Maryknoll Affiliate News (267)
The latest news about the Maryknoll Affiliates
The first blog post on the MAC2020 website is a recent article by the Keynote Speaker, Nancy Sylvester IHM. It's entitled, "An Early Morning Contemplative Ride". Go to: www.mkmac.org and click on blog - in English or Spanish. The first Registrations already came in last week. Go to the website to register, or to just get a better sense of what the Conference offers.
As stated in the Maryknoll Affiliates Organization document: The Affiliate Board is the authoritative body that coordinates and unifies the Maryknoll Affiliates.
Two sentences in the Roles & Responsibilities document give a deeper and more spirited description: In Seeking to be faithful to servant leadership, the Board commits to engage in deep listening with the wider Affiliate movement, to bring the voices at the margins to the center and to always seek the greater good, both within and beyond our global movement.
The Affiliate Board meets twice a year at Maryknoll to plan, reflect and share mutual camaraderie together. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together with others (including representatives of the Sisters, Lay Missioners, Fathers & Brothers on the Board) to help the Affiliate movement remain vital, faithful and moving forward.
For more information, contact Board member Roxanne Hughes-Wheatland at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ann Carr wrote: Not sure if you have been following the Amazon Synod, but I believe this is a beautiful, important moment for our church. Could we consider joining our brothers and sisters in the Amazon in prayer during this important time?
Maryknollers who have worked with indigenous peoples over the years have taught me to respect their wisdom and the great gifts they have to offer us. Now more than ever, with our planet on fire and in peril, I hope we can hope our hearts and consciousness to receive their many gifts. Despite some of the backlash and stirrings of opposition, I believe (hope) that the spirit of the holy is very much with the church of the Amazon and it feels important to stand with them in joy and solidarity.
Thank you Ann.
To get more information go to: https://catholicclimatemovement.global/amazon-synod/
Initial comments & some things to look for:
- The website, in English & Spanish, is intuitive and should be easy to maneuver and get to wherever you’d like. Click the dropdown menu for your preferred language or simply scroll through the site to view the theme, presentations, schedule, blog, Graymoor, etc.
- It is a dynamic website – updates and new information…e.g., the youth segment, blog articles will be added periodically. There is a blog article now on the site from Nancy Sylvester IHM
- Correction – the MAC2020 logo list the dates at June 25 – 29. It should be 25 – 28 and will be corrected soon.
- Registration/Payment – this is the first MAC wherein payment can be made by credit card…checks too. Full payment is $360. That covers tuition, room, board, all processing charges and is still less that the cost for MAC 2017. Single occupancy is $410. There are a limited amount of single rooms.
- To limit excess paperwork, there is no provision for deposit this time. Payment is made in full. However, should you need to cancel, your full payment will be returned if we’re notified by May 1, 2020.
- Travel Grant - There are some funds set aside for Travel/Scholarship grant funds. Click on Register to begin the application.
- THANK YOU – the MAC2020 website team (Santa Orlando, Paula Schaffner, Mary Moritz and Bob Short) wish to give a gigantic thank you to Lisa Marie Stengel, our new website design & marketing person. I think you’ll see from this website some of her abundant gifts in website design and in understanding our Maryknoll Affiliate culture. Lisa, who is Santa’s daughter, will also be working with us in the complete redesign and function of the main Affiliate website.
Check out the site now: www.mkmac.org
MAC Keynote - THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF LOVE
Written by Robert ShortNancy Sylvester IHM will be the the keynote speaker at MAC 2020 - June 25-28 - at Graymoor Spiritual Life Center. Here is a synopsis of her presentation:
Synopsis: How do we witness to Love in a time of chaos when all our structures and systems are breaking down? How do we witness to Love in a time when polarities continue to separate us—as family, friends, citizens and members of the planetary community? How do we witness to Love at this time in our evolutionary journey? Believing that responding to these questions needs to emerge from a new consciousness, Nancy’s presentation integrates how consciousness develops with the transformative practice of contemplation. She explores the unique call we have as Maryknoll Affiliates, as persons committed to the spiritual dimension of our lives, to witness to Love in ways that are so needed at this time.
Note: The MAC2020 is ready to launch. We are just waiting for bank clearance in order to process credit cards.
Collaborative Effort - Protest Against Inhumane Treatment & Detention of Children
Written by Robert Short
Affiliates from the Albany, Goshen and New Jersey Chapters came together to participate in the National Action in Newark, NJ on September 4 to protest against the inhumane treatment and detention of children and families at immigration centers across the country. In part, this demonstration and the one on July 18 in Washington, DC was a call to all Catholics to raise our voices and stand together in solidarity.
Here’s the link:
https://www.ncronline.org/
Maryknoll Symposium [MKLM, Sisters, Fathers/Brothers, Affiliates]
Dorothy Day An Undivided Heart
Presenters:
- Kate Hennessy, youngest granddaughter of Dorothy Day
- Robert Ellsberg, Editor-in-Chief of Orbis Books, who worked with Dorothy at the NYC Catholic Worker
- Patrick & Kathleen Sutter Jordan, members of the Catholic Worker from 1968 - 75
Saturday, November 16th 8:30am - 4:00pm
Maryknoll Society Asia Room
55 Ryder Road Ossining, NY 10562
Lunch Included
Must RSVP - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 915 236 3454
The MAC 2020 Planning Team has scheduled a session ON AND WITH youth for Saturday morning 9/27. Admittedly, we have a rather expansive definition of youth – essentially, any human between the ages of 16 – 39. That chronological span encompasses three generations – X 1954-80, Y (millennium) 1981-2000 and Z (Boomlets) 2001 – present. While those generational dates and the characterizations attributed to each are social constructs and need to be taken with some skepticism, it does provide perspective. It’d be a good bet that the majority of those attending MAC 2020 are of the Silent Generation 1925–45 or Boomer 1945-1964. Should be interesting.
The specific format for the session is not yet solidified but the hope is to engage the youth in a creative forum and get a sense of what they’re thinking (or not) about such things as faith, commitment, Church & institutions in general, the digital world, relationships, mission and more. The word is already out that the “mission” is in question. Perhaps the best way to frame this is to bring to mind the theme and simply ask the young people to respond to how they witness love in this interim time.
If this forum comes to realizing what we’re hoping for, it could be a pivotal moment.
The September/October 2019 edition of the Maryknoll Magazine includes a very poignant and moving article about Affiliate Ann Carr. Ann has been an Affiliate since 1993 and, even for those who know her (and they are many) you might be surprised to see a photo of Ann with her flock of goats at her new home in a rural neighborhood outside Philadelphia.
In one paragraph of the article, the author (Mary Ann Cejka) writes how Ann's understanding of what it means to be in mission expanded once she became an Affiliate over 25 years ago. She quotes Ann: "What impressed me about it most was its model of participatory leadership and its emphasis on global solidarity." At the beginning of the article is the headliner: - A Maryknoll affiliate provides medical care to children with special needs at home an overseas. The paragraphs that follow expose the breath and depth of Ann's commitment to mission and the particular way Ann has lived that out as a pediatrician and a woman. It is a powerful read.
If you don't receive the hard copy of the Magazine, the digital version - which I think will soon include the article - can be reached at: https://maryknollmagazine.org/
I’m fairly certain that “website rumblings” is, as they say these days, not a thing. My clever, more probably devious, thought was that, given the preponderance of ‘mature’ Affiliates (myself included) within the movement, having the word website in the title of anything ends up being a pseudo-natural remedy for the insomniacs among us. On the other hand, rumblings almost always has a provocative ring to it, thereby neutralizing the insomnia effect. Additionally, Volcanos seem to have a certain allure about them…as long as you’re not in their path. So, with that admission, here’s the newsflash.
Two new websites are being created. (1) The MAC 2020 [Witnessing Love in the Interim Time] - with all the information you’ll need get a feel for the Who, What, Where & When, to register, apply for a travel grant, etc., will go live this coming September. (2) The Affiliate Website redo is also underway. This will be a major overhaul in design, format and technology. It will be simpler (fewer clicks) focused (less peripheral, seldom used information) cleaner (in aesthetic design) visually accessible (scrolling technology) and with an outward reach to engage those who might be considering joining us. This redo should be ready by the end of the year or the beginning quarter of 2020.
If you have any suggestions about how to make the new website better on any/all levels, please contact Bob at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
More...
From Beth Begley - New Jersey Chapter
Below is letter from Eli McCarthy - I keep hearing more and more indivuals and groups interested in participating. Exact location still TBD. I would be glad to serve as a contact for any registered to attend. Cardinal Tobin is my bishop.
Beth (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 845-357-8919)
Catholic Action for Immigrant Children!
Newark, NJ, Wed. Sept. 4th, 10am-12pm
Images of immigrant children detained in cages, separated from family members, and living in unsanitary, unhealthy conditions have outraged the nation in recent weeks. The faith community has decried this treatment of children not only as a violation of human dignity and rights, but also as contrary to religious teachings and the sacred call to care for people who are most at risk, especially children.
Be Peace:
Pathways toward a Culture of Peace
Please join us in promoting a
Culture of Peace!
SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 10:00 AM 12:00 NN
2ND FLOOR, CHURCH CENTER, 777 UN PLAZA
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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.
400 Years of African American History & Culture
Written by Robert ShortCommemorating 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.
