b'PHOTO: BEN ROBINSONEven after I was ordained, I wasstill a long time in the makinga community project. But Ive had a lot of good people to turn to whohave supported my growth. Father Mike Nartker, SM, celebrates his 25th year as a Marianist priest. table with others in my community has prepared mefor working with challenging people wherever I go.Discovering ones gifts: Realizing Gods potentialToday, many men begin the formation processFather Mike Narkter, SM you and take an interest in how your day went, he living for a year as an aspirant, participating in asays. And the conversation doesnt end there but two-year novitiate program and finally professingcontinues in the cleanup of dishes and pots and pans. first vowswhile they are in their late 20s andThese simple Marianist rituals keep our communities early 30s. They have spent time in the workforce alive and energized. Its one of the many reasons I remain and have been tested by life. Unlike these youngera Marianist. brothers, most in this jubilarian group graduatedWhile community life has many advantages, it high school and immediately began the formationalso forces you to grow in unexpected ways, say the process as fledgling adults.jubilarians. One of them is learning to live with diffi- I was an immature, 17-year-old kid, recallscult people. I had this idyllic image of religious life, Marianist Brother Jim Jaeckle, 79, who is celebratingforgetting that we are all just human, says Marianist 60 years as a professed brother. I had a lot of growingFather Tim Kenney, 69, who is celebrating his 50th up to do, and the formation work stretched me toyear as a professed brother. Yet learning to be chari- become an adult in so many important ways. Brother James Jaeckle, SM, whoPHOTO: ROBIN JERSTADcelebrates his 60th year as aprofessed Marianist, recallshaving a lot of growing up to do.The formation work stretchedme to become an adult in somany important ways.14 Call 1.800.348.4732'