Casa Maria Marianists

Casa Tuesday served tacos, turkeys for Thanksgiving theme

Approximately two dozen students joined the Marianists of Casa María to celebrate a Thanksgiving-themed Casa Tuesday with tacos and turkeys. The featured dessert was a turkey cookie made with Oreo cookies, Reese’s peanut butter cups, candy corn and malted milk balls, held together and decorated with frosting.

A handful of students were seen taking photos of the turkey cookie dessert while others talked about various approaches to eating it. By the end of the night, no dessert was left as they were all gobbled up!

See more photos on our Flickr set.

Marianist aspirants, novices and temporary professed gathered for Formation Weekend 2009 at Emmanuel, the Marianist Retreat House of the Province of Meribah on Nov. 12-15, 2009. Sister Maria Cimperman, assistant professor of Moral Theology and Social Ethics at the Oblate School of Theology, facilitated a discussion on the theme of “The Future of Religious Life.”

Five members of the Casa María community participated in the event which included a tour of Kellenburg Memorial High School and Chaminade High School in Mineola.

Tonight’s Casa Tuesdays featured a special dessert in honor of Brother Brian’s birthday: chocolate chip amaretto cake decorated with marzipan fruits and fondant daisies! Watch as the community and students sing Las Mañanitas as Brother Brian is presented with his (second) birthday cake!

Chocolate chip amaretto cake decorated with marzipan fruits and fondant daisies

Celebrating the vigil of the director’s nativity, the Casa María community enjoyed a special dinner in honor of Brother Brian’s birthday, Monday, Nov. 9 (actual birthday is Nov. 10). Watch as the community sings Las Mañanitas and presents Brother Brian with his birthday dessert: Apple pie and ice cream.

As is the custom before dinner, the community read from the Rule of Life—coincidentally citing an appropriate article for the occasion:

In exercising authority,
Marianist superiors call on
motivations of faith and fidelity
through encouragement, stimulation,
evaluation, and above all
by prayer and example.
All the members should offer them
cooperation, advice, and support,
following their guidance and their decisions. (Article 46)

Discerning a call to religious life takes time, patience and prayer. Two students from St. Mary’s University, who are discerning a Marianist vocation, spent a week living at Casa María to experience life in a religious community. Participating in daily prayer, sharing in community meals and engaging in everyday life at a religious community offers rich experiences that help individuals see, first-hand, the practical aspects of life as a Marianist brother.

Erik and Leo (sitting, 3rd and 4th from left) at Casa María

Placing carnations next to the headstones of Marianists laid to rest was one way the ancestors were honored on All Souls Day, Monday, Nov. 2. Marianists from the San Antonio-area communities celebrated the feast with evening vespers and dinner at the Marianist Residence on the campus of St. Mary’s University.

Miseremini Mei is a hymn sung at the gravesite during the Rite of Committal, following the funeral Mass of a professed Marianist. Its lyrics are taken from the Book of Job, Psalm 130 and Gabriel Fauré’s “Mass for the Dead.”

Pity me, pity me, O you my friends
for the hand of God has struck me! (Job 19:21)

Out of the depths I call to you, LORD; Lord, hear my cry!
May your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. (Psalm 130:1-2)

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine on them. (Requiem in D-minor, Mass for the Dead by Gabriel Fauré)

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.