O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Casa María’s Christmas Tree! 
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Casa María’s Christmas Tree! 

How richly God has blessed us here throughout these days and coming year.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree! Casa María’s Christmas Tree! 

A mid-day excursion to Devine, Texas, resulted in the arrival of a fresh Christmas tree for the Casa María Marianist community on Saturday, Dec. 2.

At Devine Acres Farm, an eight-foot Cypress tree was selected, cut and transported home as a ‘passenger’ riding atop the community van.

It’s back! Advent Fest 2011 was the theme for Casa Tuesday, celebrating the start of the new liturgical year, an event organized by University Ministry to promote a stronger awareness of the Advent Season.

Over 50 students, faculty and staff attended the event which included a special evening prayer session led by The Bridge, an Advent-themed relay race and supper at the the Casa María Marianist residence.

The brothers of the Casa Maria Community during their Fall retreat 2011.

The brothers enjoyed their semester retreat November 25th – 27th at TECABOCA, the Marianist Spiritual Renewal Center in Mountain Home, Texas. Over the course of the weekend the brothers did some personal sharing on the progress and challenges of the semester, discussed vocation ministry efforts of the community and reflected on an article on the topic of intimacy and affective maturity. They also found plenty of time for rest, prayer, quiet reflection and communal celebrations of the Eucharist. It was a wonderful way to welcome the new liturgical year, the season of Advent and the new Roman Missal. Now if we can just remember… “And with your Spirit”!

The Marianists of Casa María celebrated Thanksgiving as guests of the Marianist Sisters of San Antonio. The menu featured numerous homemade recipes including turkey, stuffing, sweet potato, rice, cranberry jello, croissant rolls and pumpkin and apple pies.

Casa María hosted a live-in experience for five St. Mary’s University students during the week of November 13-19. The live-in experience was designed to offer a unique, first-hand look at Marianist religious life by participating fully in the daily experiences of the community.

Back by popular demand, turkey Oreo cookies returned for their annual pre-Thanksgiving Casa Tuesday celebration. Nearly 50 students, faculty and staff joined little “Chami” and the Marianists of Casa María to feast on spaghetti and the special dessert.

Learn how to make these special treats from the video below. Thanks to HICookery for these and all of the many desserts shared with us.

Bill, Brian and Dennis celebrated the wedding of Michael and Lauren Ackel by attending the Mass and reception dinner on Saturday, November 12. The wedding ceremony was held at the Immaculate Conception Chapel of the Oblate School of Theology and the reception at the Pearl Brewery.

Michael, an employee of the Marianist Province of the U.S., is on the staff at the Marianist Residence as a physical trainer and guides several of the brothers through personalized strength and conditioning programs.

Casa María Director Brother Brian celebrates his birthday with the community, several out-of-town Marianists and a number of friends from the St. Mary’s community.

Hermano Armando Añeses, S.M., a former resident of Casa María, professed his perpetual vows as a member of the Society of Mary during a Mass celebrated on the campus of Colegio San José, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, on the feast of Our Lady of the Pilar, Wednesday, October 12.

Rev. Oscar Vasquez, S.M., presided over the Mass and was the homilist, while Rev. Marty Solma, S.M., provincial of the Province of the U.S., received the vows.

Presently, Armando resides at the Marianist community at Comunidad Marianista San José and ministers as a teacher at Colegio San José.

As a second-year novice, Armando was a member of the Casa María community with ministry at Central Catholic High School.

Also present to witness the perpetual profession of vows was former Casa María member Brother Joseph Janosik, S.M., who spent one semester as an aspirant in San Antonio; he also resides and ministers at Colegio San José.

Note: There were some challenges in capturing video footage during the ceremony so we are grateful to those who collected these limited scenes for our website.

UPDATE: Below is a photo slideshow of the event, created by the Communications Office of the Marianist Province of the U.S.