SOCIETY OF MARY CELEBRATES TWO ORDINATIONS
On Aug. 22, the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, the Marianist Province of the United States celebrated the ordinations of Fr. Michael Chiuri, S.M., and Fr. Brandon Paluch, S.M., during a Mass at Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in St. Louis.
Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, bishop of the Diocese of Orange, California, presided at the Mass and gave the homily. Fr. Oscar Vasquez, Provincial of the Marianist Province of the United States, and Fr. Timothy Kenney, served as the principal concelebrants.
Due to precautions taken in light of the coronavirus pandemic, physical attendance of the celebration was limited to 75 family members, friends and members of the Marianist community donning masks and socially distanced. However, the Ordination was livestreamed so that more than a thousand Marianist family members and friends from throughout the world were able to virtually witness the celebration.
Fr. Mike Chiuri, 42, was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in commerce and business administration at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in 1997 and worked as a consultant for the African Economic Research Consortium. Read more.
Fr. Brandon Paluch, 37, was born in Green Bay, Wis., and raised in suburban Chicago. After earning his bachelor’s degree in religious studies and history at the University of Dayton in 2006, he served in Loyola Marymount University’s PLACE Corps through which he earned a master’s degree in education. Read more.
In the wake of the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd and the protests it has sparked in communities throughout the United States, the Marianist Province of the United States is calling for prayers and commitment to actions that eliminate the sin of systemic racism.
In these challenging times of uncertainty, please know that you are not alone. The coronavirus is impacting us all as individuals, families, school and faith communities. As Marianists, we have always embraced adaptation and change; it is one of the core characteristics of a Marianist education. Blessed Chaminade said, “New times call for new methods.” The Marianist Family is doing just that. We are gathering in virtual prayer. We are live streaming masses. We are sharing resources to inspire and encourage each other as we shelter in place and pray for an end to this pandemic.
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The Marianist Retreat and Conference Center: This Little Light is a daily one stop space for music art, prayer and inspiration. 
Marianist Environment Education Center (MEEC): Words of Hope from the Holy Ones – A Marianist Environmental Education Center blog reflects on finding hope in this time of COVID19 crisis in Pope Francis March 27th urbi et orbi message and our experience of nature in springtime. 
North American Center for Marianist Studies (NACMS): To bring the Marianist Family together in this time of dispersion, NACMS is organizing a FREE online reading group. The first session of the group was centered on the book Short History of Marianist Spirituality. The next three sessions will focus on a variety of writings by the late Fr. Dave Fleming, SM.