Casa Maria Marianists

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Casa María held a special election where guests could vote not on presidential candidates but on their cookie recipes. This fun food event was inspired by Family Circle magazine’s presidential bake-off. Since 1992, the publication has printed cookie recipes shared by the candidates’ spouses and then readers vote on their favorites. It is said that the winner of the cookie contest determines who also wins the election (except in 2008, when Cindy McCain’s cookies beat out those of Michelle Obama).

Back then, before this blog, Casa María’s guests also favored McCain’s cookies—but Obama went on to become president. Four years later, guests voted between a new cookie recipe from the First Lady (white/chocolate/mint chips with walnuts) and Ann Romney (M&Ms, chocolate chips, crunchy peanut butter and oatmeal).

Scroll down just past halfway to see those results from the November 12, 2008 edition of Family-Online.

The results? Romney = 17 votes; Obama = 11. Casa Maria’s tallies did not match the national results collected by Family Circle. And although Romney’s cookies won the votes on Casa Tuesday, President Obama won his second term in office on election night.

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Chami and a not-so-wicked witch were among those who showed up at the Halloween-themed social at Casa María on the eve of Boo Bash. Chami passed out candies from a plastic pumpkin to StMU students, staff, Marianists and guests who came to the weekly prayer and dinner gathering. Slimy spaghetti was served as well as spooktacular sweets: vampire bite cupcakes and gelatin eyeballs.

A day after the Church celebrated World Mission Sunday, the Marianists of Casa María focused on the formative topic of “mission” for its community gathering on Monday evening, October 22. Led by Brother José and the community’s office of education, insights on praying the World Mission Rosary were shared as well as the experiences of two former provincials on the challenges and opportunities inherent in supporting province efforts in the various missions throughout the world.

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In observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Casa María hosted a “Pink Prayer Party” replete with ribbon cookies, pink (lolli)pops and a pastel pink guava chiffon cake at the special dessert table. More than 30 St. Mary’s students, alumni, faculty, staff, Marianists and guests, some of whom wore pink clothing and pink ribbon symbols, prayed for a cure for breast and all kinds of cancers.

St. Mary’s graduate student Veronica Lopez from Alpha Sigma Tau offered grace before the meal, which included chili con carne and corn bread. She also announced other Breast Cancer Awareness activities taking place on campus this week, including an informational guest speaker and breast cancer survivor testimony, the pretty in pink party at the outdoor amphitheater, and prayer at the Quad.

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Casa María celebrated the feast of St. Teresa of Avila and Hermano José’s birthday with a special Puerto Rican dinner, chocolate fudge cake and a guest appearance by Master Yoda and Little Chami on Monday, October 15. As a special gift to the community, no meeting was scheduled that evening by the director!

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Fall fun was brewing at Casa Maria when it hosted a mini-Oktoberfest on Tuesday, October 9. Following a prayer session, a dinner buffet was served. Snacks included brezeln (pretzels). Special Deutschland-style desserts were donated, including apfel strudel (apple pastry) and schokoladenkleine kuchen mit bier und sauerkraut (chocolate cupcakes with beer and sauerkraut).

Danke schön to HI Cookery for the sweet treats (recipes are posted on their blog). More than 40 St. Mary’s students, staff and guests (including Fr. Dave Fleming, former Superior General of the Society of Mary) also listened to Oktoberfest-style music in the background while enjoying German culture and cuisine on this Casa Tuesday evening.

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Nearly 50 students, alumni, faculty, staff, friends and Marianists gathered at Casa María to celebrate “Foundation Day” of the Society of Mary, the Feast of the Guardian Angels and three birthdays (Allen, Megan and the Society of Mary) with prayer, simple soup-and-sandwich supper and a batch of scary, Halloween-themed treats on Tuesday, October 2.