MARIANIST LIFE Empowering Servant Leaders

“Authentic, vibrant, and affirming.”

Those are the three words that Ms. Erica Duarte, coordinator of Marianist LIFE (Living In Faith Experience), uses to describe the national faith-formation program rooted in Catholic and Marianist tradition.

This past July, 12 rising seniors attended the Marianist LIFE South program at the Tecaboca Retreat Center in the hill country outside of San Antonio, TX. This was Kellenberg Memorial’s first group of students to take part in LIFE in person, as last summer’s program was held virtually. Kellenberg Memorial Chaplain Father Daniel Griffin, S.M. ’02 has helped coordinate the LIFE program since 2019 and was thrilled to have Firebirds take part in the fiveday, intensive program that is designed to train students to bring the Marianist charism back to their school communities. In addition to helping coordinate the LIFE program since 2019, Fr. Dan also serves as a Chaplain for LIFE South, which includes schools and parishes from California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

“The students gave up part of their summer to learn how to become servant leaders and how to help infuse the Marianist charism and spirit into the faith lives of their fellow classmates,” says Fr. Dan. “Of course, students constantly see the Brothers and teachers at Kellenberg living out the Marianist mission, but having their peers lead the school community in faith experiences presents a unique approach that has a great impact.”

While in Texas, students learned about the Pillars of Marianist LIFE (Faith, Mary, Mission, Inclusivity, and Community) and the basic tenets of Catholic Social Teaching through a combination of breakout sessions, peer mentorship, quiet reflection, team-building exercises, and prayer. They also strategized ways to bring what they learned back to campus with them.

Fr. Dan explains, “Kellenberg has always had a wonderful apostolic program. The ARK (Apostolic Response at Kellenberg) has been here for over 20 years, and even before that, there was always a very strong focus on campus ministry work. So we figured the best

Marianist Life

Empowering Servant Leaders

way to spread the Marianist LIFE message was to build onto apostolic activities already in existence.”

The Marianist LIFE Leaders engage their classmates in a variety of ways, including the creation of WITNESS Wednesday. LIFE Leader Zachary Vogt ’23 says, “One of the biggest takeaways from the LIFE program is that anyone can be a part of the Marianist faith community - not just those who have taken vows. We try to communicate that idea to our classmates by giving WITNESS talks. We’ve also been appearing on morning announcements on Wednesdays before monthly Mass to communicate a theme on which the community can focus and reflect. WITNESS Wednesday is a good reminder for everyone to be present and prepared to receive the Gospel message and apply it to their own lives.”

Marianist LIFE Leaders also provide a brief reflection before monthly school Masses, as well as promote and introduce XLT, Kellenberg’s monthly Eucharistic Adoration. They meet regularly to brainstorm new ideas for bringing the mission of Christ and Mary, the Blessed Mother, to the school community.

These student-led faith experiences are precisely what the Marianist LIFE Program aims to develop and help flourish. Ms. Duarte says, “Marianist LIFE is unique because it weaves faith formation, community building, mission, and leadership into one dynamic program that is driven and led by students. Empowering students to form and nurture communities of faith within their schools and parishes allows them to take an active part in Mary’s mission of bringing Christ into the world.”

Another unique aspect of the faith-formation program is that it connects students in Marianist schools from all over the country. Fr. Dan says, “It was really rewarding to watch the kids interact with students

(Continued) from other Marianist schools. It was amazing when they realized they aren’t the only ones who stop and pray the Three O’Clock Prayer. Marianist LIFE shows our students that they are part of this special worldwide family of Marianists.”

Brother Patrick Cahill, S.M., one of the LIFE South Moderators echoes that sentiment, saying, “As a Marianist Brother, I personally found great joy in witnessing the ways our students connected with their peers from other Marianist institutions throughout the country. It delighted me to see LIFErs from Florida and Texas teach our students how to sing the Marianist Doxology in English and Spanish.”

Although every member of the class of 2023 was given the opportunity to apply to become part of the LIFE program last spring, only 12 students were selected after writing essays and being interviewed about their motivations and intentions for taking part in such an intensive faith-formation program.

The 2022-2023 Marianist LIFE Leaders are: Julia Baratta ’23; Colleen Bayley ’23; Joaquin Chungata ’23; Jimmy Ganosis ’23, Gabrielle Iadevaio ’23; Noah Jackson ’23; Micaela Maywald ’23; Matthew Meaney ’23; Kaitlin Messina ’23; Colin Reese ’23; Gabriella Sankovich ’23; and Zach Vogt ’23. Bro. Patrick Cahill, S.M. and Ms. Lauren Doodian ’12 serve as moderators, while Mr. James O’Brien serves as the in-school coordinator for the program. The continued guidance and curation of the program by Fr. Daniel Griffin, S.M. ’02 as Chaplain for LIFE South has been instrumental in putting Firebirds in the national spotlight of Marianist LIFE. Fr. Dan continues to inspire Kellenberg Memorial’s Marianist LIFE Leaders to bring the unique, universal charism of the Society of Mary to the entire Firebird Family.

Clockwise from top left: Participants take part in a liturgy preparation exercise.

Marianist LIFE Leaders distribute candy to students as part of Founder’s Day celebrations.

Gabriella Sankovich ’23, Kaitlyn Messina ’23, Noah Jackson ’23, and Colin Reese ’23 pose together after presenting WITNESS talks to Latin School students on WITNESS Day in October. The group huddles to pray together on Reconciliation Night.

Micaela Maywald ’23 carries water during one of the social justice sessions regarding the global water crisis.

Fr. Daniel Griffin, S.M. ’02 celebrates Mass by Johnson Creek.