To read Talking Points, see the pdf documents listed below. To read the international documents to which they relate, visit http://www.clm-mlc.org/english/documents
Click the following links to access and download PDF versions of these articles.
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Identity of Marianist Lay Communities: Talking Points
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Mission of Marianist Lay Communities: Talking Points
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Being in Community in Marianist Lay Communities: Talking Points
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Alliance with Mary: Talking Points
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Marianist Communities in the Church and World: Talking Points
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The Identity of Marianist Lay Communities: Talking Points
Opening Prayer - In the dioceses of the United States of America, Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12. The following is the opening prayer of the memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
O Loving God of mercies, who places your people under the singular protection of the most holy Mother of Jesus, grant that all who invoke the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe, may seek with ever more lively faith the progress of peoples in the ways of justice and of peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
- (http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/prayers/mpray01.html#guad)
Who We Are - “Membership in Marianist Lay Communities is a commitment of the whole person.”
- Does your commitment as Marianist laity differ from other organizations in which you have been a member? If so, how?
- Why do Marianists call themselves a “Family”? How might this distinction influence the way Marianists function within their organization, the Church, and the world?
- Some people think the term “Family” can exclude those who have not had a positive family experience in their lives. What other term might be more inviting?
Our Charism - The Marianist charism calls us to be Jesus, son of Mary, and to join Mary in bringing Jesus to the world. “As members of Marianist Lay Communities we have responded to a call from God to live and share the Marianist charism.”
- What is your biggest challenge in living the charism? What has helped you make progress?
- What does “faith of the heart” mean to you? What are examples of Marianist activities that demonstrate faith of the heart to you?
Our Life - “We seek to make this charism incarnate in our lives and to center our lives in Jesus who is the Good News of God for today’s world.”
- As Marianist laity, prayer is at the center of all we do. What forms of prayer have you found most effective in keeping Jesus and Mary’s mission alive in your thoughts and daily actions?
- Inclusion is a valued aspect of our charism that challenges us to confront our prejudices and fears. How do you learn about other cultures and segments of the population different from your own?
- Is there a difference between inclusivity and diversity? If so, how does striving to be inclusive and diverse challenge us as individuals and as community?
- The Marianist charism is manifested through faith, mission, alliance with Mary, community, and inclusivity. How do you demonstrate these qualities in your MLC? Which qualities need to be more fully developed? What actions in your life demonstrate the Marianist way of life?
Our Organization - “On all organizational levels and through its individual members, Marianist Lay Communities seek to participate in the mission, activities, and decisions of the Church.”
- From our observations and experiences, how is the Marianist charism impacting the Church today?
- How might God be calling your community to utilize our Marianist gifts to help bring Christ into the world?
- How might God be calling you to live out the Marianist charism in your parish?
Suggested Song - “Hymn to Mary,” from Hymns by Beth Nielsen Chapman, 2004 BNC Records.
Closing Prayer - Through your inspiration and guidance, our Founders developed communities of faith and hope that changed many lives. Continue to form us in your image, Dear Mother, so that our lives will reflect your Son. Then as individuals and communities we will bear timely and eternal fruit. In God’s Holy Name we commit our hearts, minds, and resources to your service. Form us Mary, Mother of Jesus, as one Marianist Family.
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The Mission of Marianist Lay Communities: Talking Points
Opening Scripture - “And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and He was giving them authority over the unclean spirits” (Mk: 6-7).
Suggested Scripture Readings
- 1 Corinthians 3:10-23
- 1 Peter 2:1-12
- Matthew 28:16-20
- Romans 12:1-21
We Are All Missionaries
- What does being a missionary mean to you?
- Like Mary, we are called from within the Church to make Christ present in the world. How do you answer the call to share Christ in your everyday life?
Present in the World
- “For us, being present in the world means attempting to know, love, and transform with the heart and the strength of Christ Jesus.” How do you live this out? How does your Marianist community live this out? (Jn 15:18-20, Jn 17:13-18, Rom 12:2)
- How can Marianist laity be present in the world while remaining focused on mission?
- What is happening in our world today that urges us to respond? What specific actions can we take as Marianist laity that can bring Christ’s love and Mary’s strength to the situation?
In Union with Christ
- Many humanitarian efforts take place in the world to aid the poor and suffering. Jesus is the source and foundation of our work.
- (1 Pt 2-6). Recall a mission you were part of that was “strong in faith, firm in hope, and constant in love.” How were those qualities sustained throughout the mission?
- Our communities are signs of the love of Christ in the world. Faith communities, such as our parishes and our MLCs, help form us to carry the Gospel to the world. How do these faith communities equip and encourage you? What is lacking?
- What organization (parish, ministry, charity) have you observed that impressed you as being most in union with Christ? What can you learn from it to bring you more into union with Christ.
In Alliance with Mary
- Mary was present in the world but remained open and obedient to the will of God. What characteristic do you most admire in Mary? Which characteristic poses the greatest challenge for you?
- United with Mary in her Magnificat, “we want to be witnesses in the world to God’s preferential love for the poor.” How does Mary’s life model for us replacing the desire for worldly goods with a greater desire to help the poor?
Witnesses of the Gospel
- In order to give testimony to a lived Gospel faith we must be familiar with Sacred Scripture. How do you incorporate Scripture into your daily life?
- What does permanent mission mean to you?
- The community helps its members to discern and evaluate their personal mission. Do we as community discuss current issues our members encounter as they live out their missionary call? How could your MLC be more effective in sustaining missionary efforts of its members?
Sent to Proclaim the Gospel
- How do we as individuals and as community dedicate our “time, skill, energy, and resources” to actions that promote justice and peace?”
- What actions are we taking to “hand on the faith to young persons and those who are most needy?” What steps are necessary for each member to take to assure that the young and those most in need are growing in the Marianist mission and charism?
- How could we increase collaboration with the Daughters of Mary Immaculate and the Society of Mary to model our message of unity to the Church and to the world?
Suggested Songs
- “Here I Am Lord” by Robert Kochis, from May Angels Welcome You.
- “The Summons” by Robert Kochis, from You Are Near.
Closing Prayer - Let us commend ourselves and all people to the love and protection of the Mother of God. Holy Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, intercede for us with the Lord our God.
(Prayers for Marianists) “May God, the source of all patience and encouragement, enable us to live in perfect harmony with one another according to the Spirit of Christ Jesus so that with one heart and voice we may glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 15:5-6)
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Being in Community: Talking Points
Opening Prayer - “Marianist Family Prayer” by Mary Andrews (adapted with her permission) from The Marianist Family Prayer Book
God of all time, of all people, of all places, you have called us to witness the depth of your love through the shared vision of William Joseph Chaminade, Adèle, and Marie Thérèse. Through the grace of God, they understood the profound role of small church communities in creating a more compassionate society.
Like our predecessors, we ask you to bless our efforts In building community, the essential context of all things Marianist, so that the Gospel may be lived triumphantly in the most ordinary and extraordinary situations.
Let us ever celebrate the birth of the first Marianist Sodality two hundred years ago, in Bordeaux. With the Madeleine Sodality as our legacy, we ask you to fire our hearts that we will work passionately for local and global justice, in its veiled faces and ongoing challenges.
We ask you to open our imaginations, that we will better protect our planet earth and respect the interplay of all living creatures that share its space and resources.
We ask you to inspire our minds to become the Christ-bearers and peacemakers for which our world is desperate, boldly confronting the darkness of violence and greed.
As community builders fed by the unfailing grace of prayer and encouragement of one another, we unite our successes in the spirit of cooperation and offer our sufferings for your transforming grace.
Indeed, we are empowered by Mary, our model of liberation and courage. Led by Mary, affirmed by Marianists throughout time, together we say confidently, “Yes, God of History! Yes, God of life.”
We Are a Community of Faith
- Our faith has both personal and communal dimensions. What is the value of Marianist community life for you?
- Our communities live out in depth our alliance with Mary according to our Founders’ vision. Describe how Mary’s spirit and values are developed in your community.
- Community is a life choice, called forth by the Spirit. How do you experience community as a “gift and task”?
We Are a Community of Life
- Being in community affects our daily lives: personal, social, political, and economic. How has Marianist community life affected the way you live your life?
- Marianist communities are hospitable. How does your community invite and welcome new members?
- Our communities are signs of hope and witnesses of fidelity, equality, and solidarity in today’s world. Describe how your community discerns and responds to the “signs of the times.”
We Are a Community that Builds Communities
- The Marianist Family is a community of communities. How is your community guided or formed by the larger Marianist community? What are the unique traditions and symbols of your community?
- Each community fosters growth in faith, hospitality, formation, and social action. How are these concerns addressed in your community?
- Formation is an essential way to understand the communitarian dimension of the Marianist charism. How is formation actualized in your community? How does formation foster a focus on mission and the needs of others?
We Are a Community “In Permanent Mission”
- Marianist communities are not an end in themselves. We express our missionary spirit not only within the community but also in our relationships with the world. How do our experiences in community prepare us for mission?
- Mary helped sustain the faith, prayer, and expectation of the Spirit within the first Church community at Pentecost. How is she a model for us to act on the Word of God and to build the Reign of God?
- Singing the Magnificat with Mary, our communities seek to stand against injustice and to proclaim a message of liberation and hope. How does your community stand in solidarity with the poor and marginalized? How does it promote ecological values?
We Are a Worldwide Community
- Marianist Lay Communities are communities within the larger Marianist Family. How is your community connected to the other branches of the Marianist Family?
- Through regional, national, and international organizations, Marianist Lay Communities are linked. How can these councils be of service to your community?
- Our relationships with other branches of the Marianist Family are rooted in solidarity, equality, respect for autonomy and diversity, and shared responsibility. How are these values witnessed to the broader Church and the world?
Suggested Song - “Hymn to Mary,” from Hymns by Beth Nielsen Chapman, 2004 BNC Records.
Closing Scripture: Romans 12:4-5, 11-13 - For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
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In Alliance with Mary: Talking Points
Opening Scripture - “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (Jn 19:26-27).
Introduction
- How would you describe the presence of Mary in your own life? How would you describe the presence of Mary in the life of your community?
- What is your understanding that as Marianists we are called to “collaborate with Mary in her mission to make Christ present in our world”?
To Know - “To deepen our knowledge of Mary we need to get in touch with her through prayer, formation, and our personal living, by which we make her present in our lives.”
- Take several minutes and reflect on the scriptural references in this section, try to imagine yourself in one of the scenes standing next to Mary. Which one did you choose? Why?
- When you imagined yourself in the biblical scene standing next to Mary, what were you thinking or feeling? Describe the scene as you imagined it.
To Love - “We live a family spirit that is based on hospitality, acceptance, and care for one’s neighbor, discovering the presence of Jesus in others. As at Pentecost, Mary accompanies our communities and makes them open to all, fully accepting of each person.”
- In what ways are you and your Marianist Lay Community presently being called or challenged to reach out to others from different situations or backgrounds?
To Serve - “Father Chaminade spoke of our common identity and mission in these words: “Ours is a great work, a magnificent work. If it is universal, it is because we are missionaries of Mary, who has said to us ‘Do whatever He tells you!’ Yes, all of us are missionaries; each of us has received from the Blessed Virgin a commission.”
- Take some time to reflect on how you participate in Mary’s mission of bringing Christ to the world in your daily life at work, in your family, and in your church and community. Describe your daily attempts to “Do whatever He tells you” in each of these places.
- In what ways do the characteristics of the Marian dimension of Church described in this section exist in your Marianist community? How might we bring these characteristics to your parish Church?
Suggested Song - “Sister in Faith” from Gospel of Love by James Maher.
Closing Prayer - "Prayer for the Marianist Family" by Robert Bouffier, SM (The Marianist Family Prayer Book, p. 70)
Mary, you pondered in your heart all the awesome, confusing, and marvelous events in your life. You considered carefully what God might want of you and then abandoned yourself to God’s goodness and your vocation. Teach us to treasure and ponder, to consider and surrender so that, living Marianist life in your name and for your honor, we might come to that blessedness promised to all your sons and daughters, the children of God. Amen.
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Marianist Lay Communities in the Church and in the World: Talking Points
Opening Prayer - Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, inspire us to do as your words invite, “I have one ambition: to do the greatest possible good.” May we all be missionaries—present in the world, in union with Christ, in alliance with Mary, and witnesses of the Gospel. We pray that we may be partners on the journey of faith, bringing Christ into the world with the vision, perseverance, and love of Mother Adèle, Blessed Chaminade, and Marie Thérèse de Lamourous.
Introduction
- What special gifts do Marianist Lay Communities bring to the Church and world?
- How have you personally benefited from these gifts?
Community and Marianist Family - Our “Experience of God [as community] encourages us to have an open and dialoguing spirit with everyone…. Our communities are characterized by a welcoming approach to people.”
- What creative steps can we take to put ourselves among those who are seeking a faith community?
- If a person shows interest in your community, how do they learn about your values and history? Is it simply by attending meetings? Or, do you have an intentional formation process?
- List three ways our community can improve the process of forming new members, encouraging people to learn about our values and history.
- What activities have we had in the past year that included other communities, members of the Marianist Sisters or Society of Mary? How do these laity and religious enrich our gatherings? What do we ask of them?
The Church - “We see the need for MLCs to find ways that allow for a direct participation and more open and significant representation of the faithful in the life of the Church.”
- How can we as individuals and community “promote a more humble, understanding, and dialoguing Church, less wealthy” and more inclusive and responsive to the needs of all people?
Society - “The mission that is proper and specific to the laity should be carried out in the world, so that, with our testimony and our activity, we may contribute to the transformation of the world and the creation of more fair structures.”
- How do you contribute to “the transformation of the world” through your lifestyle choices, family life, and life at work?
- How can your community “contribute to the transformation of the world” through works of charity and social justice—especially as these works relate to the poor and marginalized? List several specific examples.
Suggested Song: Magnificat (your choice)
Closing Prayer - Like Mary, let us invite others to “do whatever he tells” us. United in this union with the Mother we reach the Son.
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