b'A Messagefrom the ProvincialMy Dear Partners in Mission,special evening prayer in which we remember ourMarianist brothers who have died since the last retreat.As you receive this issue of ALIVE magazine, no doubt Finally, there is time for fraternal sharing and foryou are enjoying the summer. For members of the each to update others regarding his ministry andSociety of Mary, this is a time for re-creation. During community year.the summer months, our Marianist brothers attendAs religious, we are called to be men of prayer.annual retreats, along with workshops and During the academic year (most Marianists serve inprograms, and time for a little rest. Theeducational ministry), our lives are busy; the annualannual retreat is a week-long experience retreat provides the opportunity to slow down andduring which Marianists share prayers and spend additional time in prayer. Please pray for us!fraternal support.Whether it is during the academic year or theEach Marianist selects a retreat to attend summer, we gather each day to pray for your needsbased on what he needs at this moment in and intentions. As we gather for our annual retreats,his spiritual life. There are three types of please pray for usthat we continue to be men ofretreats from which to choose: preached faith and prayer. Pray that God will continue to giveretreat, directed retreat and silent retreat. each of us the grace to be more faithful and faith-filledHeres a quick overview: in our daily lives. Preached retreat: During this type ofI invite you, too, to consider taking a little extra timeretreat, participants gather two or three for prayer during the summer months. Our Marianisttimes a day to hear spiritual talks given by retreat centers across the United States offer variousa retreat director. The topics vary from year retreat experiences. For example, the Marianist Familyto year. The Marianist Province offers a Retreat Center in Cape May, New Jersey, has providednumber of these retreats that begin in late family retreat programs for decades. I encourage youFather Oscar Vasquez, SM May and run through mid-August.to visit our website at marianist.com/retreat-centers toDirected retreat: In a directed retreat, eachsee what our retreat centers are up to this summerMarianist meets with a retreat director once or twice and in the coming year.a day to reflect on Scripture passages or designated We are truly thankful for the many ways that youreadings. The retreat director guides the participant support the Marianist Province of the United Statesin seeing the movement of God in his life. and our Marianist brothers in mission.Silent retreat: These retreats are built around silence.With the exception of daily Mass and morning and Prayerfully,evening prayer, the retreat is experienced in silence.Even meals are conducted in a quiet manner. There are common activities among all our retreats.We gather each day for Eucharist, and we gather for Father Oscar Vasquez, SMmorning and evening prayer. There is always one Provincial2 Call 1.800.348.4732'