The MAC 2020 website will be up in September. It will include a registration sign-up, Conference schedule, Travel Grant Form, workshops, open space, Keynote speaker, unique elements and much else.  The Graymoor Spiritual Life Center is an attractive site and, for those traveling long distances, quite assessable from NYC airports by train.

Please mark the date (June 25-28) and plan to be with Affiliates and the Maryknoller family from throughout our Global home.

Commemorating 400 years of African American History and Culture:
 An invitation to participate in Healing Day National Bell Ringing


August 25 at 3:00 pm EDT

[This message comes to us from Beth Begley - NJ Chapter & member of Pax Christi]

Watch Presiding Bishop Curry’s video message here.
 
“The National Park Service is commissioning, and asking, churches and people from around this country to commemorate and remember that landing and the bringing of those first enslaved Africans to this country by ringing bells. And if possible, by tolling the bells of churches and to do so on August 25 at 3:00 in the afternoon,” said Curry. “I’m inviting us as The Episcopal Church to join in this commemoration as part of our continued work of racial healing and reconciliation. At 3:00 pm we can join together with people of other Christian faiths and people of all faiths to remember those who came as enslaved, who came to a country that one day would proclaim liberty. And so we remember them and pray for a new future for us all.”
 
This national bell ringing is among the Healing Day events being held at Fort Monroe National Monument to commemorate the 400th anniversary of that landing.
 
 

Hello Affiliates,

 Last Fall, by way of introducing myself as the new Chair of the Affiliate Board, I wrote an article sharing some of my initial thoughts about the Maryknoll Affiliates.  In it I emphasized the importance of what I think are two necessary characteristics of a successful movement; connection and communication.  These are equally and importantly directly related to key responsibilities of the Affiliate Board.  Namely:

• to discover and embrace the wisdom and ever emerging life of the Affiliate movement, and
• to engage in deep listening with the wider Affiliate movement.

I think anyone would agree it would be quite difficult to come close to achieving these without connection and communication, especially considering the nature and loose structure of the Affiliates.  With that said, however, to be successful will require the effort and commitment of both Affiliate leaders and members.  It will require dialogue.  I can’t emphasize this enough!

So, to honor my personal commitment to this dialogue, I wish to continue an ongoing effort to reach out and connect with Affiliates.   All Affiliates and/or Chapters are invited to participate.  If you are reading this; you are invited.  Participation can be one-on-one conversations or connecting during a Chapter meeting.  We’ll connect either by phone or over the internet using either Zoom video conferencing or Skype.  If okay, I’d like to expand this connection by inviting another Board member and/or Regional Coordinator to the call, as well.

So, if you are interested in participating in this dialogue, please e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can arrange the particulars.  This will be a continuous effort, so be on the lookout for reminders in the future.

Again, the purpose of these conversations is just one attempt for mutual dialogue and engagement between leadership and the wider Affiliate movement. 

I hope you can join with me in this effort.  Let’s have morning coffee or a nightcap together!

Blessings.........Rich Lessard

Question of the Month # 5

What story do you tell when people ask you about Maryknoll Affiliates?

We thank Tom McGuire of the Chicago Chapter for submitting this month's QTM!

Click here to answer the question.  We look forward to and thank you for your participation in helping to make our Maryknoll Affiliate movement strong

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To see previous QTM's, click pdf QTM Catalog (210 KB)  

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 For a more detailed explanation of the QTM dynamic, see below:

Question of the Month explained?

Do you ever wonder what other Affiliates think about a particular topic?  Curious about how alike or different Affiliates are from each other?  Are there things that other Affiliates are doing that could have some impact on you personally or your Chapter life?  As members of the Maryknoll Affiliates, we belong to different Chapters separated by distance, attitudes, traditions, culture and language, so these questions may be similar to questions we sometimes ask ourselves and/or other Chapter members.