b'MARIANIST TREASURE: Our Legacy PHOTOS BY SID HASTINGSSenior Gathering offers brothers the opportunity toreflect on the past and aim for the futureEditors note: Over threeALIVE WITH HOPEIf accepting a religious days in September, nearlyBy Brother Robert Moriarty, SMvocation might have 50 senior brothers gatheredbeen easier in our day, at the Marianist Retreat &What a grand celebration of our Marianist fraternity! we also acknowledge Conference Center outsideGathering under the theme Marianist Treasure:that we have lived lives of St. Louis to reconnect,Our Legacy, we needed no presentations and heldof both ups and downs. share stories of their livesno topical discussions. The resource for the gatheringThrough it all, we affirm and missions, and plot awas, simply, our lives and our decades-long experiencesthat it is faith, zeal, and course into the future.of Marianist life and mission. joy that sustain us in our Marianist Brothers RobertAlthough were bonded by deep roots establishedMarian-inspired brother-Moriarty and Stephenmany decades ago but now spread across the continenthood to this day. While we Glodek wrote reflections and beyond, our opportunities to gather in the samerecognize the limitations on the experience. place at the same time are few and far between. Thisbrought on by advancingProvincial Father Oscar Vasquez, age, we continue to SM, celebrates Mass on the was a prayerful, reflective, musical and festive eventfinal day of the Marianists a gathering of brothers deeply happy to be together.embrace and engage Senior Gathering on Sept. 25 Ecce quam bonum as we frequently heard inwith our Marianist mis- at the Marianist Retreat &years gone by:How good and how pleasant it ission. As one brother putConference Center inwhen brothers dwell together as one! (Ps. 133:1) it, We aint dead yet! Wildwood, Missouri.While a time of much story-telling and lookingThis gathering was one of a series that previously back, it was not an exercise of nostalgia. It was abrought together the younger cohorts of the mosttime of quality reflection on the significance of it all.recently professed brothers, and then the men of And it was especially a time of looking forward withmid-life, to reflect on their experiences of Marianist hope for our Marianist future.life, and their hopes for our Marianist mission and Reflecting on the story of our Marianist lives, theministry in the years ahead. conversation focused on questions such as: What drewDuring our senior gathering, there were manyme to the Society of Mary? Why have I persevered inexpressions of respect and support for the brothers the Society? What are my enduring hopes, not onlywho are coming after us. Looking forward to the Brother Robert Moriarty, SM for myself, but especially for the life and mission ofpossibility of inter-generational gatherings focused the Province in the years ahead?on anticipating the future, we are anxious both to A recurrent theme in our sharing was the acknowl- hear their hopes for the time ahead and to share edgment that our families and the all-surroundingwith them what the Marianist experience has meant Catholic culture in which we seniors were raisedand still means to us, along with our hopes for how was an early and major support for the developmentthey may advance the mission we share with them. of our vocations. How different the religious andWe may be advancing in age, but we are not giving cultural scene is today. How much more of a challengeup. As seniors we have not just persevered, we are it is in our time to respond to a call to religious life.persevering. With hope, we are Alive! As seniors, we respect and admire the dedication of the men who are joining us today. Brother Robert Moriarty, SM, professed first vows in 1960. 16Call 1.800.348.4732'