Aspirant Andrew, Bernadette, Matthew and Brothers Mike and Tim.
Homemade Finger Cookies
Brain Jello
Finger Cookies and Brain Jello desserts highlighted the menu for the Halloween-themed Casa Tuesday on Oct. 27 at the Casa María Community.
Archive for October 2009
Casa Tuesday: Halloween Edition
October 27, 2009A Toast to our Bro. Dennis
October 26, 2009
The following is the toast given for Bro. Dennis Bautista, SM on the occasion of his profession of perpetual vows:
In the Hawaiian culture, it is customary to give honor and tribute to ancestors and those who have gone before us. We, in the Society of Mary, do the same at celebrations such as this one. The first Brothers to arrive in the United States (first to Cincinnati, OH and then to San Antonio) came from the Alsatian region of France and so they spoke German. Remembering our foundations and heritage, it has become tradition at our celebrations to offer a German toast for long life and happiness.
But first, a quick story…
A few years ago, those of us who are temporary professed were asked to read some articles on the vow of Marianist stability. We then had to comment on them via a blog. Of course Dennis was the first to post, probably not so much because of the articles, but because he got to use technology and I’m sure there was a video to go along with his posting. After all, anyone who can make a video about a new trash can in a community can make a video about the vow of stability.
This I do remember: he posted that he was learning to fall in love with the Society of Mary and learning to love in an unconditional way. Our novice director often spoke about having a Brother’s heart, and since Dennis’ first profession, his heart has grown and it is evident that he has fallen in love with our Society and Family.
And so I ask that you raise your glass in a toast to Dennis and his Brother’s heart. Dennis:
May you continue to fall more deeply in love with the Marianist life and Family each day.
May you be surrounded by sisters and brothers who will support you at all times.
May Mary always walk beside you in all that you do.
May God continue to shower you with abundant grace and mercy.
And in a celebration that has had many languages, here’s one more. Dennis: may you live well…ER LEBE HOCH!
Reflection: Monday of the 29th Week
October 19, 2009
Mass: Monday, October 19, 2009
First Reading: Rom 4:20-25
Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
Gospel: Lk 12:13-21
Clearly, to “believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead” is much more than accepting the news that Central Catholic beat St. Joe’s last weekend. To believe in him is to have total trust in God’s loving care for us; willingness to save us from sin and death and to raise us from the dead. To be a Christian means that our security is in God and the risen Son of God. Today’s gospel is a mixture of a warning against greed and a warning to put one’s trust entirely in God and not accumulate wealth. This may be the most difficult demand of discipleship.
The need to acquire is inherent in human nature. George Carlin satirized our need for things in his monologue about “stuff”:
I don’t know how you are but I need a place to put my stuff. You know how important that is. That’s the meaning of life. Trying to find a place for my stuff. That’s all, a little place for my stuff. That’s all I want, that’s all you need in life, is a little place for your stuff, ya know? I can see it on your table, everybody’s got a little place for their stuff. This is my stuff, that’s your stuff, that’ll be his stuff over there. That’s all your house is: a place to keep your stuff. If you didn’t have so much stuff, you wouldn’t need a house. You could just walk around all the time.
A house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it. You can see that when you’re taking off in an airplane. You look down, you see everybody’s got a little pile of stuff. All the little piles of stuff. And when you leave your house, you gotta lock it up. Wouldn’t want somebody to come by and take some of your stuff. They always take the good stuff. They never bother with that junk you’re saving. All they want is the shiny stuff. That’s what your house is, a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get…more stuff!
Sometimes you gotta move, gotta get a bigger house. Why? No room for your stuff anymore. Did you ever notice when you go to somebody else’s house, you never quite feel a hundred percent at home? You know why? No room for your stuff. Somebody else’s stuff is all over the place!
Have you noticed that their stuff is junk and your junk is stuff? God! And you say, “Get that junk offa there and let me put my stuff down!”
Like the rich man in the Gospel, we readily collect “stuff” in order to make ourselves more secure, in order as we often say “to have something to fall back on.” The desire for security seems to be one of the most deep-seated traits in our nature. We want something or someone to hold on to. To trust ourselves completely to the God we do not see and not have something more concrete to fall back on is very tough indeed. The people who do it almost completely are the ones we call saints. We stand in disbelief at the sight of them. Most of us compromise quite a bit. Often it seems only misfortune, disaster and loss can teach us to trust totally in God.
When you have the day off and the rest of your community doesn’t…
October 18, 2009
The Alamo marked our successful completion of the Mission Trail(We have the visitor stamps to prove it!)
The legacy and history of San Antonio and this region began with a simple ceremony when in 1718 Franciscans and Spanish representatives established the first mission. Within 13 years, five were located located along the San Antonio River. Equipped with bottles of water, rice crispy treats, and a camera, Brother Bob and Norm took advantage of their Oct. 12 holiday from Central Catholic HS to bike the “Mission Trail.” This 15+ mile trail included visits to Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Mission Espada, and for the adventurous and more extreme bikers (like Bob and Norm), city streets, sidewalks, and main roads lead to the most popular mission, The Alamo.
Rev. Cris Janson celebrates Mass at Founders Hall
October 15, 2009
Rev. Cris Janson, pastor at Holy Rosary Parish, celebrated Mass with students of St. Mary’s University and the Casa María community on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Founders Hall. Approximately 25 attended this week’s Mass which the Casa María community sponsors every Thursday evening in the residence hall. Pictured above: Brother Bob Jones, Rev. Cris Janson and Aspirant Norman Capinpin.
Happy Birthday, Tim!
October 15, 2009
With a special dinner menu of pork tenderloin, apple sauce and coconut cream pie from Marie Callender’s, the Casa María community celebrated Tim Dwyer’s 74th birthday on Thursday, October 15. See more photos on our Flickr site.
Celebration of Our Lady of the Pillar
October 12, 2009
Aspirant Andrew Caruso, Sister Grace Walle and Brother Brian Halderman enjoy homemade oatmeal-raisin cookies at the Marianist Sisters Convent.
To celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, the Casa María community made an evening “pilgrimage” to the Marianist Sisters Convent, Our Lady of the Pillar. Members of both communities gathered outside the statue of Our Lady of the Pillar for a brief prayer to commemorate the vision that inspired Blessed Chaminade to establish the Marianist Family. The Marianist Sisters hosted a brief social that included ice cream and homemade oatmeal-raisin cookies afterwards.
See more photos on our Flickr site.
Casa Maria Marianists 