Rev. Norbert Brockman, S.M., delivers the homily during Mass at Founders Hall on Thursday, Sept. 24. The Casa María community and approximately 30 students gathered to celebrate Mass this week at the newest residence hall on campus, which is celebrated every Thursday evening at 8:30 p.m. throughout the fall semester.
By combining mathematical-like calculations, careful strategic planning and luck of the draw, Brother Bob Jones, S.M., totaled 128 cumulative points to capture the first Casa María community Uno Cup on Monday night, Sept. 21.
After the victory, Brother Bob, head of the community’s Office of Religious Life, enjoyed an ice cream dessert and paused to reflect on the significance of this event.
“Like the first Christian community in Jerusalem who shares all in common—including ‘skips,’ ‘reverses,’ ‘draw twos’ and ‘wildcards,’” said Brother Bob, the Casa María community celebrated its first ‘community fun nite’ together by playing four rounds of the card game “Uno” and ice cream desserts.
While Monday nights typically are reserved for weekly community meetings, the brothers decided to rotate ‘community fun nites’ into the schedule periodically as way to foster community building, coordinated by Casa María’s Office of Education.
Brother Roberto Rivera, who—like Brother Bob—is a member of the first profession class of 2007, was second with 184 points.
See more photos on our Flickr site.
The Casa Maria Community sits on a rather large piece of land in the middle of the St. Mary’s University campus. Maintaining the grounds can be a rather large chore and one that not many of the brothers have much interest in doing. Bro. Mike waters the lawn and does his best in the midst of the drought and water restrictions to keep at least some patches alive. I have taken on the duty of caring for the flower beds in front of the house and what we call the prayer garden which is visible through the windows from our chapel. Last fall I mulched the prayer garden and added a bird feeder. It took the birds three months to find the feeder, but now they really chow down! I have been wanting to improve the front flower beds to enhance the appearance of the house, they were often run over by weeds. The grounds crew helped back before summer planting some nice flower plants. This weekend I finally got around to pulling all the weeds, laying down weed block plastic and mulching the beds. I got half done today and will finish the other half tomorrow. It is a great improvement and helps make the front of the community more inviting to all who come to the front door.
– Bro. Brian Halderman, SM
Bro. Brian mulched the front flower beds this weekend and now we have a new look!
Bro. Leo Willett, Fr. Rudy Vela and Sr. Gretchen Trautman at the Interfaith Fair on the Quad
University Ministry hosted an Interfaith Fair on the Quad at St. Mary’s University on Friday, September 18th. We had a variety of faith groups including various Christian denominations, Muslim and Jewish traditions. The Marianist Vocation Ministry set up a booth to honor our Spanish Martyrs and to help promote vocations. Many of the Marianist sisters and brothers spent time in the Quad conversing with students and others who passed by. It was a successful morning of activities that included an interfaith prayer for peace. I think a great way to honor our Marianist Martyrs!
To commemorate the martyrdom of three Marianists of Ciudad Real (Carlos Eraña, Fidel Fuidio and Jesús Hita) in 1936—along with Brother Miguel Ángel Quiroga’s own martyrdom in 1998—the Alumni Association of St. Mary’s University hosted a prayer and reception in the administration building on Friday morning, Sept. 18.
According to Brother Mike, approximately 40 faculty, staff and Marianists gathered on the second floor of St. Louis Hall for a brief prayer and reception which included breakfast tacos, fruit and coffee.
Mass
First Reading: Wisdom 3:1-9
Gospel: John 12:24-26
I wrote this reflection for mass this morning, and I hope you all find it thought provoking as you pray today.
The first reading tells us that if a just person dies for God, their spirit lives on and God will accomplish great things through them.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the wheat, and how it must die to produce fruit. I think especially of the fruit produced in Jesus’ own death.
The prevailing message of our readings today seems to be this:
“if you want to follow Christ, if you want God to accomplish greatness through you, you must die to the life you had before. You must give up the possessions and concerns of this world and be reborn in Christ.”
Certainly, martyrdom is the ultimate example of this kind of death, but I also think about our own journeys as Marianists. The sacrifices we make, the things we have to give up in order to live this Christ filled life that we strive for.
I don’t think the readings are telling us “strive for martyrdom.”
I think they are saying “be willing to let go of those things you think are important so that God can show you true life in Himself”
As I think of our martyrs today, I realize that I cannot ever know what was going through their minds in those moments so long ago. But I wonder, did they have peace? Peace in knowing that through their lives as Marianists, they had already died to this world and began to live in Christ. Could they have had joy in this kind of death knowing that now they were going to live WITH Christ?
Like I said, I don’t know, and I can only pray about what I would do if placed in their circumstances, but I think the lives of Carlos, Fidel and Jesus, as well as today’s, readings remind us that we are all called to sacrifice for God and of the ultimate benefits of those sacrifices (eternal life with God). I think that today, our challenge is to live by their example, to be willing to follow God unconditionally, perhaps even to martyrdom.
I often wonder, can I do that?
~Andrew Caruso, Marianist Aspirant
Approximately 40 students joined presider Rev. John A. Leies and the Casa María community to celebrate Mass at Founders Hall on Thursday, Sept. 17. Mass is celebrated every Thursday evening at 8:30 p.m. throughout the fall semester at the newest residence hall on campus.
Following the Mass, ice cream and other refreshments were provided in the courtyard of the residence hall. See more photos on our Flickr site.
Casa Maria Marianists 