Monday, November 7, 2016

Bicentennial Celebration in Mexico


The First Bicentennial Celebration in the Province

Puebla and Querétaro, México

November 3-6, 2016



The Marianists of Mexico were very busy over the past few days celebrating the arrival of the Icon from Argentina.  Mexico is the first stop for the Icon pilgrimage in the Province of the United States.  The Brothers in Puebla celebrated with local Lay Marianists one evening and with members from other religious communities another evening.  The Icon was brought to Mexico by Sr. Gloria, FMI from Argentina.  She spoke about Mother Adele in the gatherings in both Puebla and Queretaro.



The Brothers from Puebla arrived in Queretaro on Friday in time for us to process from the Marianist community to the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Colonia of Amanacer.  More than 50 children wearing white and waving banners led the procession of the Icon to the Chapel for a Solemn Evening Prayer.  Close to 100 people were in attendance.  During the Evening Prayer Fr. Quentin and Sr. Gloria spoke about the Fr. Chaminade and Mother Adele respectively.  After the short talks about the Founders, the people had an opportunity to come and reverence the Icon and the relics.  It was a very touching and moving experience for all involved as people came forth to pray for so many different needs. True to good Marianist hospitality, a social was held in the hall for all those who attended.


Booklet and Prayer Cards




Chapel Queretaro



Procession from the Community to the Chapel
Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel

Sr. Gloria, FMI (Argentina)

Fr. Quentin, S.M.

Br. Fermin and Br. Nereo during veneration of the relics


Marianist wearing the Bicentennial

Community Processes to the Mass



On Saturday evening, the Brothers once again processed from the community to the Chapel in anticipation of the Sunday liturgy.  The Chapel was filled to capacity.  It was a great vision of the Marianist charism with lay and religious gathered together to honor the legacy of Fr. Chaminade and Mother Adele.  After the celebration of the Eucharist, there was time for individuals to venerate the Icon and relics, as well as, gather in the hall for refreshments.  After the events of the evening, the religious held their own Evening Prayer in the community Chapel and celebrated with a festive meal of pozole.  The arrival of the icon and relics definitely raised our spirit and our commitment to our vocation! We hope that each community in the Province is inspired and strengthened by the presence of our Founders!

Homily, November 5, 2016

Celtic Alleluia

Good Evening Church! If you are happy to be here today, say Alleluia! Turn to the person next to you and say, I am happy to be here! We gather here this afternoon to give praise to God for two hundred years of Marianist life in our world.  This afternoon we give thanks to God for Fr. Chaminade and Mother Adele.  We give thanks for the Society of Mary, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Lay Marianists throughout the world who commemorate the Bicentennial of the founding of the religious communities of the Marianist Family.  It is good for us to be here, Amen?
The Word of God offer us today some words that exemplify Fr. Chaminade and Mother Adele and also words that can help all of us on our Christian journey.  The three words are: Belief, Sacrifice, and Fidelity.  Repeat after me, Belief, Sacrifice, Fidelity.  So let us see how the Word of God can shed some light upon these words and the life of our founders.
In the end, it all starts with Belief.  All things are possible for those who believe, Amen? In the Book of Maccabees, the young men held a belief and were willing to risk their lives for that belief.  They would not defile their bodies with pork and refused to dishonor their beliefs by eating pork in order to save their own lives.  It takes a deep belief in something in order to risk your life for it, Amen? These men gave their lives for their beliefs. They too believed in the resurrection and that they would be rewarded in the next life for their faith.  When we believe so deeply, we are determined in life.  Both Fr. Chaminade and Mother Adele had a deep faith and conviction.  They had a deep belief in the Marianist project.  An older man and a young woman shared the belief that Jesus and his mother wanted them to do something for them in founding a religious institute.  They had a belief in the mission.  They had a belief in the story of the Wedding at Cana, they believed that they would, Do Whatever He tells you.  And so they did.  They believed in the power of the resurrection and so lived their lives with determination and joy. Their belief, their determination, their conviction inspired others to join them to be part of a religious family that would embrace the mission of Mary- that of developing communities of faith and bringing Jesus into the world.  And so two hundred years later Marianist Brothers, Sisters and Priests continue the legacy and inspiration of Fr. Chaminade and Mother Adele that began in Agen and Bordeaux and now continues in cities throughout the world in places like Madrid, Paris, San Antonio, Honolulu, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Seoul, Tokyo, Nairobi, Bangalore, Rome, Kara, Lima, Santiago, New York, Puebla and Queretaro.  Do not underestimate the impact that belief can have in your life and in the lives of people you encounter.  Because of the belief of Fr. Chaminade and Mother Adele, this American finds himself living and ministering in Mexico.  Belief opens us up to possibilities that we could never have imagined possible.  Belief helps us stand firm in the midst of conflict, distress, pain and suffering.  Belief unites us and inspires us to be more than we thought was possible.  Belief is contagious.  Today we celebrate the belief of the young men in Maccabees, the belief of our founders, the belief in the resurrection and the belief that God will do something great in our lives, Amen?  For this we sing..
                                                      Celtic Alleluia
The second word that the Word of God brings to us this day is Sacrifice.  We all know that life demands sacrifice, Amen? Sacrifice unites us to one another.  When we sacrifice our own needs, we become part of something bigger than ourselves.  We are connected to others when we sacrifice.  They young men sacrificed and risked for their beliefs.  The path of the Lord demands sacrifice.  We know that because Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life for each and every one of us.  Fr. Chaminade and Mother Adele sacrificed much in their lives to see their dream become a reality.  Fr. Chaminade lived a long life and saw many conflicts and misunderstanding in the life of the Society of Mary.  He saw many success and failures in ministry and often times needed to sacrifice his ideas and his desires for the common good.  Mother Adele sacrificed greatly to begin the Daughters of Mary.  Many of the first sisters in the community suffered infirmities and death in the early years of the foundation.  Mother Adele suffered health issues and died at a very early age.  She sacrificed her life for the growth of the community.  Sacrifice helps us to be centered on the other person and not on ourselves.  I think we have all had the experience that even in our sacrifice we benefit somehow from the sacrifice, for it is giving that we receive, Amen?  And so what do you believe in so strongly that would lead you to sacrifice?  Fr. Chaminade sacrificed.  Mother Adele sacrificed.  Will you? For the many sacrifices we make each day for our families, for our friends, and for our Church together we sing:

                                                          Celtic Alleluia

The third word that the Word of God offers us today is fidelity.  Fidelity to a person, an idea, or a project is admirable, Amen? I think in our society today, we are in need of more fidelity, Amen? The young men in Maccabees maintained fidelity to their faith, to their traditions, to their way of life.  Fidelity helps us to grow deeper as a person.  It helps us to know when to say yes and when to say no to a person, an idea or a project.  Fidelity is like a compass.  When we are unfaithful, we go off course and may be lost.  Fidelity keeps us on course, it gives us direction in our lives.  Jesus reminds us that fidelity to the idea of the resurrection will keep us faithful and on the path while we are still here on earth.  Both Fr. Chaminade and Mother Adele lived a life of fidelity to their vocation and to their mission.  The special vow of stability unites all Marianists to fidelity to their vocation and their consecration to Mary.  Fidelity is a reminder to each of us as to who we are and who we are not, what we will do and what we will not do, for what we should choose and what we should not choose.  Fidelity is the plan for our life and for our life choices. 
And so I would ask the members of the Society of Mary and the Daughters of Mary to please stand.  Sister and brothers, today in Mexico we honor and celebrate two hundred years of history and service to the Church in our world.  These three words: Belief, Sacrifice and Fidelity will guide us for the remainder of our days.  As we honor our founders, we too honor our vocation and are called to re-commit our lives to the Marianist Family.  Today we are challenged to grow deeper in our faith, to sacrifice for the needs of others, and to be faithful to our call as vowed religious.  I encourage us to be proud of our heritage and to be open to our future.  May the motto of our Bicentennial Year, To Know, To Love, and To Serve, guide our thoughts, our actions, and our prayers during this year.  May we be witnesses of faith, hope, and love to the People of God.  May we live a life that is worthy of our calling.  And may the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be glorified in all places, through the Immaculate Virgin Mary…Amen

                                                               Celtic Alleluia

                                      Homilía, 5 de noviembre de 2016

                                                aleluya celta

¡buenas tardes Iglesia ¡Si ustedes están feliz de estar aquí hoy, digan Alleluia! Gira a la persona a su lado y decir, estoy feliz de estar aquí! Nos reunimos aquí esta tarde para alabar a Dios por doscientos años de vida marianista en nuestro mundo. Esta tarde damos gracias a Dios por el Padre. Chaminade y Madre Adela. Damos gracias por la Compañía  de María, las Hijas de María Inmaculada y los laicos marianistas de todo el mundo que conmemoran el Bicentenario de la fundación de las comunidades religiosas de la Familia Marianista. ¿Es bueno para nosotros que estemos aquí, Amén?
La Palabra de Dios nos ofrece hoy algunas palabras que ejemplifican al Padre. Chaminade y Madre Adela y también palabras que pueden ayudar a todos nosotros en nuestro camino cristiano. Las tres palabras son: Creencia, Sacrificio y Fidelidad. Repite después de mí, Creencia, Sacrificio, Fidelidad. Así que veamos cómo la Palabra de Dios puede illuminar alguna luz sobre estas palabras y sobre la vida de nuestros fundadores.
Al final, todo comienza con Creencia. Todas las cosas son posibles para los que creen, Amén? En el Libro de Macabeos, los jóvenes tenían una creencia y estaban dispuestos a arriesgar sus vidas por esa creencia. Ellos no contaminar sus cuerpos con cerdo y se negó a deshonrar sus creencias por comer carne de cerdo con el fin de salvar sus propias vidas. Se necesita una profunda creencia en algo con el fin de arriesgar su vida por ella, Amén? Estos hombres dieron sus vidas por sus creencias. Ellos también creían en la resurrección y que serían recompensados ​​en la próxima vida por su fe. Cuando creemos tan profundamente, estamos determinados en la vida. Tanto P. Chaminade y Madre Adela tenían una profunda fe y convicción. Tenían una profunda creencia en el proyecto marianista. Un hombre mayor y una mujer joven compartían la creencia de que Jesús y su madre querían que ellos hicieran algo por ellos en la fundación de un instituto religioso. Tenían una creencia en la misión. Tenían una creencia en la historia de la boda en Caná, creían que lo harían, Haz lo que Él les diga. Y así les hicieron. Creían en el poder de la resurrección y así vivían sus vidas con determinación y alegría. Su creencia, su determinación y su convicción inspiraron a otros a unirse a ellos para formar parte de una familia religiosa que abrazaría la misión de María: desarrollar comunidades de fe y traer a Jesús al mundo. Y así, doscientos años más tarde, hermanos marianistas, hermanas y sacerdotes continúan el legado y la inspiración del P. Chaminade y Madre Adela que comenzaron en Ajen y Burdeos y ahora continúan en ciudades de todo el mundo en lugares como Madrid, París, San Antonio, Honolulu, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Seúl, Tokio, Nairobi, Bangalore, Roma, Kara, Lima, Santiago, Nueva York, Puebla y Querétaro. No subestime el impacto que la creencia puede tener en su vida y en las vidas de las personas que encuentre. Debido a la creencia del P. Chaminade y Madre Adela, este americano se encuentra viviendo y ministrando en México. La creencia nos abre a posibilidades que nunca habríamos imaginado posibles. La creencia nos ayuda a permanecer firmes en medio del conflicto, la angustia, el dolor y el sufrimiento. La fe nos une y nos inspira a ser más de lo que creíamos posible. La creencia es contagiosa. Hoy celebramos la creencia de los jóvenes en Macabeos, la creencia de nuestros fundadores, la creencia en la resurrección y la creencia de que Dios hará algo grande en nuestras vidas, Amén. Para esto cantamos.
                                                 Aleluya celta

La segunda palabra que la Palabra de Dios nos trae hoy es Sacrificio. Todos sabemos que la vida exige sacrificio, Amén. El sacrificio nos une el uno al otro. Cuando sacrificamos nuestras propias necesidades, nos convertimos en parte de algo más grande que nosotros mismos. Estamos conectados a otros cuando nos sacrificamos. Los jóvenes sacrificaban y se arriesgaban por sus creencias. El camino del Señor exige sacrificio. Sabemos que porque Jesús dio el último sacrificio de su vida por cada uno de nosotros. P. Chaminade y Madre Adela sacrificaron mucho en sus vidas para ver su sueño convertido en una realidad. Fr. Chaminade vivió una larga vida y vio muchos conflictos y malentendidos en la vida de la Compañía de María. Vio muchos éxitos y fracasos en el ministerio y muchas veces necesitaba sacrificar sus ideas y sus deseos por el bien común. Madre Adela se sacrificó mucho para comenzar las Hijas de María. Muchas de las primeras hermanas en la comunidad sufrieron debilidades y muerte en los primeros años de la fundación. La madre Adela sufrió problemas de salud y murió de muy joven de una edad.  Ella sacrificó su vida por el crecimiento de la comunidad. El sacrificio nos ayuda a centrarnos en la otra persona y no en nosotros mismos. Creo que todos hemos tenido la experiencia de que incluso en nuestro sacrificio nos beneficiamos de algún modo del sacrificio, porque es dar que recibimos, Amén? Y entonces, ¿en qué crees tan fuertemente que te llevaría a sacrificar? P. Chaminade se sacrificó. Madre Adela se sacrificó. ¿Uds. Podrían? Por los muchos sacrificios que hacemos cada día para nuestras familias, para nuestros amigos y para nuestra Iglesia juntos cantamos:
                                         Aleluya celta

La tercera palabra que la Palabra de Dios nos ofrece hoy es la fidelidad. La fidelidad a una persona, una idea o un proyecto es admirable, Amén? Creo que en nuestra sociedad actual, necesitamos más fidelidad, Amén. Los jóvenes de Macabeos mantuvieron la fidelidad a su fe, a sus tradiciones, a su modo de vida. La fidelidad nos ayuda a crecer más profundamente como persona. Nos ayuda a saber cuándo decir sí y cuándo decir no a una persona, una idea o un proyecto. La fidelidad es como una brújula. Cuando somos infieles, salimos de rumbo y podemos perderse. La fidelidad nos mantiene en el rumbo, nos da la dirección en nuestras vidas. Jesús nos recuerda que la fidelidad a la idea de la resurrección nos mantendrá fieles y en el camino mientras todavía estamos aquí en la tierra. Tanto P. Chaminade y Madre Adela vivieron una vida de fidelidad a su vocación y a su misión. El voto especial de estabilidad une a todos los marianistas a la fidelidad a su vocación y a su consagración a María. La fidelidad es un recordatorio para cada uno de nosotros en cuanto a quiénes somos y quiénes no somos, qué haremos y qué no haremos, para qué debemos elegir y qué no debemos elegir. La fidelidad es el plan para nuestra vida y para nuestras elecciones de vida.
Y por eso pido a los miembros de la Compañía de María y de las Hijas de María Inmaculada que se pongan de pie. Hermana y hermanos, hoy en México honramos y celebramos doscientos años de historia y servicio a la Iglesia en nuestro mundo. Estas tres palabras: Creencia, Sacrificio y Fidelidad nos guiarán para el resto de nuestros días. Al honrar a nuestros fundadores, también honramos nuestra vocación y somos llamados a re-comprometer nuestras vidas a la Familia Marianista. Hoy nos desafían a profundizar en nuestra fe, a sacrificarnos por las necesidades de los demás y a ser fieles a nuestro llamado como religiosos prometidos. Nos animamos a estar orgullosos de nuestra herencia y estar abiertos a nuestro futuro. Que el tema de nuestro Año Bicentenario, Conocer, Amar y Servir guíe nuestros pensamientos, nuestras acciones y nuestras oraciones durante este año. Que seamos testigos de la fe, la esperanza y el amor al Pueblo de Dios. Que vivamos una vida digna de nuestra vocación. Y que el Padre, el Hijo y el Espíritu Santo sean glorificados en todos partes por la Inmaculada Virgen María... Amén

                                                     aleluya celta
                                                                  





Feast of All Saints and All Souls/ Todos Los Santos y Dia de los Muertos

November is a big month here in Mexico.  There were lots of festivities marking All Saints and All Souls Day.  Unlike the US, Halloween is not very big here...yet!  Here are some pics and my texts for both of those feast days.


Altar for our community
Altar in the Center of town dedicated to a musician

Altar dedicated to the deceased museum curator

Feast of All Saints
Good Evening Church! If you want to be holy, say Amen! If you want to be close to Jesus, say Amen! If you want to live your life worthy of your calling, say Amen! Today we celebrate the great feast of All Saints.  Today we are united with all the holy men and women who have gone before us in faith.  These men and women were not perfect, they made mistakes, sometimes they were angry, sometimes they were jealous, sometimes they were mad at God, sometimes they treated other people poorly.  Our saints were also sinners, Amen?  For me, that is the good news of this feast.  The saints were human, just like you and me.  What they offer us today is a way to stay firm on our path to God.  The Saints were dedicated, they believed in their causes, they were open to God, they were open to change in their lives and they knew that God loved them.  We can all be saints, Amen?
The Word of God today gives us some ways in which we can all be saints.  The Book of Revelation talks about being counted among the multitude and giving glory to God.  A saint is not afraid to share his or her faith.  A saint is not afraid to celebrate God publicly.  A saint is one who can withstand times of distress and with honor and gratitude wear the white robes of baptism and be proud of their faith even when others want to persecute them.  Will you be counted among the multitude?  Are you proud of your faith? Will you stand firm even in persecution?  If you can answer yes to these questions, then you too can be counted among the saints!  In the first letter of Saint John, the author reminds us that we are children of God.  We all come from some family.  We share a last name with our parents, but we are first children of God and then children of our parents.  Do you act like a child of God, or do you act like a child? If we act like children of God then the potential and possibilities that are in front of us are limitless.  Acting like a child of God helps us to become saints.  And finally in the Gospel today, Saint Matthew gives us a map of how to live our Christian life.  The map is the Beatitudes.  If we hold firm to these sayings and live poor in spirit, aware of the sadness of the world, meek, seeking justice, mercifully, pure of heart, seeking peace, and proud of our faith, then we too can be saints.  The saints lived the Beatitudes in many different ways.  There is no one way in order to live this life, the saints show us that in the example of their lives, Amen?
So today as we remember people like, St. Benedict, St. Francis, St. Dominic, St. Ignatius, St. John, St. Damien, St. Martin de Porres, St. John Baptist de la Salle, St. Champangnat, Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, St. Scholastica, St. Teresa of the Cross, St. Rose of Lima, St. Angela Merici, St. Terese of the Little Flower, St. Catherine of Sienna, Mother Adela and St. Teresa of Calcutta, we also remember people in our own lives who have been living saints for us.  Friends, family members, members of this community who were strong in faith, lived as children of God and lived the Beatitudes to the best of their abilities.  Today I rejoice in the saints in my own family, my mother, my grandparents, my uncle, my cousins who through the everyday actions of being part of a family showed the love of God in their lives.  I rejoice in members of my Marianist Family who have shown me how to be a good Brother and how to live Marianist life to its fullest, among whom I mention Br. George Dury, Br. Charles Roggemann, Br. Herman Lambers, Br. Charles Wanda, Fr. Richard Knuge, Fr. John McEnhill, Fr. John Mulligan, Fr. Jack McGrath and Fr. Mike Lisbeth. All of these brothers were very different from one another, but they all showed me how to live this life in an authentic way and so modeled for me sainthood.  I rejoice in the lay members of the Marianist Family who have been holy men and women, pointing the way towards God and the kingdom in their lives.  For the members of the Marianist Lay Community in Hollywood, Florida where I was president of the school, to the members of Marianist Life, a program for teenagers in San Antonio, Texas, and the members of the Towel and Basin community in Honolulu, Hawaii who came together to grow deeper in their faith.  I am so privileged in my life to know members of my family, the Society of Mary, and the Lay Marianist Family who have shown me what it means to be a saint.  Who are the people in your lives that are saints for you?  Are you a saint for someone else? Turn to the person next to you and say, “I want to be a saint”
Yes, Church, today is a great day indeed, Amen? Today we celebrate those people in our lives who show us the way to God.  Some of these people are formally recognized by the Church as saints, but perhaps, many more will never be formally recognized by the Church, but they are recognized by each of us as people for whom we can model our lives.  The Church is filled with many saints, Amen? Today let us be the saints that God has called each of us to be, Amen?
Homily Feast of All Souls
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up on the last day

Good evening Church! If you believe in the resurrection, say Amen!  If you believe that Jesus is the Bread of Life, say Amen! If you believe in everlasting life, say Amen!  Yes Church, today we celebrate the great mystery of our faith.  We honor our dead brothers and sisters today, but we do not necessarily mourn for them because if we believe in the resurrection then we know that we will see them again in the next life, Amen? Our faith tells us that even if we mourn, it will not be forever.  Our faith is a faith of hope and joy.  In death, life is changed and not ended.  The dead share in our lives in a different way.  The dead have joined the communion of saints and pray for us while we are still here on earth.  We honor our loved one’s today, members of our family, friends, colleagues, Church community, who have gone before us in faith and are experiencing the everlasting joy of seeing the face of God.  In our homes perhaps we have created an altar for our beloved deceased, this evening we come before the altar of the Lord to pray for, and to remember our deceased in the great prayer of the Church, the celebration of the Eucharist.  And so celebrate, we will, Amen?

The Word of God reminds us that God will watch over us and wipe away our tears as we heard in the prophet Isaiah.  God will provide for all of us, and all nations will come before the mountain of the Lord and God will wipe away tears from all faces and delete the insult from his people.  God will provide a place for us and we will not be left alone.  The God of compassion is with us in death and in life that is good news, Amen?  Paul reminds us that if Jesus died and rose from the dead, then we too as believers will share in the resurrection of Jesus on the last day.  While we may be sad for a while, there is no need to be in despair because the promise of the resurrection is ours.   The Gospel of John provides us with the beautiful imagery of Jesus being the Resurrection and the Life, and the Bread of Life.  Both of these images are very important for us this day.  As we celebrate this day, we pray and hope for the resurrection for ourselves and our loved ones, and we also are reminded that every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist we proclaim that Jesus is the Bread of Life when we eat the bread and drink the cup.  The Bread that we share in the Eucharist is bread for the life of the world, and we partake of the bread in faith that we too share in the mystery of the resurrection and that we are connected to Jesus and our ancestors in a very real way.  Each time we receive the Eucharist we honor our loved ones who also received the Eucharist while on earth.  This ritual binds and unites us to them.  When we celebrate our faith, we honor our beloved deceased brothers and sister who also lived their faith in their lives.  We hope and pray that we all will share in the resurrection, Amen?
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up on the last day
And so tonight, let us think about the qualities that our deceased shared with us.  What made these people so special to us?  How do we reflect their qualities now in our own lives? And so I am going to name people from our families and lived experiences and I want you to think about the people in your life that fit this category.  Bring them to mind, and think about the gift they were to you and maybe how you take after them in some way.  So, close your eyes and reflect upon the following questions:

And so, if your mother passed away, how was she a gift to you?
If your father passed away, how was he a gift to you?
If an aunt or uncle passed away, how was she or he a gift to you?
If a cousin passed away, how was he or she a gift to you?
If your brother or sister passed away, how was he or she a gift to you?
If your son or daughter passed away, how was he or she a gift to you?
If your friend passed away, how was he or she a gift to you?
If your neighbor passed away, how was he or she a gift to you?
If your coworker passed away, how was he or she a gift to you?
If a member of this Church community passed away, how was he or she a gift to you?
Okay, open your eyes.  If the dead I mentioned have been a gift to you say Amen! Tonight we remember and honor our loved ones.  We pray that they are with God and that they are watching over us and praying for us.  Tonight we are united with them in this Eucharist.  As we share the Bread of Life, we proclaim that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life and that we will be raised on the last day.  That is Good News, Amen?  And so with great joy and confidence we sing together:
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up
And I will raise you up on the last day
And let the Church say, Amen!