Gross Catholic Marianist LIFE Community Submitted by Mikaela VanMoorleghem Chaminade Heritage Week

“It was Mary who conceived the plan of the Society. It was she who laid its foundations, and she will continue to preserve it." Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

A true Christian cannot live any life but the life of Our Savior Jesus. When we try to imitate Him the divine plan is carried out in our lives. The Blessed Virgin is our Model. She is a very exact copy of her Son Jesus. When we are devoted to Mary we will imitate Jesus. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

Our work is great; it is magnificent. It is universal because we are the missionaries of Mary, She says to us, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’ Yes, we are all missionaries. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

Born –8 April 1761 at Perigeux, France Died –22 January 1850 of natural causes; buried in the Carthusian cemetery in Bordeaux, France Beatified –3 September 2000 by Pope John Paul II at Saint Peter's, Rome Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

Who are the Marianists? The Society of Mary is an international religious order of brothers and priests. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade founded the Society of Mary in The Society is present in 27 countries throughout the world. There are over 1,750 members.

What is a faithful man to do in the chaos Of events which seem to swallow him up? He must sustain himself calmly by Faith. Faith will make him adore the eternal plan of God.Faith will assure him that to those who love God all things work together for good. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

Chaminade's concept of the Sodality was to gather all Christians - men and women, young and old, lay and clerical - into a unique community of Christ's followers unafraid to be known as such, committed to living and sharing their faith, dedicated to supporting one another in living the Gospel, working under the protection of the Virgin Mary.

Mother Adele de Trenquelleon ( ) Mother Adèle de Trenquelleon collaborated with Father Chaminade and founded the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, now known more popularly as the Marianist Sisters.

Adèle de Trenquelleon The communities of faith founded by Adèle de Trenquelleon and William Joseph Chaminade were communities inclusive of all social classes and states of life. All were to be welcomed into these communities; their baptism and their devotion to prayer and the formation of communities was their distinction and their unity as the Family of Mary.

Marie Therese de Lamourous Marie Therese de Lamourous was Chaminade’s chief partner in establishing the two feminine branches of the sodality. Chaminade was her spiritual director, encouraging and guiding Marie Therese.

Marie Therese de Lamourous Marie Therese was in charge of a home for repentant prostitutes, to give them an education, prepare them for gainful employment in society, and, above all, sustain them in living a Christian life.

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade He was twenty-eight years when his first great dream of a flourishing school and seminary which would educate young Christian men for the future of his beloved France, was shattered by the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789.

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade He was forty-eight when his dream for the rechristianization of France through a new type of “sodality” was smothered by Napoleon.

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade He was sixty-nine when his dream of converting France through a network of teacher training colleges was suppressed by an anti-clerical government.

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade He was eighty-four when his greatest dream of all, a religious institute of men and women dedicated to carrying out Mary’s mission in the world, ran the risk of being obliterated by his chosen followers.

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade William Joseph Chaminade, educator, priest, and apostle, refused to accept defeat. He was a visionary, and he managed to hold on to his vision despite all occurrences to the contrary.

Marianist Lay Communities The MLC have emerged from the Marian congregations that were brought into being by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade ( ) in Bordeaux, France, in 1800 to guide the lay faithful in serious personal spirituality, love for Our Lady, and practical apostolic commitment within society, de-Christianized by the French Revolution.

Mary the Mother of God Blessed Chaminade wrote extensively on the importance of Mary in the prayer, community, and apostolic outreach of his lay and religious communities. We seek particularly to imitate her faith, humility, simplicity, and hospitality.

Marianist Universities Chaminade University of Honolulu St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX University of Dayton in Dayton, OH

Marianist LIFE Since 1970, Marianist LIFE (Living In Faith Experience) is a national small faith community formation program for high school students rooted in Catholic and Marianist tradition.

Gross Catholic Marianist LIFE Community We are a small Faith community of disciples committed to Mary's mission of bringing Christ to the world. Rooted in community, sacraments and prayer, we are called to grow in faith and to build and strengthen our Marianist family. We are LIFE!

The Gross Catholic Marianist LIFE Community meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Gross Catholic High School, East Commons. Marianist LIFE is open to all students. Gross Catholic Marianist LIFE Community

The Marianist LIFE Community at Gross Catholic High School has a student leadership team which works with the moderators to plan and execute MLC events and meetings. Each summer students are chosen to attend the Marianist LIFE Summer Program. Marianist schools and parishes throughout the eastern half of the United States gather for a week that they will never forget. The students arrive for a week-long experience of small faith communities, sacraments, prayer, leadership development, retreat, and social justice education. Gross Catholic Marianist LIFE Community

Marianist Feast Days January 10Adele Day-Foundress of the Marianist Family January 22Chaminade Day- Founder of the Society of Mary and the Marianist Family September 14Marie Therese Day- Foundress of the House of Mercy and the Marianist Family

African Schools There are 3 Marianist Schools in Africa: Chaminade Secondary School in Malawi Metro Boys Secondary School in Zambia Our Lady of Nazareth School in Kenya