Take It Forward

At the conclusion of the Marist Youth Gathering, whose theme was "The Power of Presence", Br. Patrick McNamara, President of Marist High School, Chicago, IL, challeneged the 200 student participants and close to 100 adult leaders, to capsule the energy generated at Marist College over the weekend and infuse the local schools from which the students came, with this same energy and purpose by living out the following points:
1) Representing Mary's love for the people of God, we, like her, must be willing to go "with haste to a land we do not know", that is to break out into new territories within ourselves and in our families, schools and beyond.  Already some of the young women who were participants are planning to go as volunteers with the Marist Missionary Sisters to lands they do not know...perhaps even becoming Sisters as their jouney continues.
2) We are to serve others without personal benefit to ourselves, not looking for
prestige
control or power
personal gain.
3) We are go FIND the needy in OUR world and let our hearts by broken by the poor.
4)  Like Mary, we are to create and nourish family spirit by treating others with dignity, respect, acceptance.
5) We are to be Jesus for others by living in the Holy Spirit.
These challenges stand not only for our Marist Youth, but for all who subscribe to our Marist Spirituality.
Bro. Rene