Marist Jubilees

Today, 15 Marist Brothers will be celebrating Jubilees: three brothers, their 70th, eight, their 60th, and four, their 50th, for a total of 770 years of life consecrated to God as "Little Brothers of Mary". By the grace of God, I am one of the Golden Jubilarians. We will celebrate at Mass at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston New York with family and friends. Those who cannot be with us will join us in prayerful spirit.
Three brothers took the habit on July 26, 1940, almost a year after Hitler invaded Poland, and before the United States became engaged in either theater of World War II. Little did they know how many wars and disturbances the second half of the twentieth century would unfold in the years ahead, nor the advances in technology, nor the broad sweeping reforms of the Second Vatican Council, nor the strong erosion of values, religious practice, and faith precipitated by the spread of secularism and materialism. Indeed, we all have faced challenges we never dreamed of when we first became brothers. Yet we Marists have faced challenges from the very beginning, even in the lifetime of St. Marcellin. There has never been a "golden age", despite the fast growth in the Congregation after his death. If there were "golden years", they were short-lived.
However, to be alive, well, and still "making Jesus known and loved" in any age, is a grace, a privilege and more than sufficient reason to bend the knee and give thanks to God for the call to the Marist Brotherhood and the grace to remain faithful to that call. We follow in the footsteps of a man who deeply loved God, trusted and loved his Blessed Mother, and gave us the example of faith, fortitude, courage and determination that his brought his little band to 79 countries around the world since its beginning 193 years ago. We live not in a perfect world, but by keeping the faith and remaining focused on God, we have found favor with God and carried on our mission with a fidelity that warrants the celebrations we will experience today, and we trust, in Eternity.
Bro. Rene
P.S. The Province Assembly at Marist College will run Monday through Wednesday. I'm not sure if I will be able to slice off daily bread while I'm there. I hope so, but you'll know after nine AM on Monday.