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Dare to Dream presentation nerves

LOGOS’ leader Jen Martinez admits to being slightly nervous prior to departing for Dare to Dream; a meeting of lay Marists in France.

She, and fellow presenters Sam Mano and Matt Grevatt are due to deliver a presentation to young people at the Marist gathering Dare to Dream in Lyon.

Familiar with delivering presentations in a New Zealand context, it is the first time they will present in an international setting.

“We’re told that our English will be translated by an App!” she said by phone the evening before departing.

Jen is uncertain how many of the 400 attendees understand English but expects there will be a number who wont.

“I hope the App understands Kiwi”, Jen said optimistically.

Language translation aside, Jen, Sam and Matt are confident in their presentation and tested it on a group the day before departing.

“We’re told that our English will be translated by an App!…I hope the App understands Kiwi.”

“I was really pleased with the quality of the in-depth conversation that followed” she said.

LOGOS, the Society of Mary’s Youth Development team, is leading a workshop on chapters three and four of Pope Francis Amoris Laetitia “The Joy of Love”.

The LOGOS presentation seeks to explore the “vocation of the family”, and “love in marriage”. Their starting point is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Dare to Dream takes place on 17 – 23 July, however Jen Martinez and Sam Mano left today to be part of a team helping prepare the venue for 400 attendees.

Dare to Dream marks the 200th anniversary of the young Marists who signed a pledge at Fourvière to found the Society of Mary.

The gathering, a joint initiative of the four religious branches of the Marist Family, takes place in the Marist School of Sainte Marie Lyon – La Solitude.

Fr Alejandro Muñoz SM of the ‘Dare to Dream’ organising committee said the meeting is to encourage young people to dare to dream, like the group of young Marists did 200 years ago when they signed a pledge at Fourvière to found the Society of Mary.

Fr Muñoz says the Dare to Dream programme aims to

promote the coordination and integration of young Marists
celebrate of the bicentenary of the Pledge of Fourvière
prepare for the bicentenary of the founding of the Institute of the Marist Brothers on 2 January 2017.

Follow Dare to Dream on Twitter and Facebook.

Something different, innovative, for London inner-city parish

A sold out film premier opened London’s 2016 Spirit in the City; a festival of faith.

The early-June innovative event was promoted by the Marist inner-city parish, Notre Dame de France, located in the middle of London’s West End.

The idea of a film premier came from parish organisers who suggested hiring a local cinema for the UK premier of “Full of Grace“; a story about Mary’s last days on earth.

Looking to add further value, the organisers also arranged a panel discussion about the role of Mary, faith and films, art and evangelisation.

Over the other three days the parish developed the theme of mercy and used the opportunity to engage in street evangelisation.

More fun was had on Saturday when a rolling programme of live music on stage was accompanied by workshops and opportunities for prayer and personal encounters.

Throughout the Spirit in the City Event people also participated in more traditional Eucharistic adoration and catechesis held in the parish church.

Source: Euroinfo: Newsletter of the Marist Europe province

Dare to Dream is ready to go

With just on a month to go, everything is ready for the launch of Dare to Dream programme in Lyon, France.

“The final touches are all that’s left” says Marist Father on the organising committee, Alejandro Muñoz.

Dare to Dream is ready to go says Alejandro Muñoz — Alejandro Muñoz SM of the Dare to Dream organising committee

Dare to Dream is a world-wide gathering of Marist Youth taking place from 17 – 23 July and marks the 200th anniversary of the young Marists who signed a pledge at Fourvière to found the Society of Mary.

“Sharing “The Marist Places“; our spiritual origins, is such a pivotal part to understanding our Marist spirituality”, he said in a statement and responding to questions put to him.

As well as visiting a number of the Marist Places, the programme also provides for participant input.

Fr Muñoz thinks the opportunity to meet and learn from other young lay Marists will be a rich experience for everyone. He hopes the youth who mark the Fourviere event will return to their provinces enriched, energised and willing to share the Marist charism.

Fr Muñoz also hopes Marist provinces and mission districts will help the Dare to Dream experience grow.

“We have a number of New Media networks in place and we’ll of course be promoting these.

“I also intend to start a reflection group around the topics of youth ministry and vocations in preparation for the 2017 General chapter”, he said.

Of the 400 young Marists participating in Dare to Dream; 50 will represent the Society of Mary Fr Muñoz said.

He says the Society of Mary is making a large contribution and the organising committee is very grateful to the Marist school, Sainte-Marie, Lyon who will host the event.

The school is going beyond the call of duty and giving extra support and personnel to help make the event go smoothly, he said.

Dare to Dream is the first time since the last World Youth Day the four branches of the Marist Family; Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and SMSM sisters have worked together on a programme for youth.

Visit Dare to Dream on the Web and follow Dare to Dream on Twitter and Facebook.

Helping for Hope: School student’s anti-trafficking initiative

Helping for Hope is Bridgette’s initiative to raise awareness about human trafficking.

Bridgette, a student at the Classical Academy in Escondido, California started the anti-trafficking club in her school.

Since 2005 the Marist Missionary Sisters have provided a transitional home in southern California for women escaping from human trafficking, and Helping for Hope is committed to assisting Mary’s Guest House raise awareness.

To date, Helping for Hope initiatives include a pizza evening with games and an impassioned presentation from Kathy Hardy, a former sex slave of 20 years.

Other initiatives include a T-shirt designed to promote the end of sex slavery and the school’s art department having a project where students created an artistic work on trafficking.

“The most inspirational part was to see these young people becoming ambassadors for other young people to help them be aware of protecting themselves and helping others”, wrote Sr Judy Sheridan on the Marist Missionary Sisters website.

Another Marist Missionary Sister, John Paul Chao is working to stem the tide of human trafficking in San Francisco.

“Most people I meet say they have seen a program on TV or read an article in the newspaper about it, but they don’t realize how rampant it is”, she says in an interview on the Society of Mary USA website.

“According to a U.S. State Department estimate, human trafficking is a $32 billion dollar per year business worldwide.

“That’s a larger business profit than those of Google, Nike and Starbucks combined”.

“The most common forms of human trafficking include: sexual exploitation of women and girls (79%); forced labor, male and female (18%); for the purpose of selling organs (0.2%); forced marriage; forced soldiers; and baby-selling.

“Sexual exploitation of women and girls is most common because the profit is much greater than the other forms,” Sr John Paul Chao said.

Sr John Paul Chao’s comments are reinforced by a 2015 study by the University of San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene University revealing sex trafficking is the second largest underground economy, in San Diego.

The universities’ study estimate that in San Diego alone sex trafficking is valued annually as an US$810m industry; mostly run by gangs.

The study found 80% of victims are domestically trafficked while 20% were foreign born.

Chris Skinner concludes Jubilee Year of Mercy tour

Fr Chris Skinner recently concluded 10 day tour of the Dunedin diocese offering a series of music workshops in parishes and schools.

The diocese was keen to promote a number of activities during the Jubilee Year of Mercy, and Chris focussed on a number of his songs with a mercy theme.

Offering workshops, concerts, he also played at several Masses.

On its website the Diocese says he “delighted all ages with his music”.

“Throughout all ten days, Fr Chris’s joyful energy remained high, delighting people from ages 2 to 92 with his melodious voice and prayerful presence”, says Amy Armstrong of the Dunedin Diocese in a statement.

A significant focus of the visit was three workshops in Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill where he spent a lot of time teaching parish and school musicians.

A new album from Chris Skinner; with a little help from his friends

Angel of the Forest - Chris Skinner — Frs Chris Skinner SM and James Lyons at the launch of “Angel of the Forest”

A large crowd attended a concert at St Peter and Paul’s Lower Hutt last Friday to attend the launch of “Angel of the Forest“, a new album by Fr Chris Skinner SM.

A special feature of the concert was the performance of five songs with lyrics by well known Wellington priest and writer, Fr James Lyons.

During the concert both artists had time to explain how the words and music came about.

Lyons said that the phrase ‘thieves of innocence’ compelled him as he wrote “Mother of Mercy”; saying the song carried a message about how sorrow and pain might be met by compassion and mercy.

Skinner says the album contains some very moving songs and some lively upbeat compositions.

“This is truly something quite different given the collaboration that has taken place and the arrangements have a real celtic flavour,” he says.

The last song from the album was Mum and Dad which Chris wrote after looking at his parents’ wedding photograph.

It was a gentle reflection on love, hope, dreams and memories.

For concert-goer Margaret Riordan, the line “You hold seeds for the planting in the soil of our sorrow,” that spoke gently and powerfully to her.

Another song “Into my Life” had lyrics by Lyons that spoke of thankfulness for precious friendships in our lives, and as Fr Chris wove the beautiful melody with his voice, I was grateful for all those who came to my mind,” she said.

Click to order “Angel of the Forest”

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