Casa Maria Marianists

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Happy New Year—again! More than 50 St. Mary’s students, staff, faculty and friends joined the Marianists of the Casa María community (some of whom wore the lucky color red) to ring in an early Year of the Horse (begins Jan. 31, 2014). Following a prayer session and buffet dinner, all enjoyed the variety of auspicious Asian-inspired sweet treats: fortune cookies, mandarin orange slices, cherry blossom squares and Chinese almond cookies.

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Brothers from the Casa María Community helped to honor the achievements of St. Mary’s faculty by attending the Distinguished Faculty Awards and Appreciation Dinner held at the Oak Hills Country Club on Friday, January 24, 2014.

Hosted by the Alumni Association of St. Mary’s, the event is a formal occasion, complete with a reception, dinner and awards ceremony which recognizes the successes of select St. Mary’s faculty and their contributions to the advancement of the university mission.

Picture in one of the photos above, Aspirant Justin, a 2013 graduate of St. Mary’s, was able to share a brief moment with one of his academic advisers at the event.

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In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday, Justin baked a vanilla cake for the community on Monday, January 20, 2014. Decorated with a Marianist cross and pink lettering, the homemade cake was enjoyed by the brothers of Casa María which they ate with Rocky Road ice cream for an after-dinner dessert in preparation for the Monday night meeting.

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At the first Casa Tuesday of the new year, over 50 St. Mary’s students, staff, faculty and friends reunited with the Marianists of the Casa María community after a few weeks of winter break to pray for a successful start of the spring 2014 semester. A bountiful buffet featuring Frito Pie and fries was followed by festive desserts that matched the new year’s theme.

O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year will be summoned before Thy judgment seat. May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee, may likewise be ended through Thee. Amen. (Source: Catholic Online)

Merry Christmas from Casa María!

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On a rare Monday night when no community meeting was scheduled, the brothers of Casa María celebrated two birthdays—Bill’s and Eric’s—the end of the semester, the sale of the Chevy Prizm and the conclusion of the Advent Season with a festive meal at Saltgrass on Monday, December 23, 2013.

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The brothers of Casa María spent a weekend on retreat at Tecaboca in Mountain Home, Texas, from Friday, December 20 to Sunday, December 22, 2013. Community-building efforts included a reflective “check-in” to share personal highlights of the semester, a viewing of the movie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and a discussion of the film as part of the Province’s renewal program.