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Marianists at the University of Dayton
 
Celebrate May Feast Days:  May 12 - Mary, Mother of Grace, Pius IX approves the Society of Mary; May 25 - Mary, Help of Christians, Anniversary of the Foundation of the Marianist Sisters in 1816
 

Lay Marianist Communities
 

In the Marianist Lay Communities one can find prayer, liturgy, faith-sharing, ministry, formation, education, and mutual support. While these communities have many elements common to one another, they may look very dissimilar because of differing sizes, organizational frameworks, and emphases on specific parts of the Gospel message. Some may primarily offer intensive prayer and reflection on the spiritual life in the Marianist tradition; some are formed around commitment to works of justice or bringing Christ to the marketplace. Most strive to support their members in a life of faith, hope, and compassion from "cradle to grave." These communities of adults tend to be autonomous but are linking themselves more and more through regional, national, and international networks. Members of the Society of Mary and the Daughters of Mary often belong to these groups, and often serve as animators or resource persons; however, there is a high degree of shared responsibility for the community 's life among all the members. The latest edition of the Lay Marianist Directory lists 91 communities and about 2,100 individuals belonging to the communities.

Identity Statement

Marianist Lay Communities are Christian communities at the service of the church in the world...

By our Marianist vocation we are inspired by the Spirit and united with Mary to live our call to make Christ present in the world...

As members of Marianist Lay Communities we have responded to a call from God to live and share the Marianist charism...

We welcome Mary as mother, model and educator... Her directive to us is to "do whatever he tells you" in order to respond to human need (John 2:5)...

Faithful to our vocation, we commit ourselves to a way of life which demands:

• dedicating time to personal and community prayers;
• developing our faith and growing in the assimilation, living and handling on of the Marianist charism;
• developing a personal lifestyle and a work or ministry, and discerning it in community;
• being open to spiritual guidance from others;

• developing skills in cultural and social analysis that help us interpret accurately the signs of the times;
• developing skills that lead to personal and community actions for the construction of a more just and human world;
• working responsibility and with an attitude of service in various life situations;
• participating actively in the life of the community...

Through mutual collaboration among all branches of the Family of Mary, we enrich one another and better serve the mission of the church...

--excerpted from the lay Marianist identity statement
developed at the first International Convocation of
Lay Marianists, Santiago, Chile, in 1993.

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