Dear Marists of Champagnat,
Blessings on this Champagnat Feast Day. Just a short note of sincere gratitude for all that you do each day to foster our Marist Charism and allow Champagnat's dream to continue to grow and deepen throughout our USA Province. Likewise, let us gratefully remember, in a special way today, all those Marist Brothers and Lay Marists who paved the way for us and helped build our many USA ministries, programs and legacy. We stand on their shoulders and carry the torch of our Marist Mission that they passed onto us.
As a USA Province, we are graced today to be able to welcome forty-one Lay Marists who will formally commit to being a Marist of Champagnat. Each of these Lay Marists recently completed a six-month Formation Program within our Province. We are further blessed that our two current postulants, Ryan Richter and Rob Dittus (AMHS '15) will be soon entering into our USA Novitiate in September as they continue their formation to becoming Marist Brothers.
From the earliest days of our founding, St Marcellin entrusted the needs of all our Brothers, Lay Marists, young people and our many schools and programs to Mary, our Good Mother. He knew that under her protection, all our unspoken prayers and needs would be met. On this his Feast Day, let us continue to entrust all the needs of our Marist world to the sacred heart of Mary. May she continue to watch over our Marist world and all of us that are blessed to be part of it.
Br. Dan O'Riordan, FMS, '85 | US Provincial