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BRO. PLOEGER INAUGURATED AS NINTH CUH PRESIDENT

At the investiture ceremony, Dr. Daniel Curran, Bro. Ray Fitz, Bro. Bernie Ploeger, Dr. Charles Cotrell and Provincial Stephen Glodek

Several hundred guests and Marianist Family members attended the weekend inauguration festivities for Bro. Bernard Ploeger, who was installed as the ninth president of Chaminade University of Honolulu on Saturday, Sept. 19. The event began Friday with a free concert on campus. On Saturday, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at St. Patrick Church. The investiture ceremony followed at the Dr. Richard T. Mamiya Theatre on campus with a reception in Keoho Plaza. Special guests in attendance included Provincial Stephen Glodek, Bro. Ray Fitz (executive director of the Association of Marianist Universities), Dan Curran (president of the University of Dayton) and Charles Cotrell (president of St. Mary’s University). The Right Reverend Clarence “Larry” Silva, bishop of the diocese of Honolulu, also attended, as well as various government, school and community leaders. In lieu of gifts, Bro. Bernie asked that contributions go to The President Mary (Sue) Civille Wesselkamper Endowed Scholarship. Read more about Bro. Bernie and view a television news story about the event.

CASA MARIA WELCOMES TWO INTO ASPIRANCY PROGRAM

Fr. Tim Dwyer reads the Rite of Acceptance to Norman and Andrew

On Sept. 5, Aspirants Norman Capinpin and Andrew Caruso were officially received into the Marianist aspirancy program at the Casa Maria community in San Antonio during the Rite of Acceptance at a celebration for the feast of Mary, Queen of Apostles. View a video of the ceremony and more photos. Read a reflection from the feast day celebration.

Aspirants Andrew (left) and Norman assist Fr. Tim with planning for upcoming community liturgies.

BROTHERS ATTEND NGO CONFERENCE IN MEXICO CITY

At the conference, Bros. Rigoberto Martínez Hernández, Esteban Reyes Durán and Ed Longbottom. Photos courtesy of Bro. Ed

Bros. Ed Longbottom (district superior), Esteban Reyes Durán and Rigoberto Martínez Hernández of the District of Mexico attended a three-day NGO conference in Mexico City called “Disarmament Now, Working for Peace and Development.” Bro. Steve O’Neil of the Marianist NGO at the United Nations arranged for the brothers to attend. Highlights of the conference included inaugural addresses by Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the UN, and Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and founder of the international campaign for the prohibition of land mines. Sessions covered issues relating to nuclear arms and weapons, violence, political unrest, poverty and security issues in Latin America.

Rigoberto and Esteban with Masako Toki, director of programs at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and Alexander A. Pikayev, director of the Department of Disarmament in the Institute for Economy and International Relations in Moscow

CATCHING UP WITH THE OHIO ASPIRANTS

Aspirants Hugo Bastida, Nhan Nguyen and Brandon Paluch after their conversation about Mary with Fr. Tom Stanley at the Mercy Siena healthcare center in Dayton on the feast of the Holy Name of Mary. Courtesy of Bro. Charles Wanda

MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR MARIANIST DAY OF PRAYER

Our Lady of Peace of Fatima shrine

The Marianist World Day of Prayer will be celebrated Oct. 11, 2009, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace of Fatima in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The event is an opportunity for Marianist communities to pray and join in a unique international event. Read more about the event in English and Spanish. In addition, view the prayer service for the event and a PowerPoint presentation for download that can be customized for use with your community.

PRIEST TO BE CANONIZED HAS MANY MARIANIST TIES

Blessed Damien de Veuster, a missionary priest and devoted servant of patients with Hansen's disease (leprosy) in Hawai’i, will be canonized by Pope Benedict XVI Oct. 11 at the Vatican. Fr. Damien arrived in Honolulu from Belgium as a seminarian. He completed studies for the priesthood at the College of Ahuimanu (the site would later become Saint Louis School in Honolulu). He will be posthumously inducted in the SLC Gallery of Distinguished Achievers on Oct. 13. Fr. Damien celebrated the welcome Mass for the first eight Marianists who arrived in Honolulu in 1883. Bro. Jim Dods, his father, Chester A. Dods, Sr., and his uncle, James Archibald Dods, and the late Bro. Franklin Pao also have ties to the history of Fr. Damien. Read more.

ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY HOSTS INTERFAITH FAIR

At the fair, Bro. Leo Willett, Fr. Rudy Vela and Sr. Gretchen Trautman. Courtesy of Bro. Brian Halderman

On Sept. 18, feast day of the Marianist Spanish Martyrs, the University Ministry department at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio hosted an Interfaith Fair. A variety of faith groups attended, including Christian denominations, Muslim and Jewish traditions. The Marianist vocation ministry set up a booth to honor the Spanish Martyrs and help promote vocations. Several Marianist religious participated.

RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES . . .

The Marianists were noted as an example of a religious community that does especially well with vocation ministy in an interview with Bro. Paul Bednarczyk, CSC, executive director of the National Religious Vocations Conference, in the Sept. 14 issue of National Catholic Reporter. Read the story.

An article in the Sept. 28 issue of America magazine discusses how author Paul Wilkes, who wrote “In Due Season, A Catholic Life,” credits a Marianist brother with introducing him to the writings of Thomas Merton, who greatly influenced his life. Read the article.

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

LEFT: Bro. Norbert (right) with Charles Kasambara in Eastern Africa; RIGHT: Bro. Norbert recent

Bro. Norbert Sturm (Mercy Siena, Dayton), 91, who died Sept. 11, 2009. May he rest in peace. Bro. Norbert was a teacher for almost 60 years. At age 65, he went to Eastern Africa to teach English to village children in Karonga, Malawi. He served as a missionary in Eastern Africa for 28 years. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 19 at Queen of Apostles in Dayton. Fr. Martin Solma was the presider and homilist. Burial was Sept. 22 at the Marianist section of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery in Baltimore. Read Bro. Norbert’s obituary.

Please pray also for George Connors, Nora Duffy, Mimi (Miriam) Focke, Frank McGrath, Alma Paylor, Donna Pistone, Sandra Pistone, Mary Taormina and the uncle of Bro. Alex Toppo. Read more.

RIVERWALK, SAN ANTONIO

Photo courtesy of Bro. Ed Loch

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE HEALING OF . . .

Fr. Michael Barber (District of Mexico)

Bro. Mike Sullivan (Casa Maria, San Antonio)

Bro. Robert Wade (Cupertino, Calif.)

Please pray also for Dean Bill Hoben, Sam Pera, Lydia Saenger, George Smith, Wesley Toudouze and Ray Vuylsteke. Read more.

QUE PASA? AT CASA

LEFT: Bro. Dennis Bautista (far left) and Aspirant Norman Capinpin provide music for a celebration of Our Lady of Sorrows on Sept. 15. Aspirant Andrew Caruso is seated far right. View a video and read a reflection from the celebration; RIGHT: Provincial Stephen Glodek (left) visits with Bros. Tim Pieprzyca and Mike Sullivan on Labor Day

A FEW PEOPLE MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN NAIROBI

In Nairobi, Maria del Pilar Lis-Vinuales, Francisca Anyango (head teacher) and Chris Hill

Chris and Allen Hill have been supporters of Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School in Nairobi, Kenya, for many years. Allen is the former CEO of Dayton Power and Light and University of Dayton board member. Chris, through an initial contact from Bro. Ray Fitz in 2003, has been to Nairobi 18 times in the last six years. The Hills fund the daily porridge program for the younger students and the annual seventh grade field trip. This year 184 seventh grade students visited the Great Rift Valley and Crescent Island in Lake Naivasha, courtesy of Chris and Allen. Another OLN volunteer, Maria del Pilar Lis-Vinuales, was a teacher at the Marianist school in Valencia, Spain, when she made contact with the Marianists in the District of Eastern Africa.  She is in Kenya for a year helping at OLN and the Ujamaa Family Centre. Chris, Allen and Maria are examples of how a few people can make a huge difference in the lives of needy children.

OLN seventh grade students at Lake Naivasha on Sept. 16. Photos courtesy of Eric Mogire

WHO'S DOING WHAT. . .

Fr. Bill speaking at the orientation

Fr. Bill Meyer (San Antonio) was featured in the July 10 issue of the Hawaii Catholic Herald conducting a two-day orientation for international priests who serve the diocese of Honolulu. The focus of the orientation was pastoral care and accompaniment. Chaminade University, in conjunction with the Oblate School of Theology’s International Priests Institute, will present a second orientation session in November on American and local Asian culture, the American Church, parish structures and finances, as well as current Catholic social issues and concerns.

Fr. John Leies (Marianist Residence, San Antonio) presided at Mass Sept. 17 with the Casa Maria community and approximately 40 St. Mary’s University students. Mass is celebrated every Thursday evening at 8:30 p.m. in Founder’s Hall. Following Mass the group enjoyed refreshments in the residence hall courtyard.

Fr. John presiding at Mass

Bro. Bob Donovan (Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati) is featured in an article in the alumni magazine of the University of Toledo. Bro. Bob attended the Medical College of Toledo which is now part of UT. The article discusses Bro. Bob’s medical services for the homeless in Cincinnati. Read the article.

Bro. Howard Hughes (Cupertino, Calif.) was commissioned to write “Ring Out Our Joy” for Cardinal DiNardo as a processional for his installation in Houston. Listen to the song as performed by noted composer and conductor Richard Proulx and his choir in Chicago.

Bro. Joe Kamis (Desales Crossings, Cincinnati) was quoted in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati newsletter about two schools that achieved Blue Ribbon status. “I am extremely proud of our schools which, year after year, continue to grab a disproportionate share of the Blue Ribbon School awards,” said Bro. Joe, superintendent of Catholic Schools. “Only 50 private schools won the award this year in the nation, and only six in Ohio, and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati won two of these.”

Isabella Moyer, president of the International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities, writes about “Women in the Church and in the World” in her MLC blog. Read the blog post.

A DEEPLY-ROOTED TRADITION IN CUPERTINO

The brothers at the Marianist Center in Cupertino held their annual “Root Beer Day” tribute to the late Bro. Anthony Beyer, who was a big root beer fan. LEFT: Bro. Joseph Nu'uanu with his root beer of choice; RIGHT: Decisions, decisions for Bro. Pat McMahon! Photos courtesy of Nancy Romano

THE LUNCH BUNCHERS OF CASA MARIA

A Lay Marianist group of St. Mary’s University employees gathered with Bro. Mike Sullivan for lunch Sept. 11 at the Casa Maria community in San Antonio. The group, known as the “lunch bunchers,” includes, seated, Yolanda Ramirez and Amanda Montemayor; and, standing, Gloria Montalvo, Cecelia Arias and Rosario Gonzalez.

PEACE & JUSTICE UPDATE: Marianist Social Justice Collaborative. At the meeting, seated, Pati Krasensky, Carol Weiss and Linda Flores-Tober; standing, Manuel Sandoval, Arturo Alvarez, Carlos Flores and Fr. Ted Cassidy. Courtesy of Jim Vogt The MSJC Racial & Immigrant Justice Issue Team met Sept. 11 to Sept. 13 in Camden, N.J. The team members assessed their progress in the past year, especially with regard to the need for comprehensive immigration reform legislation, and developed plans for the coming year.   GREEN TIPS. The Mount Saint John Green Team in Dayton offers several tips for those who soon will be turning off their air conditioners and turning up their thermostats. Read Green Tips

WHY NOT TAKE A MARIANIST ONLINE COURSE?

FROM THE SCHOOLS . . . OFFICE OF EDUCATION. Read the quarterly update from the Marianist Office of Education by Bro. Ed Brink, assistant for education. ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY. President Charles L. Cotrell announced that St. Mary’s has successfully achieved its recruitment budget goals for the 2009 fall incoming class of freshman and transfer students and increased returning student retention rates. “Our strong recruitment and retention numbers show that the academic quality of a St. Mary’s education is a valued asset, even in these tough economic times,” he said. Read more.    ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY MARIANIST LEADERSHIP PROGRAM RETREAT Members of the Marianist Leadership Program gathered at St. Mary’s University Sept. 11-12 for Fall Retreat. The young servant-leaders put their faith into action, embodying the Marianist spirit of service and integrating faith into culture. Sr. Gretchen Trautman is the program coordinator. Photo courtesy of Fr. Tim Dwyer NOLAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. Welcome to Cathy Buckingham, the new principal of Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, Texas. She taught math at NCHS for eight years and served the last five as math department chair. She has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University and a master's in administrative science from Johns Hopkins University. SAINT LAURENCE COLLEGE, DUBLIN. John Carr will serve as the principal of Saint Laurence College (Dublin) during the coming school year. John has been the director of the Seventh Year program at the school and religious education coordinator. Before joining the staff at Saint Laurence, John served as director of religious education for the diocese of Dublin. Our best wishes to John.  CHAMINADE-MADONNA HIGH SCHOOL. According to The Miami Herald's archives, Chaminade-Madonna’s 83-0 victory over Pompano Beach represents the most points scored by any Broward County football team since 1951. The Lions' margin of victory is believed to be one of the largest in county history. The victory story was on the front page of Yahoo. CM received e-mails from all over the country that were supportive of the coach and players.

ARCHBISHOP LELE VISITS MOMBASA PARISH

LEFT: Archbishop Lele confirming the parishioners; RIGHT: The new grotto at St. Martin Parish. Courtesy of Bro. Bill Schlosser

On August 30, Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa, Kenya, visited St. Martin Parish to confirm 111 parishioners. Six students from the Marianist Development Project were among those confirmed. The archbishop also officially opened the Holy Family garden and grotto and shared lunch with the confirmandi and guests. The Marianists run St. Martin Parish.

FAMILY ADVENT RETREAT OFFERED AT TECABOCA

Join lay and religious members of the Marianist Family for a family weekend retreat Dec. 4 to Dec 6 at Tecaboca in Mountain Home, Texas. Take a break from the holiday madness to reflect on the true meaning of Advent, family faith and family bonds. Find out more and view a video from the Casa Maria community’s recent visit to Tecaboca.

MARIANIST LAY COMMUNITIES GATHER AT EWA BEACH

Approximately 40 Lay Marianists from eight different MLC communities/cyber communities in Hawai’i gathered Sept. 12 for their annual get-together. Bro. Jerry Bommer (standing front, gray shirt) and Fr. Ken Templin (seated, red shirt) attended, along with Bros. Dennis Schmitz and Luis Gamboa (not pictured). Courtesy of Lisa Vega

NEWSLETTER CENTRAL

MLNNA. Read the September 2009 issue of MLNNA E-News, the newsletter of the Marianist Lay Network of North America.

MSJC. Read the September 2009 issue of Justice Jottings, the newsletter of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative.

JUST ONE MORE . . .

Camping out Cupertino-style! On Monday evenings the brothers at the Marianist Center in Cupertino, Calif., enjoy a backyard campfire complete with marshmallows for roasting. Shown (left) Fr. Jim Imhof and Bro. Jim Leahy and Bro. Tom Deasy (green vest), Fr. Bob Hertweck and Bro. Bill Bolts. Courtesy of Nancy Romano

PROVINCE BIRTHDAYS

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

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 2009 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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