Today`s Marists Spring 2016 Edition - Society of Mary, Marists in the

Spring 2016
Volume 2 | Issue 2
Today’s
Marists
Society of Mary in the U.S.
Today’s
Marists
Spring 2016 | Volume 2 | Issue 2
Publisher
Paul Frechette, SM, Provincial
Editor
Ted Keating, SM
In this issue...
Susan Illis
Editorial Board
Ted Keating, SM, Editor
Thomas Ellerman, SM
John Harhager, SM
Randy Hoover, SM
Paul Carr, Director of Development
from the Provincial
by Fr. Paul Frechette, SM
includes “Posada” by Fr. Anthony O’Connor, SM
4
Missionary Journal
by Fr. Al Puccinelli, SM
Society of Mary of the USA
5 How Barbara Conlin Came to Know,
Love and Support the Marists
Paul Carr, Director of Development
Editorial Assistants
Susan Plews, SSND
Philip Gage, SM
Randy Hoover, SM
Archivist
3
6
A Global Marist City Center Church at
the Heart of San Francisco
by Frs. Paul Frechette, SM and René Iturhe, SM
7
Families Growing in Faith
by Mary Ghisolfo, Principal
8
The Closing of Our Lady of Victories
Jack Ridout, Director of Vocations
Today’s Marists™ is published three times each year by The Marist
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10 Laudato Si at Notre Dame Prep Marist
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Editorial Office
Editor: 202-529-2821
Today’s Marists Magazine
Society of Mary in the US (The Marists)
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815 Varnum St, NE
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tel. 202-529-2821
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Marist Center
4408 8th Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017-2298
by Fr. Albert Dilanni, SM
by Michael Kelly
11 Ecology Club at École Notre Dame
des Victoires
by Mary Ghisolfo, Principal
12 Laduato Si and the Greening of Marist
School, Atlanta
by Fr. John Harhager, SM
13 Many Cultures: One Marist Mission
Atlanta, Georgia
by Fr. Thomas Ellerman, SM
14 A Fourvière Moment in Atlanta
by Jack Ridout, SM, Vocation Director
15 News Briefs
16 All About Mary
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Design: Beth Ponticello | CEDC | www.cedc.org
This issue is dedicated to the Jubilee Year of Mercy
and Francis’ Encyclical on the Environment. We
hope that the cover and articles will help you relish
again God’s irrepressible Mercy and awe for earth our
“common home”.
from the Provincial
Fr. Paul Frechette, SM
We are almost half way through the Year
of Mercy, so we might ask ourselves how
is it going? We might consider Luke, who,
more than any of the evangelists, shows
us the merciful and compassionate face
of Jesus, his deep concern for the most
vulnerable and needy.
So we move where Mercy takes us, to the
hungry, thirsty, sick and imprisoned—
the naked and homeless. Filled with and
led by the Holy Spirit, such a journey
can’t help but lead to Easter.
I have been privileged to visit across this
Marist Province in recent months, and
have been impressed by the works of
Mercy I have witnessed — in our Marist
schools and parishes.
Allow me to share the “Posada” experience of the parish and youth group of San
Felipe de Jesús in Brownsville, Texas, and
its pastor Fr. Tony O’Connor, SM.
them, many wanting to buy the kids
something, though it is not allowed.
Fr. Tony goes to five refuge centers for
minors and was asked to invite some
of the kids to share with our youth and
parish community some “Christmas
cheer” one December afternoon. The
invitation was accepted by three centers.
In Mexico and Central America, there is a
custom of a pre-Christmas novena called
“Posada” (“lodgings”), a ritual where
people pass from house-to-house seeking
lodgings on behalf of Joseph and Mary, in
the way of the Gospel story.
“We come exhausted from Nazareth, I am
the carpenter, Joseph, lodgings we ask, and
we need only one night, for the Queen of
Heaven.”
filed in procession to our church for the
“Posada ritual,” first outside the door,
in remembrance of Joseph and Mary
seeking “Posada” (lodgings).
“In the name of heaven I ask for lodgings,
Mary my love can go no further”(Joseph
speaking).
They then proceeded into the church:
“Come travelers come, receive this little
space, even though it is small and poor ,
we give it with all our hearts, and we the
hosts lets sing for joy that Jesus, Joseph and
Mary have come to honor us.”
Once inside the church, an abbreviated
set of traditional Posada prayers were
said before a variety of video clips were
shown — some holy, some educational,
“Posada”
by Fr. Anthony O’Connor, SM
I have written before about our contact
here in Brownsville, Texas with migrant
minors from Central America: El
Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
The latter part of this last year 2015, saw
the arrival of so many more migrant
minors between the ages of 11 to 17.
They encountered difficulty in crossing
borders, while passing through moral
and physical danger to get here. People
who migrate are usually endowed with
great spirit and courage, not treating life
as if it owed them anything, rather, they
are most often prepared to contribute
greatly where they finally settle.
These kids have been growing up fast,
often experiencing a religious conversion
to God and a serious commitment to
the future, with concern to the families
they left behind. So, from three refugee
centers, as many as 50 kids come for one
of three Sunday Masses at San Filipe de
Jesús. A space is reserved for them as they
must be seated together, those arriving
for the first time receive as a welcome a
simple Cross to hang around their necks.
The parishioners applaud and smile on
Spring 2016
Posada at parish of San Felipe de Jesús, Brownsville, TX.
In September, four young New
Zealanders, belonging to a Marist-backed
group for youth, stayed at San Felipe de
Jesús in a cultural exchange. They taught
English hymns and ran a workshop on
group games, ice-breakers and group
dynamics, which was helpful to our
parish youth who are adept at electronic
games, but missing skill in old-style
activities involving social exchanges.
The September experience was a key in
leading up to the December day of the
“Posada.”
On that day, December 19, the mini
buses arrived from three different
refuge centers and the whole group
some funny, our Hondurans and
Salvadorians enjoyed a hearty laugh, as
did our Guatemalans.
The poignancy to this day was evident
in watching the exchanges: the laughter
and play, the joy in seeing children not
weighed down by memories of violence,
gangs, threats, beatings — the poverty
and pain. New Zealand youth were
teaching Texan kids skills through games.
Texan kids were teaching Honduran,
Guatemalan and Salvadorian kids to
have fun, in a wondrous intermingling
of peoples. We are all children of the
universe. We are all migrants. We all seek
a “Posada.
3
A Missionary Journey
by Fr. Al Puccinelli, SM
A “favela” in Brazil means a slum or
shanty town, a heavily populated
informal urban settlement characterized
by substandard housing and squalor.
Most favelas lack reliable sanitation
services, a supply of clean water, reliable
electricity and adequate law enforcement
structures. Favelas form and grow for
many different reasons. Some causes
include rapid migration from rural to
urban settings, economic stagnation and
depression, high unemployment, poverty,
poor planning, natural disasters and
social conflict.
In 1991, I first entered Vila Pinto, one of
the favelas of Curitiba, Brazil, to meet the
Bernardine Franciscan Sisters attached
to the Sisters in Reading, Pennsylvania.
They had decided to live and work in
the Vila. Sisters Claudia and Estela live
there to this day. Sister Veraci now lives
and works in the Dominican Republic.
I learned that the Vila is roughly a mile
long and a half-mile wide. It is located at
one of the main entry points to the city of
Curitiba. When big events occur there,
such as the World Cup of Soccer, the city
cleans up the area facing the avenue
and hides everything else. Of the entire
population of the state of Paraná, 5.7%
live in favelas. In the beginning when
the Sisters constructed a chapel, they
installed two water faucets and three
bathroom-shower combinations on the
grounds. This was the only sanitation for
the whole of the Vila. Eventually a pay
phone was installed.
People live in favelas because of an
unequal distribution of wealth and a lack
of low cost housing. According to the
government, these people live below the
poverty level. When the Sisters began
their work there, the Vila was part of
land overgrown with weeds and mud.
Violence and homicide in the favela
reduce the life expectancy of a resident
by seven years as compared to someone
living elsewhere. The lack of reliable
sanitation puts the residents at risk of
various diseases. The Bethlehem River
runs directly through the Vila Pinto. This
river has its most polluted stretch not just
running through the favela, but through
the entire city of Curitiba. Unfortunately,
at times you see a body floating in the
water.
The river is not the only division. The
territory is further divided by two drug
gangs who seem to be fighting over
territorial rights for their drug sales. Of
course, violence happens. Two gangs had
a shootout in the Walmart parking lot
leaving six dead that day and two more
deaths on the following day.
Over the years the residents have built
more substantial dwellings. Once called
to bless a house, I eventually reached the
third floor of the residence only to find a
swimming pool.
Curitiba is well known as a green city.
The residents of the favela make a good
living by picking up recyclable trash.
Because the slum borders the Pontifical
Catholic University of Parana, a Marist
Brothers endeavor, many of the young
people are able to obtain a University
education while working at the school.
The Brothers also set up a health clinic
and the dental school offers dental
assistance.
TOP: Fr. Al Puccinelli, SM, at left, is photographed with
a local resident in the favela of Vila Pinto in the city of
Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
BOTTOM: The new formation house for the Region
of Brazil
continued on page 5
4
Today’s Marists Magazine
How Barbara Conlin came to Know,
Love and Support the Marists
by Paul Carr, Director of Development
Barbara Conlin had already lived a full
and productive life before she moved
from New York City to Massachusetts
in late summer 1972. At an earlier time,
she had been living the consecrated life
of a Sister of Mercy, but by the time she
moved to Framingham, MA, she was
blessed with a loving husband, Robert
Conlin.
While putting down roots in
Framingham, MA, the Conlins became
members of St. Bridget’s Parish in
Framingham, near the Marist House,
where Fr. Robert Champagne, SM would
soon take up residence as a senior priest.
After Fr. Champagne’s arrival, he began
hearing confessions and celebrating
weekend Masses at St. Bridget’s, and with
Barbara’s role as Eucharistic Minister in
the parish, she began her acquaintance
and relationship with the Marist Fathers
and Brothers.
One day Barbara and Fr. Champagne
crossed paths significantly in the parking
lot at Framingham Union Hospital,
where Fr. Champagne served as hospital
chaplain and Barbara was visiting
patients in her social services role at a
local senior center. “On that day,” Barbara
recalls, “I had visited several people on
different floors and when I went to leave,
I couldn’t find my car keys. I bumped
into Fr. Champagne, and he insisted
on taking the time to help me retrace
my steps, checking with the nurses I’d
been in contact with. All to no avail.
Father then said ‘give me a few minutes,
I’ll get my stuff and drive you home.’ I
looked one more place, successfully, and
happily told Father that his favor wasn’t
necessary. But this was the kind of man
Fr. Champagne was. A real Marist.”
Barbara’s husband suffered from cancer
for 13 years, living with a feeding tube
and long weeks of chemotherapy, which
meant staying at the hospital. “I had to
work,” Barbara remembers, “and when
my husband was in the hospital, Fr.
Champagne would look in on him every
morning and again before he went home
in the evening. Frequently, he would sit
and talk with him. It was such a comfort
to me to know that Robert had this daily
support.”
Over time Barbara got to know the Marist
Missionary Sisters in Waltham, MA, first
by bringing Communion to one of their
parents. Eventually she made profession
as a lay Marist. Barbara relates: “I wanted
to be a lay Marist because their charism
is What would Mary do? I said to myself
‘I want to be a part of that,’ and now I’m
so thrilled to be a Marist. Their kindness
and caring have really touched me, and
so I try to give back any way that I can.”
Father Champagne is now fully retired,
legally blind and living with multiple
health issues, and Barbara Conlin is still
in his life, remembering Fr. Champagne’s
continual support of her and her husband
“Fr. Champagne likes to say I’m his
secretary now,” Barbara chuckles, “but I
correct him — the term is administrative
assistant! I could never thank him
enough but, of course, he wants no
thanks. I am able to help him, though.
Father is very particular, and in nursing
homes, I realized they don’t do ironing
– so I do his shirts. And if he needs
anything, I get it for him; I also plan
transportation for him and also work
with him making appointments He loves
color and, indeed, he is surrounded by a
lot of color. He must be able to see it still,
and he always seems happy and content.
I consider myself blessed to be a Marist.”
A Missionary Journey, continued from page 4
A great number of the “old timers” are
my dear friends. It’s always a joy to visit
them. I have joined with them in protests
against police brutality. I’ve buried not
only the elderly but those whose lives
were cut short by violence. There are
memories of a five-year old boy whom
I met while he was preparing for first
communion. Unfortunately, later in life,
he became an assassin. A rival gang put
a price on his head, and he has since fled
the Vila. The greatest irony is the fact
that one of the major drug lords attended
Mass every Sunday. He would become
irritated if a priest could not be found to
pray with the dying. If I celebrated Mass
on Sunday, we always had an interesting
discussion. There were times when I
Spring 2016
thought he knew more theology than I
did. As far as I know, he has left the drug
business. The miracle is that he is still
alive. I am convinced that if someone
had tried to do me or the Sisters any
harm, that person would not have lived
out the day because Kleber (not his real
name) would have sent his SWAT team to
take care of the problem.
In the midst of all these problems and
sufferings in which the residents find
themselves, there is a strong faith. This is
clearly demonstrated when the Eucharist
is celebrated in their midst. These are
the people I have come to know and love.
With them I have celebrated my 25th
and 40th anniversaries of Ordination.
My goal was to throw a party for them,
but they would have none of it. People
brought a tablespoon of sugar or flour
so they could have what was needed to
share in the baking of the cake. With all
the problems they face, they have come
to put the Gospel into practice, loving
God and neighbor.
Despite that last sentence, all hell has
broken out in the favela. Gun fights and
deaths seem to be the program for this
week. All this was taking place on the
street in front of the chapel. Alone, in
the month of January, 15 persons were
murdered. And so went my visit to the
favela Vila Pinto.
5
A Global Marist City Center Church
at the Heart of San Francisco
by Frs. Paul Frechette, SM and René Iturbe, SM
At the Society of Mary’s last general
chapter in Rome, in 2009, the assembled
members realized that there were
several Marist parishes in different parts
of the world that shared a significant
similarity – they were parishes serving
congregations mostly in downtown
settings, filled with office buildings,
hotels, and financial districts, very much
not the usual suburban, residential
parish. Marists ministered in these “city
center churches” in London, Sydney,
Wellington, and San Francisco. Chapter
delegates saw how these parishes
would be perfect for new ministries of
evangelization in the city besides the
normal ministries any parish does for
the faithful. The Chapter expressed
the desire that the Marist personnel
stationed at these four parishes start
a dialogue and discussion about their
similarities in ministry, about sharing
and collaborating, about possible
challenges, etc. The ultimate goal
would be the easy exchange of Marists
among the four places. One factor
that contributes to the practicality of
exchange is that all four churches are
in places where English is the standard
language, although the London parish,
Notre Dame de France, officially serves
French speakers, and Notre Dame des
Victoires, in San Francisco, has been
traditionally been the French “national
parish” in the city.
The 2009 General Chapter issued the
following legislation:
# 21: “In order to address the needs of an
increasingly secular world, the Society will
develop a network of selected city-center
churches where Marists presently minister.
This ministry will focus on city center
evangelization rather than typical parish
ministry. Emphasis will be given to the
neglected and the poor (Const. 12) and
different forms of evangelization and
Church renewal (Const. 14).
6
The superior general and major superiors
will explore ways of encouraging the
exchange of ideas and personnel. Some of
these communities will be multi-cultural.
Confreres of all ages, and with a variety of
skills and experience, can make a valuable
contribution.”
Remarkably, Pope Francis articulated
a similar concept in his Apostolic
Exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel,” on
November 24, 2013.
# 75. “We cannot ignore the fact that in
cities human trafficking, the narcotics
trade, the abuse and exploitation
of minors, the abandonment of the
elderly and infirm, and various forms
of corruption and criminal activity
take place. At the same time, what
could be significant places of encounter
and solidarity often becomes places of
isolation and mutual distrust. Houses
and neighborhoods are more often built
to isolate and protect than to connect and
integrate. The proclamation of the Gospel
will be a basis for restoring the dignity
of human life. In these contexts, Jesus
desires to pour out an abundance of life
upon our cities (cf. Jn 10:10). The unified
and complete sense of human life that the
Gospel proposes is the best remedy for the
ills of our cities, even though we have to
realize that a uniform and rigid program
of evangelization is not suited to this
complex reality. But to live our human life
to the fullest and to meet every challenge as
a leaven of Gospel witness in every culture
and in every city will make us better
Christians and bear fruit in our cities.”
Notre Dame des Victoires (NDV), the
Marist parish in San Francisco, is unique
just as the three other selected Marist
City Center Churches in the Society of
Mary can be called unique. NDV has a
grammar school with over 300 students.
Part of the mission of the Marists at NDV
is to evangelize and or re-evangelize
the students and their parents. This is
done through various programs such as
“Family Growing in the Faith.” Parents of
seventh and eighth graders gather with
their son or daughter in a format where
they can speak about their faith to one
another. Second grade parents of the
First communicants also attend. This
program has been going for about nine
years now and proves quite effective.
The gatherings are held once a month
for seven months over the course of
each school year. There are speaker
presentations on specific topics which
may include short videos. There are
generally 110-115 in attendance. Besides
their academic studies (including
French from pre-K to eighth grade), the
students are involved in service projects
like the “Gubbio Project,” a Franciscan
initiative in the nearby deprived area of
The Tenderloin. There the students help
Today’s Marists Magazine
to serve breakfast to the homeless who
sleep in the Franciscan church overnight.
Their parents are also involved in such
service projects.
The other part of the mission of the
Marists is reaching out to the city and its
marginalized and poor. The Archdiocese
has a variety of programs for such people
in distress, many of whom live on the
street. The good news is that Marists are
not expected to “reinvent the wheel” and
are most welcome to participate in any of
these evangelizing, healing and teaching
ministries. There is ample space for any
Marist interested in such ministries to
live and participate in the local Marist
community at the Pine Street House.
Three ministries are especially worth
our attention:
Spanish ministries
There are 33 Spanish-speaking parishes
in the archdiocese The need is very
specific: A team to do faith formation
for these various Spanish-speaking
communities. This effort is primarily in
teaching courses on the Catholic faith.
The archdiocese counts at least seven
parishes that need a Spanish-speaking
assistant, and two parishes could use a
Spanish-speaking pastor.
Prison ministry
This refers to “restorative justice” for
incarcerated adolescents 14-17 year
old. Another emphasis concerns adults
in prison. Layman Julio Escobar of the
Restorative Justice Ministry, with the
help of several priests conducts prayer
services on the streets where victims of
violent death have occurred.
Senior Citizens
Our Lady’s outreach to the Senior
citizens in nearby convalescent homes,
where personal visits and offering the
sacraments are needed. There is a real
vacuum in this area. Some of our older
Marists would be most welcome in this
ministry.
Families Growing in Faith
by Mary Ghisolfo, Principal
Another Program of Notre Dame de Victoires City Center Church is
an outreach to families in San Francisco called “Families Growing in
Faith”. It is an effort to support the faith development of our families
and has been going for eight years. The parish and its highly respected
School reaches Catholics from all over San Francisco.
The gatherings are held once a month, on a Friday night, for seven
months over the course of each school year. The structure includes
speaker presentations on specific topics, (i.e. Reconciliation, Prayer,
Confirmation, Church, the New Evangelization) and it may also include
short videos or Powerpoint presentations. Each gathering includes a
well prepared introductory prayer, a reflection on a Scripture passage,
and ends with a concluding prayer. There are generally 110-115 people
in attendance. That number includes the second, seventh, and eighth
grade parents, and all of their students and children including those in
childcare.
The second grade parents of children planning to receive the
sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist, and eighth grade
parents of those planning to receive the sacrament of Confirmation
attend the monthly gatherings over a two year period. Opportunities
for dialogue between the parents and 7th or 8th grade children are an
integral part of the experience.
A light supper is served from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. prepared by
parent volunteers. The presentation goes from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Childcare is also provided.
Spring 2016
7
The Closing of
Our Lady of Victories
JANUARY 3, 2016
Homily at the Last Marist Mass at
Our Lady of Victories in Boston
by Fr. Albert DiIanni,SM
My dear friends of Our Lady of Victories
Church. A few days before Christmas,
our provincial superior, Fr. Paul
Frechette emailed me with a request
that practically ruined my Christmas.
He asked me to deliver the homily at the
final official Mass to be celebrated by the
Marists at Our Lady of Victories. I was
to be the last Marist to deliver a sermon
at Our Lady of Victories Church. I do it
with a somewhat heavy heart.
A famous author Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
has described several stages that a
person goes through in the process of
dying. Well, I can tell you that when I
heard of the Marists retiring from Our
Lady of Victories, I went through my
own several stages. The first stage was
disbelief, the second was anger, then
a bit of depression, but then finally
acceptance. And I believe that the
acceptance came through meditation
on Our Blessed Mother under the title of
Our Lady of Victories.
The other name for Our Lady of Victories
is Our Lady of the Rosary. In 1571 when
the Muslims were coming to Europe with
a massive naval armada, the Christians
met them at Lepanto off the coast of
Greece. Pope Pius V had organized a
rosary crusade in Rome and throughout
Christendom, and with the help of Mary
the Muslim invasion was repulsed by a
8
much smaller force headed by Don Juan
of Austria who was only 24 years old.
Because of that victory Mary was called
Our Lady of Victories or equivalently Our
Lady of the Holy Rosary. Her feast day is
celebrated on October 7th.
Thoughts kept coming through my mind:
“Lovely things die.” “Lovely people die.”
“Flowers fade.” “Lovely institutions
come to an end.” But after it all there is
new life, new loveliness, in unexpected
ways and places. This is at the very heart
of the Paschal Mystery, death leading to
resurrection, death in favor of new life.
With these thoughts I reached a moment
of peace about the end of our Marist
ministry at Our Lady of Victories.
Yes, we must grieve, but the process must
not end in grieving but in expressions
of gratitude. I would now like to look
back in gratitude to all that has been
achieved here. In the process I am going
to mention certain names, which is
dangerous because you always leave
some people out. Our Lady of Victories
parish was not always here on Isabella
Street. It began in 1884, up on Beacon
Hill on Freeman Street. But soon Isabella
Street was chosen and a new church
was built which was dedicated by
Archbishop Williams of Boston in 1892.
Called ‘The French Church’ for years it
began as a church to serve a significant
French population, immigrants not
only from Canada but directly from
France. For a number of years the
parish had good attendance with many
Masses celebrated every day in both the
upper and lower Church. But then the
Massachusetts Turnpike was built and it
swept away a number of streets in which
our parishioners lived. But still some
people came, workers at John Hancock
and other office buildings attending the
noonday Mass. And every year a good
number of weddings were performed
here due to the beauty of the Church, the
long aisle, the beautiful organ, and the
proximity of the hotels. In these latter
years Our Lady of Victories Church was
not a traditional parish, but rather a
shrine for wayfarers.
And since 1892 many notable persons
have served here. I think of Fr. Hernin
Today’s Marists Magazine
Perennes who spent hour upon hour
in the confessional and was known
to many as the Cure of Ars of Boston.
He collected food and clothes for the
poor, a very holy man whose wake and
funeral Mass in 1960 was attended by
thousands. Then there was Brother
Benny always puttering around in the
church and handing out advice like
flowers. There was Fr. Gus Depatie, a
beloved pastor with a salty tongue, who
was also the confessor and spiritual
director of Cardinal Cushing and
whom he accompanied on many a
summer vacation. There was Fr. Phil
Laplante, a colorful and creative pastor
who brought actors from the theater
district to participate in the liturgy and
inaugurated the Marathon Mass the
day before the race on Patriot’s day, a
practice continued by his successors,
Fr. Gerard Demers and others. One day
in front of the Church a lady said to
Fr. Laplante: “I am Jewish, but I would
like a blessing.” So without missing a
beat Fr. Laplante began: “In the name
of Jehovah” and called down blessings
upon her. From this parish for a period
of about 40 years, a team of three
priests acted as full time chaplains
at Massachusetts General Hospital.
They would leave here at about 5:30
every morning armed with the Holy
Eucharist…
And for many years the parish center was
a home to Alcoholics Anonymous groups
as well as to an Overeaters’ Anonymous
group. In recent years the Medeiros
center for the hungry and homeless
moved here from Trinity Church and has
done yeoman’s work in favor of people in
need. We thank Sister Mary Ann Faucher
of the Marist Missionary Sisters for the
Spring 2016
spiritual guidance she has provided
on a weekly basis to visitors to the
Medeiros Center. The Marist Missionary
Sisters are our spiritual cousins and
we are grateful for their presence here
this morning. In their early days their
provincial headquarters was at 13
Isabella Street where they also ran a
religious goods store.
For many years 27 Isabella Street, the
OLV rectory, was also the office of the
Provincial Superior of the Boston or
Northeast province of Marists an area
which included the six New England
states, New York, Michigan and
Wisconsin.
A very special note of thanks is due to
perhaps the favorite and most beloved
group in this parish and rectory, the
Mexican sisters. They are members of the
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart
and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Through
their hard work our rectory is kept spic
and span and our meals are delicious
and well-balanced. But most of all they
are a spiritual grace and blessing to us
through their prayers and through their
example of good cheer in community.
Muchisimas gracias hermanas!
And I must not forget Mark Helmut, our
janitor, aided from time to time by Land
Julien, both of whom, after the parting
of Brother Roland Bernier, have been
charged with keeping our Church and
rectory dusted, swept and functioning.
I extend a very special word of thanks
to Fr. Joseph McLaughlin and Fr. Philip
Parent who have been the final Marist
pastor and parochial vicar at Our Lady
of Victories. In your name, I thank them
and the members of their parish council
for all they have done in these latter
years to make this parish a spiritual oasis
in the middle of the city of Boston.
And finally, most sincerely, in the name
of the Marist Fathers and Brothers I
extend our heartfelt thanks to all of
you the parishioners and visitors at
this Shrine, for your constant support
– prayerful, spiritual and financial. As
Cardinal John Henry Newman once said:
“The Church without the laity would
look ridiculous.” You are the ones who
make things go and we have been happy
to serve you. Let me end this last official
Marist sermon at our Lady of Victories
Church on the feast of the Epiphany
with these words: “Mary, Our Lady of
Victories, it has been our privilege to
serve you at this your shrine parish
since 1892. We thank you kindly for your
gracious assistance during these many
years. Deign to be our guide and a font of
hope as we move forward toward a new
future.”
9
Laudato Si at Notre Dame Prep
Marist Academy in Pontiac, Michigan
by Michael Kelly
Almost six years after the worst
environmental disaster in U.S. history,
NDPMA students welcome Earth Day
once again this year vowing to help make
their world a better place for themselves
and for generations to come.
On April 20, 2010, Earth Day that year, a
massive explosion on an offshore oildrilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico
killed 11 workers and sparked a huge fire
that eventually sank the rig. More than
200 million gallons of crude oil leaked
into the gulf over the next five months,
killing thousands of marine animals
and affecting thousands of people in the
fishing and tourist industry. This year,
as Earth Day comes on April 22, 2016,
here in the State of Michigan we are
still reeling from another catastrophic
human and environmental tragedy in
Flint, Michigan. The city continues to
struggle to recover from what for them
has been their own worst environmental
disaster—the contamination of the water
supply from lead into the drinking water.
Thirty freshman, sophomores, juniors
and seniors, however, are deeply
involved in environmental stewardship
by their participation in the school’s
Environmental Club. Formed in 2001, the
Environmental Club at NDP was created
to raise awareness among the student
body of how the small differences they
make in their everyday lives can make a
big impact in conserving resources and
protecting the environment.
One former Notre Dame student, Marty
Opthoff, who served as president of the
club, says the best thing any student
can do is to spread awareness of green
practices. “Simple things add up and
really make a difference,” he said.
“When we all work as a community,
we see big results.” Opthoff went on to
attend Michigan State University, and
he believes he and the other students
in the Environmental Club really did
make a difference in how the school as
a whole feels about its environmental
responsibility. “Just by encouraging my
10
The E-Club Puts Their Values to Work
friends to change their habits, this school
is a greener place.”
E-club members try to accomplish
environmental stewardship by recycling
paper and plastic throughout the
entire school and by sharing vital
information with all students through
announcements, regular meetings and
newsletters.
“In addition to educating others about
the environment, we try to show the
members of our club and other students
how they can do more,” said Ms. Garcia,
who has been on the faculty of Notre
Dame for seven years and is the group’s
faculty advisor. ”We participate in
Adopt-A-Highway to clean up Giddings
Road, we visit organic farms to help plant
trees, and we even visit a ‘green’ convent
to see how the nuns there practice
environmental sustainability.
“Also, we’ve helped to pick vegetables
and assisted in a year-end cleanup of a
local organic farm that donates food to
the needy.” Garcia also noted that the
entire Notre Dame community pitched
in recently by collecting and delivering
dozens of cases of desperately needed
bottled water to the people of Flint.
Sustainability also is a big part of what
Notre Dame’s e-club does. “We recycle
every week,” says Garcia. “Sustainability
refers to lowering your carbon footprint,
basically, by using less of the fossil fuels
we have available. This is done in many
ways, but I would say the NDP e-club
focuses on sustainability through our
recycling and environmental cleanup
efforts and by promoting general
awareness among students.”
Garcia notes that each member of the
group is very selfless in that cleaning
up after other people is not always all
that enjoyable. “These kids do it because
they care and because they know how
important it is to take responsibility for
the beautiful earth God gave us.”
Garcia says that keeping young people
today focused on the environment is as
important as ever. And that fits perfectly
with NDPMA’s mission of forming
“upright citizens.”
“I’ve always seen the earth as a gift from
God,” Garcia said. “If we don’t take care of
it, we are insulting Him.” She says that if
we are teaching our students to be upright
citizens, “we must also teach them to
be responsible for caring for the planet’s
water and air that is so precious to us.”
Today’s Marists Magazine
Ecology Club at École
Notre Dame des Victoires
by Mary Ghisolfo, Principal
The Ecology Club at École Notre Dame
des Victoires (NDV) in San Francisco, CA
oversees the recycling and composting
program at our school. Big blue bins,
used to collect cardboard, cans, glass
and plastic containers, along with
green bins used for composting organic
material including food scraps, bones,
milk cartons, and food soiled cardboard/
paper, sit prominently on the playground
and in the cafeteria.
Club members assist with the sorting
out of compostable items, recycled items
and garbage in the cafeteria at lunch
time. They also pick up and empty
the classroom recycle bins located
throughout the school. Additionally,
Spring 2016
NDV has regular visits from the San
Francisco Environment program which
informs the student body of the benefits
of continually participating in the
recycling and composting at school and
at home, both of which help to better care
for God’s creation-Mother Earth.
Shown in the photos are two seventh
grade members of the Ecology Club
picking up and recycling paper from the
classrooms and moving it to the large
bins on the playground.
11
Laudato Si and the Greening
of Marist School, Atlanta
by Fr. John Harhager, SM
Marist School in Atlanta began a schoolwide green initiative in 2009 creating
“The Terra Project: Marist Blue and Gold
Make Green.” Since the program began,
the school has taken many steps towards
greening the physical plant and campus,
introducing environmental issues into
the curriculum, and generally educating
students about care for creation. Both
the course on “Environmental Science”
as well as the Environmental Club have
been instrumental in “greening” the
campus and have provided numerous
opportunities for students to get involved
in the process. Since Pope Francis
published his encyclical Laudato Si last
May, his words are reminding students
and all of us of the importance of caring
for the Earth, and they affirmed the
efforts already adopted by the school
community which include recycling,
composting, and reducing waste. Just
this fall the Environmental Science
students researched and prepared project
proposals for Marist campus which
included completing restoration and
planting work alongside Nancy Creek,
planting pollinator gardens, removing
invasive species, and installing a “Bug
Hotel” to provide habitat and food for
beneficial insects. Furthermore, the
Environment Club has hosted two
creek cleanups and a campus cleanup
since August. The school also recently
received a donation of 200 tree seedlings
from Trees Atlanta, a local non-profit
dedicated to preserving greenspace in
the Atlanta area. All the trees have now
been planted along the riparian buffer
of the creek which runs through the
campus.
prayer based on the same theme. Posters
and signs around the school address
issues such as access to clean water and
the accumulation of waste, challenging
students to make better choices when
it comes to buying water bottles or
anything with wasteful packaging. New
signage in the cafeteria continues to
educate students about what can be
recycled and composted. In addition,
food services continue to offer locallysourced food, and at the lunch checkout,
students have the option to donate a
dollar toward Catholic Relief Services.
Senior Andrea Marenco says “The best
part of working on “EnviroLent” is
seeing the environmental efforts we
began last year launch into action. This
burst of environmental enthusiasm on
campus is hard to miss. Considering
that an American’s average carbon
footprint is 20 tons per year, if even one
student is inspired to buy a disposable
water bottle or sort his or her lunch into
‘compostable,’ ‘recyclable’ and ‘trash’ we
will have succeeded.”
For more information, please contact
Amelia Luke, Director of Sustainability at
[email protected]
TOP: Look What I Found in the Creek
BOTTOM: The Nancy Creek Clean Up Crew
This year, for Lent, sustainability has
become the focus and students are now
calling the 40-day period “EnviroLent.”
Student volunteers have worked with the
school’s Director of Sustainability and
the Campus Ministry department to put
together programs to last all forty days
of Lent. Each school day begins with
a quote from Laudato Si followed by a
12
Today’s Marists Magazine
MANY CULTURES:
One Marist Mission in Atlanta, GA
by Fr. Thomas Ellerman, SM
In the late 1890s, when the Marist Society arrived in Georgia,
Atlanta was a city of over two hundred thousand inhabitants.
It had an up-to-date infrastructure so necessary for a
transportation, manufacturing, distribution and commercial
center. Such a city attracted not only those from other
American locations, but immigrants as well. It was a diverse
urban center composed of Americans, Europeans, Middle
Easterners, Africans and a small mixture of others from Central
and South America and Asia.
The Marists themselves were a mixed group of immigrants
and Americans. They were from France, Ireland, Luxemburg,
Alsace-Lorraine, and England. Bishop John Gunn, SM, the
founder of Sacred Heart Parish and Marist College (today the
Marist School) was himself an immigrant. One can imagine
that community recreation must have sounded like the Tower
of Babel. Since the Marist missionary outreach extended to
practically all of north Georgia, sparsely populated and largely
non-Catholic, the Fathers sometimes encountered small
groups of Catholic immigrants in surprising places.
In 1951, when the diocese was still Savannah-Atlanta, an outlying suburban portion
of what had been Sacred Heart (then Christ the King) parish territory was set aside for
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. In 1965 the Marists relinquished Sacred Heart
Parish, which by that time was an inner-city church, and assumed pastoral care of
Our Lady of the Assumption.
Today the metropolitan area of Atlanta has over three million inhabitants, who are
diverse in every possible way. It goes without saying that this diversity has influenced
and enriched Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. Today, the parish is spiritual home
to three different groups – the main body of parishioners, who themselves are a
culturally diverse group, an Indonesian Catholic community, and a Spanish-speaking
community. Father Joel Grissom, SM, provides the latter group with weekly Mass and
other pastoral services. The parish also hosts “Instituto Fe y Vida.” What is that? In
1994 a group of Christian Brothers and lay professionals founded the “Institute” to
meet the pastoral needs of Hispanic youth and young adults. Today it is a national
non-profit Catholic leadership Institute widely recognized as the authority in the field
of Hispanic youth and young adult ministry in the United States. “Instituto Fe y Vida”
offers many programs on several levels – initial formation, bible study, catechesis, and
leadership. Within the parish boundaries, the Marist School offers a GED program to
Spanish speakers through its “Centro Hispano Marista.”
Three or four times a month a priest from Chicago offers Mass for the Indonesian
Catholic community in their native tongue. Since many of the younger members of
the Indonesian community have English as their first language, once a month Mass
is offered for them in English. Periodically, all three language groups in the parish
come together to celebrate special occasions like Christmas Midnight Mass and the
Easter Vigil.
In 1951 Archbishop Gerald P. O’Hara, the bishop of Savannah-Atlanta, approved the
new parish and suggested the name “Our Lady of the Assumption.” Little did he know
at the time that a dozen years later the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (“Lumen
Gentium”) of Vatican Council II would describe Mary’s Assumption into heaven as “a
sign of certain hope and comfort to the Pilgrim People of God.”
Spring 2016
TOP: The Indonesian community praying the Stations
on Stone Mt.
BOTTOM: Fr. Joel Grissom, SM, baptizing a young
Guatemalan.
13
1816-2016
A Fourvière Moment in Atlanta
by Jack Ridout, Vocation Director
Every year in January Marist School
Atlanta encourages vocations with
speakers, classroom visits, and a dinner
for juniors and seniors. The dinner is
followed by a panel discussion where the
students can listen and ask questions to
religious sisters, brothers and priests as
well as to myself as the vocation director
of the Marist Fathers and Brothers.
This year, however, was different, very
different. After the vocation activities
last year in 2015, the idea of having the
entire Marist family somehow present for
2016 was considered. “Why not have the
Marist Brothers, the Marist Sisters and
Marist Missionary Sisters as well as the
Marist Fathers and Brothers be a part of
the vocation program?”
With this in mind we sent invitations to
the various Marist religious branches,
and we soon had an entire “Marist
Family” panel: Br. Todd Patenaude,
FMS (Marist Brothers’ vocation
director), Sr. Frances Feeley, SM (Marist
Sisters’ vocation director), Sr. Palepa
Ioane, SMSM (Marist Missionary
Sisters’ vocation director), and myself
representing the Marist Fathers and
Brothers.
As soon as we met one another, our
common spirit came through, even
though we were all basically strangers
to each other. This spirit of “family”
became evident in our thoughts, words
and actions for the next few days. Little
did we know that this very same spirit
would engage the students we spoke to
as well as the faculty and staff that heard
our message.
Instead of classroom visits, the different
grades assembled in the school chapel
where we presented the Marist Family
to them. We wanted to place the
beginnings of the Fathers, Sisters,
Brothers and Laity within the context
of the pledge made at the shrine of Our
Lady at Fourvière in Lyon, France in 1816.
14
If it were not for the 12 newly ordained
priests making that pledge to Our Lady
200 years ago, the school, faculty, the
priests, brothers and sisters would not be
speaking at Marist School today.
Each panel member was introduced to
the various classes (7th through 12th
grade) and explained how each group
began, their similar roots, spirituality
and charism and how this spirit of the
original Pledge at Fourvière is still alive
and thriving in each student, whether
they knew it or not.
At the end of the week each Marist
Religious offered impressions about the
“vocation days.”
Sr. Frances noted how “comfortable we
were with each other” and how it showed
when we spoke with the students and
others. The grouping of the students
at the evening discussion was most
valuable. For the first time, the girls were
separated from the boys, which resulted
in more meaningful conversations.” She
also noted how we talked to the teachers
as well as to the students.
Br. Todd thought “focusing on the
branches of the Marist Family was
good exposure for them. They seemed
interested, and I think it sparked some
thoughts about their future. I think
that a follow-up could be a part of their
ongoing religious classes.”
Sr. Palepa felt that her time spent at
the school “was grace-filled and joyful
and that this encounter will be an
unforgettable experience not only for the
students and the faculty but also for the
four members of the different branches
coming together with one mind and one
heart to proudly speak about their family.”
“It was a time that the Marist family
came together to continue making their
existence known to the next generation
about who we are as Marists and to allow
young people to see that we are not only
hard working religious, but that we are
also witnesses to God’s joyful presence in
our world.”
I was amazed at how all of us worked
together in presenting the Marist Family
to the students and indirectly to their
teachers. They asked good questions and
were eager to know more about what
“Marist” is all about. Teachers came up
to thank us and to indicate how much
they had learned about the Marists and
were anxious to continue this kind of
presentation. There was even talk of a
“vocation club” among the faculty, and
of the need for more open and frank
discussion about the Marist presence
and the need to foster vocations to the
Marists.
Here are some reflections from students
about the Marist Family:
•Awesome
• It was interesting to hear about all the
different options and paths you can
follow as a Marist priest or brother.
• I enjoyed it even more than I thought I
would.
• This was an awesome and funny
discussion and it showed a completely
different side of the priesthood and
really showed me the joy that comes
from religious life.
• This was the most engaged I have been
in a “God’s Calling” discussion because
of the personal feeling to it.
It is my hope that we have started
“something unique for our Marist
Family, especially our Marist Fathers
and Brothers community and school
in Atlanta as Sr. Palepa put it “that the
outcome of our visit and presence will
inspire the hearts of the faculty and staff
to continue with something similar so as
to respond to the unheard needs of the
students, parents and faculty.”
Today’s Marists Magazine
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News Briefs
Provincial Chapter, Belleville, Illinois
US Province of the Marists are preparing for a Provincial Chapter from June 25 to 28, 2016
in Belleville, Illinois. These formal meetings of the Province occur about every four years
and are a moment of review and evaluation of mission and community life in the Province.
The Province will be having a retreat the previous week, and will also spend a day and half
of consultation with the members of the Province gathered there on the questions to be
dealt with at the Provincial Chapter. The Superior General sends one of the assistants to
bring any issues from the General Society that may be relevant. Chapters of the General
Society occur every eight years. Among the issues to be dealt with there is the future of the
US Province’s relationship with the Marist Provinces of Mexico and Canada.
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North American Provincials and their Councilors along with the Superior General.
OBITUARY:
Father James McGoldrick, SM, 1941-2015
Father James McGoldrick, SM was diagnosed with cancer over the
Thanksgiving holiday last November and rapidly declined. He passed
away in the midst of his brother Marists and his birth brother on the
afternoon of December 20, 2015. Jim was born on March 6, 1941, and
made Profession into the Society of Mary on September 8, 1961. After
studies at Marist College in Washington, DC, and in Rome, he was
ordained to the priesthood on February 18, 1967.
He served in many apostolates of the Society of Mary and in different parts of the country
beginning with St. Joseph’s Parish, Marietta, GA from 1967-69; Marist College, Washington,
DC from 1969-71, as part of the formation team; Marist Novitiate, New Orleans, LA, and
Washington, DC from 1971-78, as the assistant and later as novice master; Marist School,
Atlanta, GA, 1978-87 as Teacher of religion and Latin; St. Peter Chanel High School,
Bedford, OH, from 1987-94 as the Assistant Principal and teacher; at Marist College,
Washington DC from 1994-97, once again as part of the formation team; Our Lady of the
Assumption Parish, Atlanta, GA from 1994-2006 as Pastor leading the process of building
a new Church there; St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Wheeling, WV from 2006-2011 as Parochial
Vicar and Pastor; St Francis –St. Blaise Parish, Brooklyn, NY from 2011-2013 as Senior
Religious; and finally at St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton, NJ from 2013 until his
death. Obviously Jim touched the lives of numerous people over these many assignments
in both ministry and leadership. His life and New Life were celebrated at a large Funeral
Mass at St. Raphael-Holy Angels in Hamilton and in memorial Masses in both Atlanta, GA
and in Wheeling, WV.
He is survived by his brother, Brother John McGoldrick FSC, Philadelphia, PA. If you would
care to make a contribution to the Province Senior Care Fund in the name of Fr. McGoldrick,
please use the envelop included.
Spring 2016
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Are you interested
in discerning a call
to priesthood or
brotherhood?
From Scripture to papal documents to poetry to pop culture
references – the” All About Mary” website of the Marianists at the
University of Dayton is true to its name. “This website is the largest
and most comprehensive site about Mother Mary,” says Marianist
Father Johann Roten, SM, director of research, art and special
projects for the Marian Library / International Marian Research
Institute. “It is a wonderful way for people around the world to
learn more about her.”
See contact information below.
No commitment necessary.
The University of Dayton’s Marian Library recently launched the “All
About Mary” website - an updated version of the Mary Page, a site
that was initiated two decades ago by Father Roten. The website
puts centuries of information about the world’s most famous
mother at anyone’s fingertips. The intent was to make the site
accessible to anyone with an interest in Mary - a graduate student
researching a thesis, a priest looking for text to support a homily,
a catechist completing a homework assignment, or someone who
simply wants to know why marigolds are named after Mary.
Checkout the website (https://goo.gl/bLz4Vl) for :
• Biblical references to Mary
• Devotions, meditations, and liturgical celebrations
• Miracles and apparitions
• Artistic portrayals of Mary
• Mary in film –from “Lord of the Rings” to “Pinocchio”
• Shrines and Churches associated with Mary in the USA and
worldwide
• Information on Mary in popular culture, including Marian
symbols in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
• Why a parrot is sometimes depicted in artistic works of Mary
16
Today’s Marists Magazine