b'activities, however, the Church often falls back on its Joan. It depicts Mary as an older woman, seated, withpaternal instincts, overshadowing Marys influence. her arms spread open and palms upturned. It remindsFor his MSP project, Father Ted developed a me of my own mother and has a universal quality thatYouTube video and presentation in which he exam- touches a deep part of my heart, says Joan. Its asines Marianist Founder Father Chaminades original if she is saying, stop running around and being souse of small faith communities and a collaborative distracted, and come sit with me, be present as I bringstyle to help the Family of Mary growboth in faith wisdom to the conversation.and numbers. It is a Marian model Father Ted wouldlike to see the larger Church embrace. How can Mary bring balance andWhile the question of a Marian Church is intriguing, wholeness to the Church?its a bit misleading, say some MSP participants. Since An infusion of feminine qualities, such as sensitivity,the Church is the body of Christ made up of all believers, listening, warmth and compassionthe very quali-its more helpful to reflect on Marys attributes or ties that Jesus possessedcan counterbalance themasculine characteristics dominating United StatesChurch leadership, says Marianist Brother Tom Spring.Jesus learned how to treat people by watching hismother, says Brother Tom. But todays Church lead-ers often lack these relational skills, he says.As his MSP project, Brother Tom crafted a letter tokey bishops in the Church, enlisting their support toencourage leaders to treat the laity with dignity, respectand love, following Christs examples as depicted inScripture.As a Marianist, he has seen Marys influence onthe faith and culture of Marianist schools. Jungianpsychologists call the feminine aspects of human behavior the anima, says Brother Tom. He remembersa guidance counselor at Archbishop Riordan HighSchool, a Marianist school in San Francisco where heonce served, saying, the Marianists have a lot ofanima, says Brother Tom. But that shouldnt sur-prise anyone since we are a religious order dedicatedto the Blessed Mother. What does Mary have to teach usabout love and inclusivity?Marys journey to Bethlehem before Jesus birth wasjust the beginning of a life filled with joy, pain andqualities, what some call the face of Mary, and how fierce motherly devotion. But it was the last minutesthese inspire us to live with greater awareness, bold- of Jesus life that revealed her unwavering love. Forness and presence. her MSP project, psychologist Diane Browne says itJoan McGuinness Wagner turned her attention to was Marys willingness to stand by her Son whenthree of Marys attributes that define Marian hospitality: others had abandoned and rejected him that inspiredwelcoming, openness and trust. I decided to explore her to write a paper for LGBTQ Catholics and theirthe topic of radical hospitalitythe act of giving and families. Mary stood by her Son, even to the pointreceiving hospitality. In Marys life and in the Church, of death. My hope is that this paper will help parentswe are called to do both, to embrace the stranger and stand by their children and will serve as a resourcebe the stranger, says Joan, who developed a one-day for LGBTQ Catholics.retreat on this subject. This requires a radical kind As a psychotherapist, Diane has studied the conceptOpposite page: Piet by of openness and trust.of wholeness for many years. If we accept the gift ofMichelangelo, St. PetersJoseph Aspells statue of Mary, called Mary SeatBasilica, Rome Mary into our lives as St. John did at the foot of theof Wisdom is an image that embodies this idea, says cross, she will gently guide us toward wholeness.16 Call 1.800.348.4732'