THE FULCRUM
September 2021 - Back to School Edition
From the National Office
This is What We Live For!

What a summer for Marianist LIFE! While our initial hopes were for in-person programs this past summer, we made the difficult decision to shift our efforts to a hybrid, virtual program. Our Regional Coordinators, Coordinating Teams, and Moderators rose to the challenge and facilitated an incredible experience for each of our three regions. And while the new format posed new challenges, there were so many blessings and highlights from our summer. We had 206 LIFErs participate in the program, which was more accessible for many due to the local nature of each team's gathering. This number includes the team from Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, New York, who came to LIFE for the very first time this year and plans to join us again at LIFE South in 2022. Additionally, we welcomed Sr. Gabby Bibeau, FMI and Bro. Mark Motz, SM to all three programs to lead a vocations session. St. Vincent-St. Mary and Villa Angela-St. Joseph partnered up for portions of the program as did Chaminade-Julienne and Queen of Apostles. As you can see, we have much to celebrate as we wrap up the summer and look forward to seeing the many ways our LIFErs will build Christian community in their schools and parishes this year.

At the conclusion of LIFE Pacific, I asked students from my small group to share one word to describe the experience. Words students shared included eye-opening, refreshing, important, faithful, life-giving and life-changing. May we all remember that these words could also be used to describe our relationships with Mary and with Jesus. Let's pray together for our students to continue to deepen these relationships and to have the courage to invite their peers and classmates to do the same.

#ThisIsWhatWeLiveFor,
Erica Duarte, LIFE Coordinator
SUMMER LIFE 2022
We plan to offer in-person, regional programs in the summer of 2022. Updates and confirmed dates will be posted on our website at www.marianist.com/life. A sincere thank you to the three individuals who will serve as Regional Coordinators. If you have questions about the summer program, please contact Erica Duarte or Deanna Snyder at marianistlife@sm-usa.org.

LIFE 2022 Regional Coordinators

  • LIFE Central - Emmy Hamilton, Queen of Apostles

  • LIFE Pacific - Christopher Casupang, Saint Louis School

  • LIFE South - Antonio Mari, Fordham University Doctoral Student
MODERATOR REFLECTION - SUMMER 2021 PROGRAM
Lauren Doodian – Kellenberg Memorial
Uniondale, New York
 
When I’m asked about what my first year teaching during the pandemic was like, I often don’t know what to say. How can you put such a year into words? However, when I truly think about it all, I’m reminded of one of the most well-known miracles of the Gospels: “Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand.” With five loaves and two fishes, Jesus created a bounty; an abundant blessing which overflowed and bestowed so much joy on the crowd. With little materials provided, Jesus took what He was given, multiplied it, and shared it. This is why God became Man. He came so that “we might have LIFE… and have it ABUNDANTLY” (John 10:10).
 
Being able to participate in the Marianist LIFE South program this summer was a huge blessing for the students and moderators from Kellenberg Memorial High School. It was our first year participating in the program, so we weren’t sure what to expect. However, when I found out I would be working with my fellow teachers, James O’Brien and Theresa Vogel, and after seeing the tireless work put in by the LIFE team, I knew we'd be in for a powerful experience. And boy, was I right!

Watching our students connect in fellowship with other students from around the country through Zoom was a true joy. Being a part of the extraordinary legacy of Marianist LIFE has shown our students that they are active participants of this world and that their actions create an impact. Seeing them become better and more motivated leaders, hungry to bring LIFE to our campus reminded me why I wanted to become a teacher in the first place. Our students, along with all the other LIFErs, are doing exactly what we live for - glorifying God by taking what blessings we have, sharing them, and multiplying them. Spending the week at Marianist LIFE has shown me that they are the light in the darkness of this world and the future of our Church is filled with so much hope. And for that, I am so grateful. 
LIFE at St. Vincent - St. Mary
The Fighting Irish LIFE Team Leads the Rosary
During the 2020-2021 school year, LIFErs from St. Vincent - St. Mary High School in Akron Ohio, helped encourage their peers during a difficult year by leading the Rosary. LIFEr Annie Hart says, "Praying the rosary before school really decreases morning stress. When you start the day knowing everything is in God’s hands, it’s much easier to face whatever happens! My friends in Marianist LIFE help me to grow in my faith and encourage each other to keep God central in our lives."
 
Pictured here are members of the LIFE Team, who also serve as the 8 House Chaplains. St. Vincent St. Mary’s launched their House System for the first time last school year.
Thank you, Chaplains!
Our summer programs were enriched by the pastoral care of our Chaplains. Fr. Dan Griffin, SM (LIFE South), Fr. Bob Jones, SM (LIFE Central), and Fr. Marty Solma, SM (LIFE Pacific) offered spiritual support, sacraments, personal examples, and pastoral care to our teams and LIFErs. What a blessing to spend our days with them and benefit from their experience and knowledge!
Keep In Touch!
Is this the best email address to send Marianist LIFE updates? Are you a high school senior who will soon lose your school associated email address? Send us an email at marianistlife@sm-usa.org and let us know what address is best for you and we will be happy to update our address book! We want to be sure you stay connected to the LIFE community.
REFLECTION - Dave Campbell
Archbishop Moeller Faculty and LIFE Alumni
I remember high school as a very busy time. The schedule was exciting, exhausting, fun, and overwhelming, depending on the week. But Wednesday night was different - 7:00 pm at the Brother’s House, we met for LIFE. We always showed up a little early, the entire Marianist Community was available to greet us, and we stayed after the meeting to socialize. Bro. Tom, Fr. Kip, Fr. Marty, and Bro. Dan lead the program, but ALL the Brothers who lived in the community would make themselves available and made us feel welcome! LIFE was a time that we shared with friends, grew to fully understand Family Spirit, and were able to see the face of God through the time we spent with one another in prayerful conversation.

Fast forward 37 years and I am teaching at Archbishop Moeller High School and while I was a LIFE Moderator at Purcell Marian for the first 10 years of my career, I had not worked with LIFE since 1997. With the impact of Covid-19 on all our school’s activities, I heard a desire expressed by my students to gather with their peers during this crazy “new normal” and share about who and what is most important in their lives and where God fits into it all. In addition, my second daughter, Emma (who was a Senior at the all-female Mount Notre Dame High School), expressed that her friends were looking for much of the same. Without hesitation my mind wandered back to the Terrace Community and the friendships and peace that were discovered at those Wednesday night LIFE meetings. After a short conversation with Kevin Wood, Moeller LIFE Moderator, I found myself carving out a couple hours on the first and third Wednesday of each month to gather with 18-25 high school students from Mount Notre Dame and Moeller to share about LIFE. 

When I moved to Moeller, an all-boys school, I knew I would not always be able to share in my daughters’ experiences. While I have been able to join them on service trips and smiled at their successes from afar, I have enjoyed these Wednesday evenings at LIFE, watching students make new friends, hang out singing and dancing together in the parking lot after meetings, and share at a meaningful level. Yet, most of all, I have enjoyed sharing with my daughter, Emma, the gift of LIFE - the laughter, the time shared together and the prayerful conversation that I will cherish for the rest of my life. The gift of LIFE that was shared with me as a student because I was blessed to attend a Marianist high school, is the same gift that continues to make God real in young peoples’ lives (AND moderators’) even after all these years. So, I write today in thanksgiving for an incredible and loving family and children that touch the soul in ways that you never imagined. In thanksgiving for a job that challenges me daily to seek God and that provides the privilege of accompanying others along their journey. And finally, in thanksgiving for the gift of the Marianists in my life, and the wisdom and vision of the LIFE Program which has touched the lives of so many for so many years and continues to bring teachers and students together in true Family Spirit.
Support Marianist LIFE
LIFE Teams are blessed with the opportunity to participate in the summer program, an experience they bring back to their schools and parishes through community meetings and service. The summer program is the starting point for their leadership in ministry, which we hope will extend far beyond their high school years. The lasting effect of LIFE is amazing to see.
 
To support Marianist LIFE, please click on the image below.
Summer LIFE 2021 Snapshots


Students at Kellenberg Memorial High School gather for Mass at LIFE South, streamed virtually from Assumption Chapel at St. Mary's University. LIFE South Chaplain, Fr. Dan Griffin, SM, serves as Chaplain of the Latin School at Kellenberg.


The LIFE Central Coordinating Team made the most of their evenings during the program! They served Marianist PULSE by helping to get their house ready, joined the Chambers Street Marianist community for dinner, and attended a Dayton Dragons baseball game where they jumped on the field for some fun competition!


The LIFE Team from Saint Louis School in Honolulu, Hawaii gathered on their campus to participate in LIFE Pacific. They are pictured here with members of the Coordinating Team, who broadcast the program from Campus Ministry at Saint Louis School.

Support our LIFE South Home - Tecaboca
Tecaboca FundRun

Join the FundRun for Tecaboca, a Marianist center for spiritual renewal outside Kerrville, Texas. It’s easy to participate - find a route to walk/run near your home and get your family or friends together to create a small team. Visit the fundraising page to create a team and gather pledges for your walk/run or make a donation. There will be prizes for the individual and team that raise the most and an online silent auction. Set out for your walk or run on Saturday, September 11 and watch the Tecaboca Facebook page for live updates throughout the day. Share your videos and pictures using #TecabocaFundRun21. Commit to walk/run and learn more about the event at https://givepul.se/aei6rg. Tecaboca is seeking business/family sponsors for the event as well at https://givepul.se/gttehk