November 2, 2020
Feast of All Souls
Dear Friends,
2020 has certainly been a year like no other in our lifetime. Personal lives, work lives, and faith lives have all been challenged. In many ways our lives will not be the same.
We have experienced new ways of being together and being present to one another. And our lives as Lay Marianists have invited us into new experiences and opportunities. Despite challenges, the Marianist Lay Community of North America experienced many milestones in 2020.
- Our triennial assembly was held virtually and included wonderful keynote speakers and breakout sessions. Recordings are available online!
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Area Reps continued their outreach to make connections to Lay Marianists and Marianist Lay Communities. The result is better connections and relationships and a more accurate membership database of Lay Marianists in North America.
- Our members are engaged in leadership and participation with local Marianist Family Councils.
- We launched a new website, giving Lay Marianists more visibility and providing a go-to site for resources.
- We initiated the Year of Shared Discernment – a collective opportunity for all Lay Marianists to reflect on and be in conversation about the lay vocation to know, commit to, and live the Marianist charism. If you or your community have not participated, please visit the website to learn more.
- We maintain paid Zoom accounts that are available to Marianist Lay Communities and committees to meet virtually.
- We provided financial contributions to the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative and the International Organization of Marianist Lay Communities.
2020 has also been a year of losses in the Marianist Family. Many “giants” who were also particularly supportive of the lay vocation joined the Communion of Saints. As we recall Dias de los Muertos - All Saints and All Souls – let us give thanks for all those who have gone before us, those who formed and nurtured us, and those who were our heroes, role models, and champions.
As I close this letter, I also give thanks for YOU. The things outlined above are possible due to many volunteer hours and
contributions from Lay Marianists and Marianist Lay Communities. For this work to continue, we need your ongoing
support. Please consider making an
online contribution or send one to PO Box 19444, Cincinnati, OH 45219. Your support today will help us plan for 2021.
