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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Marcellin Champagnat, who founded the Marist Institute over 200 years ago. His mission of making Jesus Christ known and loved has revealed itself in many forms, especially in the education of young people and through service to those most in need. As we near the end of the 2021-22 school year, we are blessed to reflect on a busy year full of academic and athletic achievements, service and solidarity, friendship, and lasting memories. The mission of St. Marcellin Champagnat continues at Molloy. Please continue reading below for a special message from our US Provincial, Br. Dan O'Riordan '85.
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June 6, 2022 Dear Marist Family, Blessings on this Feast Day of St. Marcellin Champagnat. 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 have much to be grateful for as many blessings continue to be bestowed on us such as. · Last weekend, more than 120 students from our 10 Marists schools around the country as well as young people from St. Benedict’s parish in Blue Island, IL attended the Marist Youth Gathering in Esopus. The theme for this year’s conference was “Oh My Soul, Rejoice” which helped kicked off our yearlong Marial Prayer theme for the Province. Let us pray that all those young people will like Mary, "Go in Haste," to serve many in our world. · We were graced yesterday to welcome Sixty-two Lay Marists who formally committed to being a Marist of Champagnat. Each of these members of our 2nd Cohort recently completed their six-month Marists of Champagnat Formation Program. On behalf of our Province, I congratulate each of them and look forward to the many ways they will help to foster and deepen our Marist Mission. I also would like to sincerely thank all those who walked with them during the Formation process as their companions as well as our USA Council of Lay Marist for their continued leadership and dedication. The Institute recently launched a Year of Marist Vocations. I believe there is no way we can better honor the legacy of Marcellin than for each of us to continue to encourage and foster vocations to both the Marist Brothers and to the vocation of being a Lay Marist. Surely, our saintly founder was looking down yesterday with great pride knowing that his USA Province is blessed with many that are committed to following his dream by living both of these needed vocations. Let us continue to pray for all our Marists of Champagnat, our Novices and all who might be discerning a Marist vocation. 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. Blessings and Gratitude, Brother Dan O’Riordan, FMS (AMHS '85) Provincial Marist Brothers USA Province |
