On the last Casa Tuesday of the academic year, Casa María celebrated with a graduation theme on Tuesday, May 8. After a special prayer honoring our graduates, fajitas were served, along with special graduation-themed desserts. Graduating seniors wore their caps to honor their final Casa Tuesday as undergraduates. And, one student celebrated a birthday with cake and song.

Casa María observed the season of Lent
with a light airy cake and its lemony scent.

Before everyone ate, we gave thanks to the Lord
our prayers are answered, never ignored.

Dr. Seuss goodies were served after dinner
the fun “Lorax” theme was quite a winner.

Lots to choose from, take your pick:
Barbaloot bears…Lorax on a stick…

Truffula trees made of cotton candy
what a treat so fine and dandy…

Yellow mustaches…and cheesy gold fish
wow, everything tasted super delish!

The Marianists are such great hosts.
Enjoy the photos on this blog post!

From the Riverwalk to a Riverdance demo, Casa María celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 17, 2012, with a trip to downtown San Antonio, followed by a traditional Irish-style dinner at home.

Early that afternoon, a few Marianists, families and friends went to the Riverwalk to watch a parade of boats sail through the green waters. Each year, the city dyes the San Antonio River green, and businesses and organizations sail on the boats to honor the Irish saint.

A special dinner followed at Casa María, with guest chef Brother Mike O’Grady cooking up corned beef and cabbage. Guests also shared Irish-inspired foods, such as Dubliner cheese, classic and contemporary Irish soda bread, Guinness beer brownies and Irish coffee.

Irish pub music was played and Clare Strockbine, Social Justice Ministry Coordinator at St. Mary’s, also demonstrated a Celtic step dance à la Riverdance. Slainte! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Take a leap of faith: “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:17).

Casa Maria got a “jump start” on observing leap year day on its vigil by featuring candy leap frogs and a traditional leap year cake. Leap Year occurs once every four years to keep the calendar year in sync with the seasonal year.

God is love, indeed (1 John 4:8)!

Casa Maria hosted a Valentine-themed dinner to celebrate love and friendship. Following a prayer session, a hearty menu of barbecue ribs, sausage, potato salad and beans was enjoyed by nearly 30 StMU students, staff, faculty, friends and Marianists. A red velvet birthday cake with cream cheese frosting with candied lettering and other sweet treats were also served. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Casa Maria kicked off the 2012 spring semester at St. Mary’s University by celebrating Chaminade Week with prayers and pies. In honor of Father Chaminade’s French heritage, French vanilla dream and chocolate French silk pies, along with a chocolate peanut butter pie, were served for dessert.

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”!