b'or falling apart: Did God give me everything only to ask for everything back? The weight of thatMary teaches us that even in realization must be unbearable. Yet, this moment is not the end of Marys vocation or mission.uncertainty, we can chooseIn his final moments, Jesus entrusts Mary toactions rooted in love and faith.the beloved disciple and the beloved disciple to Mary. Woman, behold your son. Then he says, Behold your mother. With these words, Jesusfaith in post-revolutionary France. He believed gives Mary a new mission. Her motherhoodrenewal would come through communities expands beyond one son to include the belovedformed in the spirit of Mary. For more than 225 disciple and, through him, all of us.years, this charism has drawn men and women Once again, Mary says, Yes.to commit their lives to building communitiesBrother Dennis Bautista, SMShe does not know how this new family willof faith around the world. unfold. But she actively cooperates with grace,In my current role at the Marianist Curia, I have accepting both the gift and responsibility. Shethe privilege of visiting and listening to the stories continues to make a home, now for a widerof brothers, sisters, and lay people shaped by the family, where faith can grow, and disciples canMarianist Charism. I witness how our ministries learn to live together in mission.transform the lives of young people. I also see This way of living is familiar. It is how Maryour fragility: diminishing numbers, aging raised Jesus: teaching him prayer, patience,members, fewer vocations, and the temptation simplicity, forgiveness, and trust in God. Shetoward discouragement. I see cultural pressures shows how to love imperfect people and remainthat complicate our witness and the real struggles faithful even when others fail. Mary and Jesusof ministries and schools in which Catholic are sinless, yet they live among people who areeducation is rarely profitable. not. They love anyway.We do not have simple answers or unlimited Surrendering to the mystery of ones vocationresources. What we do have is a way forward: is not passive resignation. It is the active choiceresponding together by authentically living our to live according to the values of our vocationMarianist Charism in communityliving, and charism, trusting in Gods providence praying, and serving Marys mission. We do especially when it is hard. Mary teaches us thatour best to act prudently and trust the rest to even in uncertainty, we can choose actions rootedGods providence. After all, it is Marys mission, in love and faith.and we are called to cooperate with it faithfully. As Marianists, we draw inspiration fromLiving Marianist community life is not easy. that moment at the foot of the cross, seeingDiversity is a gift, but it brings challenges that ourselves in the beloved disciple who receivesrequire patience, trust, and shared responsibility. Mary as mother and mission. Each day at Young people today are not first looking for 3 oclock, Marianist communities around theperfect answers; they are looking for authentic world remember this moment in prayer. witnesses. The time between Good Friday and At the Curia Generalizia dei Marianisti Easter mirrors everyday life: living with uncer-(Marianist Curia) here in Rome, a sculpture tainty while trusting that resurrection is still by Sister Angelica Ballan, PDDM, and hand- possible. When we live this way, we become calligraphed translations of the Three OClockwhat our founder envisioned: a spectacle ofPrayer from across the Marianist world makea people of saints, offering young people a visible what we do in faith: stand once more atwitness of hope and the promise of new life. the foot of the cross with Mary.This vision of faith, community, and missionBrother Dennis Bautista, SM, is the Assistant for inspired our founder, Blessed William JosephEducation at the Curia Generalizia dei Marianisti Chaminade, as he worked to rebuild the Catholicin Rome.marianist.com/donate5'