthony Fucci

NEWSLETTER CENTRAL

INDIA. Read the July 2008 issue of the newsletter of the District of India.

REDS. Read the latest issue of the newsletter of the Ragpickers’ Education and Development Scheme.

TRIBUTE TO MARTYRS IS A GROUP EFFORT

Pictures of the Marianist Martyrs created by Sister Durie Kim, FMI, and framed by Fr. Larry Doersching were placed in the parlor at the brothers' residence at Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, Texas, by Fr. Larry and Bro. Rich Villa. Photo courtesy of Bro. Louis Ernst

JUST ONE MORE...

Bro. Brian Zampier is perched on the ”Cat Head Totem” which is part of the exhibit by artist Niki de Saint Phalle (1930–2002) at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Photo courtesy of Bro. Don Smith

PROVINCE BIRTHDAYS

JULY

AUGUST

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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