Casa Maria Marianists

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A day after America’s Veterans Day and Canada’s Remembrance Day, the Marianists of Casa Maria, along with 40+ students, staff and special guests (Tom Wendorf and Kevin Prada), gathered for a dinner social to pray for North America’s military men and women. This week’s thematic desserts included gelatin cubes in patriotic colors, basic brownies with flags and lemon poppy seed cupcakes.

The poppy flower, representing the red blood shed on the battlefield, is a military memorial symbol in the Commonwealth countries inspired by the poem “In Flanders Field” (written by Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae during WWI-1915):

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

May God bless our veterans, St, Mary’s ROTC students and all those serving in the military. We live in the land of the free…because of the brave!

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For a few years now, it has been a custom for Casa Maria to host a “Pink Prayer Party” in October to observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Approximately 50 StMU students, staff, faculty and friends joined the Marianist community to continue praying for a cure for all cancers and specifically focused on men’s health at this weekly gathering on Nov. 5, 2013. Inspired by “Movember,” a month dedicated to raising awareness of prostrate cancer by encouraging people to grow mustaches for charities, Casa Maria showed off their ‘staches–whether real or ready to eat! At this mustache-themed celebration, the Marianists served cupcakes topped with mustaches, mustache lollipops and light blue ribbon cookies. Much like the pink ribbons symbolize breast cancer awareness, the light blue ribbons represent prostate cancer awareness. May God the Great Physician heal all!

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Casa María members Eric and Dennis formed half of the team called “Da Bros” and, along with teammates John Roberts and Will Hightower, spent part of the Solemnity of All Saints by winning the men’s division of The Ultimate Rattler competition held at the St. Mary’s Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center on Friday, November 1, 2013.

To win The Ultimate Rattler competition, teams of four competed in a series of eight events—two per teammate. The team that finished with the highest cumulative points won the competition.

The men’s division fielded three teams, with the Da Bros placing 1st in four of the individual events which included (all scored with maximum repetitions per minute, unless otherwise noted):

• 135 lb bench press
• pull-ups
• tire flips
• agility drill (for time)
• TRX atomic pushups
• 40′ rock wall climb (for time)
• burpee + pullup
• 100m swim (for time)

Eric finished 3rd in the rock wall climb and 1st in the 100m swim. Dennis placed 2nd in pull-ups and 1st in burpee + pull-up.

Box Score: 1. 135 lb Bench Press: 47 (John – 1st). 2. Pull-ups: 25 (Dennis – 2nd). 3. Tire Flips: 15 (John – 2nd). 4. Agility Drill: 45 sec (Will – 3rd). 5. TRX Atomic Pushups: 50 (Will – 1st). 6. Rock Wall Climb: (Eric – 3rd). 7. Burpee + Pullup: 19 (Dennis – 1st). 8. 100m swim: (Eric – 1st).

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Cute creatures roamed the campus of St. Mary’s University on Oct. 29 during ”Boo Bash,“ an annual Halloween tradition when neighborhood children (and college kids) enjoy games in the grove and go trick-or-treating in the residence halls for a fun and safe celebration.

At Casa María, the Marianists hosted a ”spirited“ Halloween-themed prayer dinner. More than 50 students, staff and guests, some of whom came in costume before going to Boo Bash, enjoyed eating some ghoulish grub, such as BBQ burgers and Happy Hallo-weiners (hot dogs). Treats (not tricks) were served for dessert: pumpkin cake pops, freaky finger cookies and dark chocolate witch hat cones.

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In observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Casa Maria hosted a “Pink Prayer Party” for  nearly 40 students, staff, Marianists and friends from StMU on Tuesday, Oct. 22. People wore pink; prayed for a cure for breast and all cancers; feasted on a dinner buffet of pasta casserole, salad and garlic bread; and indulged in desserts, such as Kona coffee macadamia nut cookies, pink ribbon candy melts and sugar cookies and strawberry cupcakes.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds…the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalm 147:3, 11

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With an authentic Tex-Mex-style dinner, tres leches cake  for dessert and home-made margaritas, Jim celebrated his first birthday in Texas as a member of the Casa María community on Monday, October 21, 2013. It also marked the first night of the fall 2013 live-in experience with two guests, Karl and Jaime.

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Brothers from the Casa María Community helped to honor the achievements of St. Mary’s alumni by attending the Distinguished Alumni Dinner held at the Omni Hotel on Friday, October 18, 2013.

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 alumni and their contributions to the university and community.