New role as Vice President for Mission Effectiveness

Dear Alumni and Friends,
In my new role as Vice President for Mission Effectiveness, I want to include you in my efforts to foster, enhance and solidify the Catholic and Marist mission and identity of Central Catholic. So many of you have spoken to me about the religious formation and values they have received during your high school years that have stayed with you and helped you mature into the men and women you are now, that I thought your might continue to profit from news of from our Marist World, and from a daily reflection that I have been sending to our Faculty and Board Members. The Mission of Central Catholic, to make Jesus known and loved, did not end with your graduation. No, it must continue throughout your adult and professional lives if indeed we are to accomplish our vision “to make the world a better place.” Daily headlines underscore the need for the message of Jesus and the dream of St. Marcellin to be lived effectively in the market place in order to counter balance the incursion of increasingly secular, material, and might I even say Godless, attitudes and values that are challenging us on every side. My hope is that a brief, daily paragraph might provide food for thought and influence our actions so that we not only remain connected with Central, but we continue to walk the road set out before us while we were here.

Since this is the inaugural contact with you, I will take the liberty of sending three paragraphs, the above, a news blurb, and a reflection for today.

The General Chapter of the Marist Brothers, held every eight years, is in progress in Rome at this very time. The delegates have elected a new Superior General, Brother Emili Turu, a Spaniard. Br. Sean Sammon, former Superior General, will return to the United States. Br. John Klein, former provincial of the United States Province, has been elected as a General Councilor and along with seven other brothers, will help in the governance of the Marist Brothers throughout the world. This General Chapter is addressing the inclusion of lay Marists as part of the Marist Family. This should be of increasing interest to all as it develops.

Daily Reflection: Today we honor St. Bruno, Founder of the Carthusians, monks whose entire life is spent in silence and solitude. This is a special call for a special few, but all of us are called to be contemplatives, that is, to be reflective people, not just machines on automatic pilot. St. Marcellin encouraged the early brothers to stop every hour to offer a short prayer and recall the PRESENCE OF GOD. When you were at Central, each new class began with a prayer, which was our way to continue this practice. Perhaps we can take a moment during the day, between meetings, appointments, or while driving to or from work, to offer an OUR FATHER, a HAIL MARY…or just recall how good God has been to us. God’s love and mercy will eventually transform us. God is always at our door. Let’s not be too busy to open it.

Blessings, Prayers, and Peace,
Bro. Rene