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MARIST EVANGELIZATION NEWSLETTER
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Dear Member of the Marist Family,
The first semester of the school year has been an exciting one for the Marist Evangelization Office. We formally "rolled out" our joint formation plan, increased our online efforts and offered a Sharing Our Mission program for Development and Alumni Directors. In addition, school liaisons to the evangelization office have been guiding the school communities as they examine what it means to be "New Marists in Mission". Also, two province Encounters have been held and the Marist Young Adult Program has engaged in some innovative ways of connecting young adults online. We hope that you enjoy reading about all of these activities in this newsletter.
As always, thanks for your participation in and support of our efforts to advance the Marist charism in the United States. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Br. Steve Milan Br. Dominick Pujia
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Marist Administrators Attend Biennial Marist Leadership Institute
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Chris Sullivan (L) from Central Catholic High School and Larry Tucker from Marist High School-Chicago participate in an ice breaker at the MLI.
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The fall semester began a bit early for some Marist educators. Marist school administrators from the United States and Europe gathered at the Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center in Marriottsville, MD in July for the Marist Leadership Institute. The conference theme was "Stir into Flame the Gift of God". Br. Michael Callinan from the Province of Australia led the group through a variety of multi-media, interactive presentations. The conference allowed the administrators to network, share best practices and meet together as school teams. The venue also allowed the administrators to enjoy a Maryland style crabfest, a trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor and the tranquility of Maryland's horse country. The next Marist Leadership Institute will be held in July 2015.
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Advisory Board Continues to Chart a Course for the Future of Marist Evangelization
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| Mount St. Michael Principal Br. Steve Schlitte distributes a Sharing Our Call pin to teacher Ricky Rodriguez. |
The Marist Evangelization Advisory Board met in person and via conference call this fall to look at ways of advancing the Marist Evangelization Joint Formation Plan. The plan was shared with the Marist Brothers, school administrators and past program participants in September. The goal of the plan is to increase formation opportunities for those wishing to delve more deeply into the Marist charism. The implementation of the plan has resulted in a new Sharing Our Mission Program, an online retreat, a Facebook group, and a rededication ceremony for Sharing Our Call participants.
The members of the Marist Evangelization Advisory Board are Jeanne Burns (Central Catholic High School), Vinny Caramele (Marist High School-Chicago), Matt Fallon(Marist Brothers Center at Esopus), Lindsay Irwin (St. Joseph Academy), Richard Karsten (Archbishop Molloy High School), Valerie Savino (Mt. St. Michael Academy), Juan Vila (Christopher Columbus High School), and Brothers Owen Ormsby (Marist Brothers Center at Esopus ) and Dan O'Riordan (Marist Vocation Office).
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School Liaisons Gather to Prepare Materials
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| Alice Miesnik (L) works with Lindsay Irwin and Maureen Hagan on spirituality resources. |
From September 22nd-24th school liaisons to the Marist Evangelization Office met in Esopus to create materials for the school communities to use in preparation for the upcoming Marist International Mission Assembly. The assembly, with the theme of "New Marists in Mission", will be held in Nairobi in Fall 2014. Alice Miesnik, principal at Marist High School in Bayonne, NJ and a member of the assembly preparatory commission, guided the group through the process. Participants included Maureen Hagan (Roselle Catholic HS), Chris Sullivan(Central Catholic HS), Sr. Connie Kelly (Mount St. Michael Academy), Mike Power (Marist HS, Bayonne), Gerry Gonzalez (Christopher Columbus HS) and Lindsay Irwin (St. Joseph Academy).
Through classroom presentations, faculty retreats, prayer gatherings and meetings, each school community in the province has been reflecting on the Marist mission in light of three themes: spirituality, vocations and ministry. The year-long process will end with each school launching a lantern on May 1st.
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Sharing Our Mission: Campus Ministers and Religion Personnel Explore Ways of Educating for Justice
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| Sharing Our Mission participants engage in a justice-themed role play led by Br. John Healy (rear). |
Twelve Marist educators gathered in Esopus from October 6th-8th for Sharing Our Mission for campus ministers and religion personnel. The annual event allows participants to share their best practices, network with their peers and engage in ongoing formation. The theme for this year's conference was "Agents of Justice and Service". During the conference participants explored a Marist approach to Catholic Social Teaching and looked at how to educate for justice.
The following participated in the program: Eyda Alegretand Gerry Gonzalez from Christopher Columbus High School; Daniela Jelcic from Archbishop Molloy High School; Earline Tweedie and Jim O'Neill from Central Catholic High School; Joanne Gessner and Maureen Hagan from Roselle Catholic High School; Michelle Helson and Karen Ramirez from Marist High School – Chicago; Tony Cantu and Amanda Sampayo from St. Joseph Academy and Br. Bob Warren from Marist High School – Bayonne. Br. John Healy led a workshop on the Marist Brothers international solidarity efforts and Opal Vadhan, a member of the Marist Young Adult Advisory Committee, spoke about efforts to raise awareness and funds for the Marist works in Jamaica.
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Participants at Sharing Our Call #31 Explore Evangelization through Education
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| Sharing Our Call participants gather in the Brothers' cemetery for prayer. |
Twenty members of the Marist family gathered in Esopus from November 10th-12th for Sharing Our Call #31. Through presentations and activities led by Alice Miesnik,Matt Fallon and Brs. Michael Flanigan, Richard Van Houten, Dominick Pujia and Steve Milan, participants had the opportunity to learn more about Marcellin Champagnat while exploring Marist education, Marist spirituality and the vocation of a Marist educator. Participants included Latoya Hayes, Brian Keane,Samantha Paoletti and Cristina Tallarco from Marist High School in Chicago; Marilyn Perrotta and Barbara Verdonck from Marist High School in Bayonne; Gregory de la Begassiere and Jose Mendoza from Christopher Columbus High School; Jessica Hall from Mt. St. Michael Academy; Amy Granato and Donna Krupica from Bishop Donahue High School;Sabina Kobinski from Archbishop Molloy High School; Eric Boucher, Kellie Leavitt,Christine Leonard, Mark Svendsen and Steven Welsh from Central Catholic High School and Olga Borrego, Karen Murphy and Stephanie Waller-Machinena from St. Joseph Academy.
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Sharing Our Mission Program Offered for Alumni and Development Personnel
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Kelly Mullaney (L) and Zibby McCleary share insights during Sharing Our Mission.
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As a direct result of the Evangelization Joint Formation Plan a new Sharing Our Mission program was launched. This past December alumni and development personnel from eight schools gathered in Esopus to share best practices, network and explore their work in light of the Marist charism. Br. John Klein addressed the group on how Marcellin Champagnat, the distinctive Marist characteristics and the Marist Marks impact their work. Richard Karsten, President of Archbishop Molloy High School, offered a workshop called "Sustained Engagement…a Marist Way of being present to students, alumni and their families while advancing Champagnat's mission". The participants then engaged in a period of reflection on how their programs reflect a Marist approach. Julie Androshick-Boyle ended the program by leading the participants in a conversation about a shared service project for their constituents.
Participants included Joe Sommo from Archbishop Molloy High School; Juan Gomezand Barbara Branas from Christopher Columbus High School; Joanne Williams from St. Joseph Academy; Kelly Mullaney, Tom Inzinga and Marty Wirtz from Marist High School – Chicago; Chris Hansen and Viannca Velez from Marist High School – Bayonne; Zibby McCleary from Central Catholic High School; Pat Collins from Roselle Catholic High School and Br. John Bantz and Julie Androshick-Boyle from Mt. St. Michael Academy.
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Marist Youth Encounters Continue in Esopus
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| Sr. Connie Kelly, OP leads an Agape Prayer Service during the October Encounter. |
Over eighty students from Roselle Catholic High School, Marist High School-Bayonne, St. Joseph Regional High School, Central Catholic High School, Bishop Donahue High School, Archbishop Molloy High School, and Mount St. Michael Academy gathered in Esopus for the October and February Encounters. The participants built community, learned more about their Marist family and deepened their relationship with Christ through witness talks, small group discussions, group games, and communal and shared prayer.
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Marist Young Adults Ask the Question, "got marist?"
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| Marist Young Adults in Texas use pictures on their smart phones to pray about their past experiences during a new year's day of reflection. |
The Marist Young Adult program began the academic year by refocusing its efforts on college-aged students. Events to welcome new Marist Young Adults were held in each region and a series of online chats were offered to help first year students with the transition. Although face-to-face spiritual, social and service opportunities took place in Esopus and regionally during the summer and winter breaks, new emphasis was given to online activities.
In addition to the regularly offered online activities such as retreats and, blogs, the group initiated a "Throwback Thursday", sent Valentine e-cards to patients at Texas Children's Hospital and established a weekly "Marist Monday Challenge". This winter the Marist Young Adult Program launched a "got marist?" campaign which has included the distribution of promotional stickers, an online photo contest, and the sale of shirts to benefit the Marist works in Jamaica. The "got marist?" design will also be used on a new promotional card.
The Marist Young Adult Program continues to publish a monthly newsletter, provide social networking through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and maintains awebsite and mobile app.
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Did You Know that…
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| Faculty Members at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami reflect upon their role as Marist educators. |
…all campus ministers and religions personnel in the Marist network receive weekly resources via email?…the Marist Evangelization Office provided daily meditations for Advent?…there is a Marist Evangelization Facebook group?…the Marist Evangelization Office conducted faculty retreats, meetings, and prayers at St. Joseph Academy, Mt. St. Michael Academy and Roselle Catholic High School?…all past participants of the Sharing Our Call programs will be receiving a pin during a rededication prayer service?…the Evangelization Office was one of the sponsors of the LaValla Work Weekend
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Students at Central Catholic HS display their "New Marists in Mission" wristbands.
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during which the Marist family created a Champagnat
meditation path?…the Marist Evangelization Joint Formation Plan was featured in "American Marist"?…this year's Marist Youth Gathering will be held at Mt. St. Mary College in Newburgh. NY?…Students in Marist schools received wristbands highlighting the "New Marists in Mission" theme?
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 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Online Lenten Retreat – March 9-April 13
Marist Youth Encounter Christ – March 27-30
Sharing Our Call (Non-School) – April 11-13
Young Adult Good Friday Retreat Days – April 18
Marist Youth 2014- May 22-26
Marist Young Adult Advisory Committee Meeting – June 6-8
LaValla Hermitage Pilgrimage – July 25-29
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