Tweets, emails, the 24-hour news cycle, instantaneous access to non-stop information, entertainment, and distraction - carried around with us 24/7 in the palms of our hands. We complain about this reality even while being willingly consumed by it. People are hungry for a reconciliation of the need for silence and the draw of constant connection. Many today are turning to meditation and mindfulness training. Marianists have a ready response within the System of Virtues-the Five Silences. But how do we take this ahead-of-its-time wisdom of Father Chaminade and make it accessible in the 21st century? You can help provide an answer. NACMS is pleased to introduce an exciting opportunity for exploration and scholarship, f or study and sharing, for deep personal learning that can benefit the entire Marianist Family which we are calling MSP 2.0.

Why MSP 2.0?

In the 1970s, the Marianist Studies Program brought together lay and religious Marianists for summers of study in a community context. NACMS has developed a 21st century update, MSP 2.0, which includes several of the key elements of the original Marianist Studies Program in a format more compatible with today's lifestyles.

What is MSP 2.0?

As a participant in MSP 2.0 you will engage in a year-long program of inquiry both as an individual and within a community of scholars. The topic for this year is The Five Silences: Marianist Mindfulness for the 21st Century. Background reading, video, and conversation will help prepare you for monthly virtual meetings where you will interact with experts and share your developing ideas. As you begin to focus on a particular aspect of the topic NACMS personnel will guide you to appropriate resources. A centerpiece of the program is a week at NACMS where you will finalize your research in our extensive library while continuing to build community with your colleagues. You will then have about six weeks to synthesize your learning into a final product, print or other media, to be published by NACMS.

This sounds serious. How much time is required?

It is serious. We are interested in developing an ever-widening circle of scholarship in Marianist Studies and in high quality, publishable products. That takes time. We have designed the program with an expected time commitment of approximately 10 hours per month, including the virtual meetings, plus the week of in-person time at NACMS, planned for June 2018. I'm interested, but I'm not a scholar. Could I be a candidate for MSP 2.0? You do not need to be a scholar, but you do need to be willing to engage in serious study under the guidance of NACMS personnel. You should have a basic knowledge of things Marianist (e.g. the Marianist Founders, the Marianist charism). A basic knowledge of the System of Virtues would be helpful, but can be supplemented by the provided materials. Primary requirements are a desire to learn and the ability to participate fully in the program.

What does it cost? 

The cost of the program is $250. This includes transportation, food, and lodging for the week at NACMS, access to NACMS personnel throughout the program, and all materials, including shipping. The materials alone represent an over $250 value. Financial aid is available.

For more information Click Here.

 MLC-NA 2017 Lay Assembly

The NACMS staff will be in attendance at the MLC-NA 2017 Lay Assembly. Please come by and say hello if you will be there,too. You will be able to find us in several locations.

Vendor Table:  We will be hosting a vendor's table with some of our best selling books available for purchase. We will have lots of copies of the Marianist Founders' Bundle books mentioned earlier in the newsletter that you may buy sale prices. As always, you can go to the NACMS Bookstore and order any of our books online at anytime.

Sharing Our Marianist Story:

Members of the Marianist Family will have several opportunities to share their Marianist Stories following the StoryCorps style you may have heard on your NPR station. NACMS is collaborating with WYSO fm93.1 to record anyone interested in sharing their personal story or interviewing a friend or mentor. This is a project we hope to continue beyond the assembly as well, so stay tuned.

True Grit and Grace: The "Yes" of Our Marianist Founders: Grit is a today's buzzword describing what the "it" is that successful people possess. Sister Gabrielle Bibeau, FMI, Dan Jordan, and Patti Gehred will share examples from the Founders' lives showing the true grit and grace that sustained them as they overcame the challenges they encountered throughout their lives.

Marianist Leadership: The Essential Really is the Interior: As Marianists we are called to continue Mary's mission of bringing Christ to life in the world. This involves intentionally exerting influence within the context of relationships, the very definition of leadership. How can we stand in the world in ways that both exhibit leadership best practice and are distinctly Marianist? During this session George Lisjak, NACMS Director, will suggest some answers.

Tour of Mount St. John: If you take this tour please stop into the NACMS office. Staff members will be happy to show you our work space including our library which houses an extensive collection of Marianist materials.

A Summer Prayer

Creator of all, thank You for summer!

Thank You for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight.

Thank You for the beauty I see all around me and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation.

Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family, and for the more casual pace of the summer season.

Draw me closer to You this summer. Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing.

Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence, and light my path with Your Word and Counsel.

As I enjoy Your creation, create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.

Amen.

Thank you for reading.

The NACMS Staff