Fr. Gene Contadino Assumes Role as Spiritual Director of Marianist Mission
“I’m following in some big footsteps,” said Fr. Gene Contadino, who became the spiritual director of the Marianist Mission in February.
Fr. Pat Tonry, who recently retired, has held the position for the last 14 years. “Besides being a faithful friend, Fr. Pat has been a special mentor of mine,” said Fr. Gene. “He has shown me, by his example, what it means to be a Marianist cleric. It is a blessing to walk behind him.”
The role of spiritual director of the Mission has evolved and expanded since the Mission began in 1960. Started as a Mass card ministry, its main purpose was to support the prayer and faith lives of believers. Over time, the Mission also became a means whereby donors could support Marianist ministries and the priests, brothers and sisters who serve them.
In addition to leading Mass once a week for employees and supporting the work of the Spiritual Alliance, Fr. Gene prays with people who have submitted their intentions to the Mission, providing support via phone, mail or through the Internet.
He also offers a nurturing presence to the 30 employees who staff the Marianist Mission, said Linda Hayes, director. “We are thrilled to have Fr. Gene join our Mission team and provide spiritual direction for this special ministry.”
Marianists Host Farewell Tribute at St. Anthony Parish in Maui
On May 23, the Marianists celebrated a Pentecost Mass and farewell event to honor the Marianist brothers and priests who have served St. Anthony Parish in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii.
On July 1, 2021, they will return the pastoral care of St. Anthony Parish to the Diocese of Honolulu and close the Marianist community on the island. The following Marianists who recently resided on the island will be transitioning to new communities in the Province: Frs. Roland Bunda and Sylverius Kerketta, and Bros. Fred Silbereis, David Quigley and Bro. Frank (Paco) Gomes. A couple of months ago, Bro. Tom Spring left for Cupertino after many years on the island.
A Marianist Community has been present on the island of Maui since 1883, serving the St. Anthony Catholic Community, which includes the parish of more than 900 families, and St. Anthony School, serving students from pre-K to 12. The Marianists have staffed the parish since 1976.
Earlier this year, the Marianist Provincial Council decided to close the community and withdraw from the parish due to its aging and declining number of priests and brothers. Still, the Society of Mary will maintain a significant presence on Maui through its ongoing sponsorship of the school and a committed Marianist Lay presence.
“St. Anthony Parish has a special place in our hearts,” said Provincial Fr. Oscar Vasquez. “Closing the community and withdrawing from the administration of the parish has been a difficult decision, but we are thankful for our many years of sharing the rich island tradition and culture. We have also been blessed by vocations to the Marianists from Maui and by the warm welcome and hospitality of this wonderful parish.”
A Marianist Moment
By Bro. David Betz
The Feast of Pentecost
During my time as a coordinator of Christian Initiation of Adults, whenever the Feast of Pentecost was the topic of the formation session, I would tell the candidates that we are people of the Spirit. It is the action of the Holy Spirit that enables us to believe in Jesus and his Paschal Mystery. The Spirit gives us the ability to have this faith since we are not the first generation of Christian believers such as the apostles and the early disciples of Jesus. It is the Spirit that allows us to be the descendants of this apostolic tradition. Our call is to be open to the Holy Spirit so that we can be as bold as the apostles in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. And as members of the Family of Mary instilled by our Blessed Founders, this sharing of the Good News is demonstrated by proclaiming Jesus Christ, Son of God, become Son of Mary for the salvation of all.
In The News
Archdiocese of Cincinnati Bicentennial Publication Includes History of Society of Mary
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is celebrating its 200th anniversary in June. To celebrate the bicentennial, The Catholic Telegraph is featuring events and people who played a part in the archdiocese’s rich history of faith in western and southwestern Ohio. This month, they featured the history of the Society of Mary which began when Fr. Leo Meyer and Bro. Charles Schultz arrived in Cincinnati in 1849. Read the story.
Bro. Andrew Kosmowski Named New Vice-President/Treasurer of Catholic Library Association
Congratulations to Bro. Andrew Kosmowski, director of library services at NACMS, has been named vice-president/treasurer of Catholic Library Association (CLA). This is ultimately a six-year commitment, as the first two years are vice president/treasurer, the next two are president, and the final two are past president. He also serves as chair of CLA’s finance committee and of the academic libraries, archives and library education (ALALE) section.
Bro. Andrew has been an active member in CLA. He first attended the Saint Louis Chapter’s conference in 2014. Since then, he has attended occasional Greater Cincinnati Chapter conferences as well as the CLA conferences since 2017, when he became vice chair of the ALALE section. Since 2019, he has served as chair of that same section. As part of his major responsibilities for this section, he has prepared nominations and presented recipients of the Saint Jerome Award, named after the patron saint of libraries and awarded in recognition of outstanding contribution and commitment to excellence in scholarship which embody the ideals of the Catholic Library Association. He has also presented “Religious Orders and Their Libraries: Pursuing the Mission of the Church” with a library school classmate at CLA’s October 2020 conference. This presentation was based on his cataloging work with the NACMS library.
Marianist Ministries in Action
Mission of Mary Cooperative
Mission of Mary Cooperative (MMC) — an urban farming operation — is located in the Twin Towers neighborhood of East Dayton, Ohio, a low-income area where access to healthy food is difficult.
To meet those needs, MMC was launched in 2007. Today, this well-kept secret produces 80 varieties of vegetables, herbs and fruits and sells the produce to Dayton-area families. The cooperative also encourages neighbors to grow food themselves through its community garden and backyard garden programs.
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory Celebrates 60th Anniversary
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory was recently featured in the Florida Catholic magazine of the Miami Archdiocese for celebrating 60 years of emphasizing spirituality and community.
To read the story, click here.
Pray With Us
Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.
Bro. Paulus Lakra’s obituary: Bro. Paulus died on April 26. His obituary was not completed in time for the April issue of FamilyOnline. It is available now. Read his obituary.
Bro. Raymond Bernard Gohring’s obituary: Bro. Raymond died on April 21. His obituary was not completed in time for the April issue of FamilyOnline. It is available now. Read his obituary.
Jubilee Celebrations
Congratulations to our San Antonio Jubilarians
Fr. Mike Nartker’s 25th Anniversary of Ordination Celebration
The Cincinnati Marianist community at St. Francis DeSales parish locally celebrated the 25th anniversary of Fr. Mike Nartker’s ordination to the priesthood. At the parish Mass, Bro. Bob Dzubinski, as Director of the Marianist community, witnessed Fr. Mike’s public renewal of his priestly dedication. In the evening the community celebrated with a wonderful salmon dinner. In the picture, the Marianist Brothers patiently pose before diving into their festive dinner. Not pictured is photographer Bro. Ed Longbottom.
Marianists Celebrate Jubilees
Each year, the Society of Mary recognizes brothers and priests who are marking milestones of their first professions of vows or of their priestly ordinations. This is the second group of 2021 Jubilarians we honor as a special section of FamilyOnline.
BROTHER LOUIS FOURNIER
50 years of profession
Since entering the Society of Mary as an aspirant in September 1969, I have been blessed to meet even more holy and interesting men and women: professed religious and lay, Christian and non-Christian. They all have been a help on my journey.
FATHER PATRICK MCDAID
25 years of profession
From the hallowed “Harvard of the Midwest,” aka: University of Dayton, where the invitation to consider a vocation to the Society of Mary from Lay Marianist Bill Sherman to community, school, military and prison ministries in Honolulu, the past quarter of a century has been filled with grace.
FATHER J. DONALD CAHILL
60 years of ordination
I was ordained on June 11, 1961. There were four of us: Don Cowie and me, as well as a Japanese Marianist and a Spanish Marianist who went to a nearby German diocese and were ordained with their ordination class. I returned to the United States and celebrated my first Mass at my home parish, Holy Redeemer in Detroit, with my family present.
FATHER THEODORE LEY
50 years of ordination
The day my father drove me to what was once a military academy, to see if I might like the new Chaminade High School, a tall, genial young man walked down the steps of “The Hanging Gardens of Chaminade,” and introduced himself as Brother Dave. Father David Schuyler was the first Marianist I met. A few weeks later at entrance exam, Marianist “prudent inclination towards leniency” was already evident: Brother John Samaha told us not to worry about the exam. Two years later, I asked Father Lawrence Mann how I could become a brother.
FATHER MICHAEL NARTKER
25 years of ordination
Being a formator for 15 years, I have told my vocation story many times to the young African brothers who had joined us each year. As I reflect now on my life and service as a Marianist, I cannot help but remember how I was first called to religious life — through and to the Marianist community. Even now, I can see the faces of those brothers and recall some of the names of the brothers who ran the vocation “Come and See” programs more than 30 years ago. It was their community that had attracted me to the Marianist life as well as others who would follow.
Good to Know
Bro. Frank Spaeth Celebrates 98 Years Young
On May 17, 2021, the Cupertino Community, as well as all the members of the Province via Zoom, got together to celebrate Bro. Frank Spaeth’s 98th Birthday! Thanks to Bro. Jack Somerville for sharing this wonderful time.
Fr. Varghese Manooparampil Graduates
Congratulations to Fr. Varghese Manooparampil from the District of India, who graduated from University of Dayton on May 7, 2021, with a master’s degree in Religious Studies. The title of his comprehensive project was: “The Evolvement of Marian Thought After Vatican II in the Society of Mary: An Indian Perspective.” There was a gathering at the Stonemill-Kiefaber community to celebrate his accomplishment, and six members of the Religious Studies department came to honor Fr. Varghese along with other SM, FMI and fellow graduate students.
Fr. Jim Heft Pens Another Book
Fr. Jim Heft has written a new book titled “The Future of Catholic Higher Education The Open Circle.” In his new book, he talks about the current state of Catholic education and what needs to be done to ensure that it is not phased out of the educational system.
The book will be published in June 2021. You can pre-order here:
New Marianists Write Now!
NACMS is offering another Marianists Write Now! program on June 11-12, 2021.
Marianists Write Now! is a structured opportunity for members of the Marianist Family to share written reflections about their experiences of the Marianist Charism. The topic for the June reflection is: “What is the role of the Marianist Family in the future of the Church and of society?”
Write Now begins on Friday evening, June 11, and continues through Saturday, June 12. Although the program uses Zoom to gather for prayer, writing exercises and peer consultations, most of the time will be spent on personal reflection and writing.
Click here to register by June 4, 2021.
Marianist Social Justice Collaborative – Juneteenth Event
The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative (MSJC) is having a Juneteenth Racial Dialogue Event. Learn more.
Marianist Vocations – Vocation Marketing Coordinator
The Marianist Province of the U.S. is searching for a new Vocation Marketing Coordinator. The Vocation Marketing Coordinator will work with the National Vocation Director to promote and foster a culture of vocations through a multifaceted approach which includes development and implementation of a strategic marketing, advertising and communication. Learn more.
(posted May 26, 2021)
Marianist Retreat & Conference Center – Executive Director
The Marianist Marianist Retreat & Conference Center, located in Eureka, MO, is searching for an Executive Director. This position will focus on the overall strategic direction, sustainability, and promotion of the Marianist Retreat & Conference Center (MRCC). In the spirit of the Three Offices of the Marianist Tradition, the Executive Director (Office of Temporalities) will serve in collaboration with the Director of Hospitality (Office of Hospitality), and the Director of Programs (Office of Education & Spiritual/Religious Life). Learn more.
(posted May 25, 2021)
Choir Director at Queen of Apostles Marianist (part-time)
The Queen of Apostles Marianist Community at Bergamo, Mt. St. John, Beavercreek, OH, is seeking a part-time choir director to help with Sunday morning services and other community activities. Learn more.
(posted May 25, 2021)
President – North Catholic High School
North Catholic High School, located in Cranberry Township, PA, just north of Pittsburgh, is moving to a President-Principal model for the 2021-2022 school year and seeks a highly qualified candidate for President of the school, to further our Marianist mission of forming Christ-centered young adults who are leaders in their communities, known by their intellectual, practical, ethical, and human skills. Learn more
(posted April 12, 2021)
Stay in Touch
Newsletters
AMU Newsletter from the Association of Marianist Universities
The Fulcrum from the Marianist LIFE
District Update 45 from the Marianist District of India
District Update 46 from the Marianist District of India
Gifts and Tasks from the Int. Organization of Marianist Lay Communities
Justice Jottings from the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
Magnificat from the World Council of the Marianist Family
MLC-NA e-News from the Marianist Lay Community of North America
NACMS Newsletter from the North American Center for Marianist Studies
Via Latina 22 from the General Administration of the Society of Mary
Other Resources
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