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MARIST EVANGELIZATION NEWSLETTER
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Dear Member of the Marist Family,
Welcome to the third edition of our Marist Evangelization newsletter. The current issue features our fall/winter programs and some new initiatives, and includes a calendar of events for the remainder of the school year.
As you read through the e-newsletter you will see that there is much happening in Marist Evangelization. We know that there are many more things happening locally. Please share with us pictures and details of local events such as gatherings of Sharing Our Call alums, Marist Youth events, and other times of shared prayer and fellowship. We will post the pictures on the evangelization microsite and feature your events in the spring newsletter. Submissions can be sent to [email protected].
Thanks for your participation in and support of our programs and efforts to advance Marist Evangelization in the United States. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please feel do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Br. Dominick Pujia Br. Steve Milan
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Marist Evangelization Board Meets to Set Priorities
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| Evangelization Board members Valerie Savino and Matt Fallon share input from their conversations with younger faculty members. |
The Marist Evangelization Advisory Board met in Lawrence, MA on August 24th and 25th to continue to advance Marist Evangelization in the United States. The group reviewed the youth, young adult and adult evangelization efforts. In addition, the board evaluated the implementation of the first phase of the evangelization plan and discussed the second phase of implementation.
The following goals were achieved in Phase 1 of the evangelization plan:
- The establishment of school liaisons and plans for a liaison gathering
- The creation of a faculty in-service/retreat on the Marks of a Marist ecucator
- The microsite posting of resources for an in-service with newly hired staff members.
In preparation for Phase 2 planning, Valerie Savino and Matt Fallon shared the critical elements identified in a conversation between some younger faculty members and Brs. Ben Consigli and Roy George. After some discussion, the board shared ideas on implementing the following:
- Spiritual Programs and Workshops
- Formal Association
- Local Faith Sharing Groups
- Online Resources
The Marist Evangelization Board members are Jeanne Burns (Central Catholic High School), Vinny Caramele (Marist High School-Chicago, Matt Fallon (Christopher Columbus High School), Lindsay Irwin (Assistant Principal, St. Joseph Academy), Richard Karsten (Archbishop Molloy High School), Valerie Savino (Mt. St. Michael Academy) and Brothers Owen Ormsby (Marist Brothers Center – Esopus ) and Dan O'Riordan (Marist Vocation Office).
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School Liaisons Gather to Define Their Role
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School Liaisons Lindsay Irwin, Maureen Hagan and Mike Power preparing materials for local follow-up to province programs.
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To promote better communcation between the schools and the evangelization office, each school was asked to name a school liaison. The role of the liaisons is to promote and advocate for the province evangelization efforts, recruit participants for evangelization programs and insure local follow up.
From September 23-25 the school liaisons gathered in Esopus to explore their role, share local follow up efforts and prepare resource materials. Br. Owen Ormsby led the group in a futuring exercise. Participants included Maureen Hagan (Roselle Catholic HS), Br. Rene Roy (Central Catholic HS), Sr. Connie Kelly (Mount St. Michael Academy), Mike Power (Marist HS, Bayonne), Alex Ibarra (Christopher Columbus HS) and Lindsay Irwin (St. Joseph Academy).
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Sharing Our Mission: Campus Ministers and Religion Personnel Explores the Issue of "Specialness"
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| Colleen Pochyly, Karen Ramirez, Amanda Sampayo, Tony Cantu and Timmy Hagan reflect on an article during Sharing Our Mission |
Eleven Marist educators gathered in Esopus from October 28th-30th 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 formtion. The theme for this year's conference was: Becoming a More Effective Witness of the Gospel: Healing Our Specialness.
Brs. Owen Ormsby, Dan O'Riordan, Dominick Pujia and Steve Milan facilitated discussions based upon material prepared by Br. Don Bisson. Participants explored a Christian, Marist response to the current societal trend of raising children with an exaggerated sense of self importance. The following participated in the program: Eyda Alegret, Gerry Gonzalez and Juan Vila from Christopher Columbus High School; Michael Germano from Archbishop Molloy High School; Chris Sullivan from Central Catholic High School; Tim Hagan and Maureen Hagan from Roselle Catholic High School; Colleen Pochyly and Karen Ramirez from Marist High School – Chicago; and Tony Cantu and Amanda Sampayo from St. Joseph Academy.
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Sharing Our Call 30:
Exploring Marist Vision, Mission and Values
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| Ed Kennedy processes an adventure activity on finding balance in one's life. |
Nineteen members of the Marist family gathered in Esopus from December 2nd to 4th for Sharing Our Call #30. Through presentations and activities led by Valerie Savino, Maureen Hagan, Ed Kennedy and Brs. Sean Sammon, Richard Van Houten, Owen Ormsby, 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 Rich Karnia, Bob Morowczynski, and Mike Strubin from Marist High School in Chicago; Miriam Eisenmenger from Marist High School in Bayonne; Erin Kane McGrath and Rosa Santiago from Christopher Columbus High School; Kevin Mahoney from Roselle Catholic High School; Ricky Rodriguez, Joe LoGiudice, and Fran Bulfamante from Mt. St. Michael Academy; John Attard and Daniela Jelcic from Archbishop Molloy High School; Kevin Smith, Patrick Kelly, Earline Tweedie and Br. Rene Roy from Central Catholic High and Tony Chavez, Ben Sandoval and Kevin Hickson from St. Joseph Academy. The next Sharing Our Call will be held in the fall of 2013
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 Marist Young Adults Connect Virtually and in Person
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Matt Fallon (left) places the Peace Pole with assistance from Marist Youth and other Marist Young Adults.
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The Marist Young Adult program continues to offer online and in person opportunities for individuals aged 18-30 to grow as Marist Christians. New this year are a mobile app., a Marist Young Adult presence on Instagram and the first video blog.
Online activities continue to bring the community together through Ash Wednesday and college transitions chats, Advent and Lenten retreats, blogs, and regular reflections on facebook. Locally, new program members were welcomed at social events during the summer and joined current members for retreats and days of reflection. In the NY/NJ area, young adults were involved in a variety of service activities in Esopus: the construction of an outdoor chapel, the creation of a peace pole plaza, assistance at retreats and work in the kitchen.
In January, the Marist Young Adult Advisory Committee met to plan for the remainder of the year and to look at the future of the program. Other young adults in the area joined the MYAAC for a dedicaton and blessing of the peace pole.
The Marist Young Adult Program continues to publish a monthly newsletter, provide social networking through facebook, LinkedIn. instagram and twitter, and maintains a website and mobile app.
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Marist Youth Continue to Encounter Christ
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| David Nikac leads the group through a meditatiive exercise on building community during the October Encounter. |
Over 120 students from Roselle Catholic High School, Marist High School-Bayonne, St. Joseph Regional High School, Central Catholic High School, St. Mary's 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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Did You Know that…
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The Hermitage in Esopus
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…all participants in province evangelization programs have been added to the evangelization microsite?…the refurbished Hermitage at the Marist Brothers' Center in Esopus is now available for individual retreats?…the Brothers' summer retreat will be open to lay colleagues who want to explore more deeply the Marist charism?…all religion teachers and campus ministers in the the Marist network now receive a weekly resource from the Evangelizaiton Office?…the Evangelization Office is putting together a data base of prayer services that will be made available to religion teachers and campus ministers?…the biennial Marist Leadership Institute for school administrators will take place from July 25th to 29th at the Bon Secours Conference Center in Marriotsville, MD?
For more information about any of the above, please email Steve at [email protected].
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Online Lenten Retreat – March 3-March 24
Sharing Our Call 2 – March 3-5
Marist Chicago Staff Retreat – March 8
Marist Youth Encounter Christ – March 21-24
Young Adult Good Friday Retreat Days – March 29
Marist Youth Leadership Conference – May 24-27
Province Retreat – July 15-19
Marist Leadership Institute – July 25-29
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