2005 Annual Report Family Online (April, 2006)

1. 2005 Annual Report Family Online (April, 2006)

2. Highlights • Strategic Planning • All three Regional Coordinating Teams gathered for a national meeting to vision and discern for the future of Marianist LIFE as a ministry of the Marianist Province of the United States. A five year vision was developed and the action plan is underway and in process. Some of the action items are as follows: • Create guidelines, procedures, and job descriptions for Coordinating Team members • Plan for the future of LIFE Alumni and Old Timers (young adults) • Initiate a three year national visitation process to all schools and parishes involved with Marianist LIFE • Develop resources and support system for LIFE moderators • Name and meet with Advisory Board to consult with national office • Implement a stronger Marianist identity into summer program curriculums • Mission and Vision • Most people assimilated well to a national vision for Marianist LIFE and more people are starting to see the larger connection with LIFE to the Marianist family and mission. The national office and regional teams are trying to forge a stronger, intentional Marianist identity within the LIFE program. We are not simply LIFE; hence, we are Marianist LIFE, and we are trying to better articulate who and whose we are. • National Logo • All three regions of Marianist LIFE agreed upon a new national logo based on the design of the Marianist Province logo (as seen on the front cover of this report)

3. Highlights • National Registration • The national office facilitated and organized the first national registration process for all three summer LIFE programs. This created a new opportunity for institutions to inquire freely and explore more deeply each of the summer programs. There is less regional allegiance to one particular summer program; in fact, institutions are trying different summer programs as a result. A “cross regionalization” effect has occurred, thus broadening the national identity of Marianist LIFE. • 2005 Summer Programs • Marianist LIFE Central 72 students Maximum capacity: 78 students • Marianist LIFE Pacific 57 students Maximum capacity: 90 students • Marianist LIFE South 92 students Maximum capacity: 120 students • National Visits • National Coordinator is in the midst of a national visitation schedule to observe and support all existing LIFE programs, visiting all 38 highs schools and parishes involved with Marianist LIFE. Visitations include meeting with students, moderators, and administrators. A national report identifying the role of Marianist LIFE at each of the various institutions will be developed upon conclusion of visits. • Guidelines & Procedures • An extensive set of national guidelines and procedures was developed for Coordinating Teams and the summer LIFE programs. The guidelines include common organizational models, job descriptions, and term limits. • Advisory Board • A task force met to determine the role, structure, and charge of a consulting body for Marianist LIFE. The first Advisory Board was named this past summer and will gather in April, 2006.

4. Highlights • Collaborative Efforts • Marianist LIFE has actively collaborated with various Marianist entities, including • Provincial Offices of: • Religious Life • Met quarterly; discussed and brainstormed effective, age-appropriate models of formation for youth and young adults; evaluated Marianist LIFE and the National Coordinator; invited as a member (for what will now be an annual meeting) of the Lay Marianist Formation Cluster, gathering to discuss and strategize for the various needs within the lay branch of the Marianist family • Education • Convened annual meeting to discuss school participation, moderator and/or administrator involvement, as well as gifts and challenges facing Marianist LIFE • Communications • Met quarterly; developed strategies to effectively communicate the mission and vision of Marianist LIFE; successfully developed and implemented LIFE website • Development • Met and proposed fundraising venture of the “Ohana Project” where wealthier institutions assist lower-income schools and parishes; discussed grant possibilities for Marianist LIFE • Peace & Justice • Met to discuss ways in which the two offices can collaborate more effectively; planned a joint meeting for February 2006 to create a social justice education module for summer programs and Marianist schools • Vocations • Invited Marianist Contacts and temporary professed for volunteer involvement in summer programs

5. Highlights • Collaborative Efforts (continued) • CMSC • Attended board meeting to share information about Marianist LIFE; CMSC desired to spread word about LIFE to the Marianist family on the east coast; National Coordinator will follow up with contacts made by CMSC • MSJC • Met in person to discuss ways in which collaboration can occur; incorporated young adult members of LIFE into the Adele Project for social justice; agreed to incorporate interested individuals from LIFE into various Social Justice Issue Teams • MLNNA • Attended, and will continue to attend, their annual Leadership Meeting; communicated the needs of Marianist LIFE young adults to Leadership Team; helped design a “young adult tract” for the 2006 Lay Assembly • Lay Formation Initiative • Met in person to share information and plans for respective organizations; shared names of interested young adults for Lay Formation Cohorts; agreed to ongoing conversation, networking, and information sharing • NACMS • Completed two Virtual Learning Courses (Founders & Communities); participated in a week of self-study and retreat using NACMS resources and personnel; traveled with Ray McCracken and Maureen O’Rourke (NACMS employee and intern, respectively) to California for a joint venture of presentations and visits

6. Highlights • Moderator Network • A national network was created to allow moderators from all high schools and parishes involved with Marianist LIFE to share ideas, resources, challenges, and professional development with their respective Marianist LIFE Communities • Shared Resources • All moderators are able to share resources, prayer services, and Marianist LIFE Community meeting ideas with and through the national office. An online database on our website is currently being developed. • Mid-LIFE • Adult moderators from each region of LIFE gathered for the first annual “National Mid-LIFE” (January, 2005) as an opportunity for professional development, in-service, and sharing of best practices. Moderators discerned guidelines for what constitutes healthy and unhealthy student and moderator participants during the summer programs. • Publications • The national office has published various newsletters and e-letters highlighting the summer programs and Marianist LIFE Communities. Connected and The Fulcrum are distributed to over 3,000 youth, young adults, and adults throughout the country. • World Youth Day • Several moderators, young adults, and high school students involved with LIFE made the unforgettable pilgrimage to Cologne, Germany via the Province sponsored trip. Many memories and connections were made both domestically and internationally.

7. Highlights • LIFE Alumni / Old Timers Focus Group • The National Office gathered ten young adults from across the country to dream, develop, and design for LIFE Alumni and Old Timers. The group proposed to eradicate the term “LIFE Alumni” and “Old Timers” for they found it too exclusive for young adults who did not participate in a Marianist LIFE summer program. They suggested a new, broader vision: “Marianist Young Adults.” They expressed a great need for more young adult retreats and small faith community development; in addition, they desired a stronger connection to the Marianist family. • Marianist Young Adult Retreats • Three retreats were held for young adults at retreat centers in Ohio and Texas (July, 2005), as well as California (October, 2005). The retreats were open to students who attended Marianist LIFE, their friends, and any one else interested. The focus for the retreats was faith sharing and small faith communities. • 35th Anniversary Celebration • About 40 people gathered in San Antonio for a celebration commemorating 35 years of LIFE. It was a nice gathering organized by a committee and the national office. We were a bit disappointed with the low turnout; however, we learned a lot to improve the celebration in five years for our 40th anniversary celebration. • Administrative Support in Philadelphia • Secretarial assistance was essential for the National Coordinator while in the office and on the road. The secretary assisted with publications, national registration, phone calls, and support for meetings.

8. Challenges • Administrative Support • Secretarial and administrative assistance in the national office was limited. The secretary was working only three days per week while supporting four other Marianist entities concurrently. • Coordinating Team - Recruitment and Sustainability • In the fast-paced culture in which we live, it seems to be more difficult to for adults to make a commitment as Coordinating Team members. Due to personal and professional busyness, the time required for a Coordinating Team member makes it challenging for teachers, campus/youth ministers, and volunteers to solidify a commitment. • Moderators – Recruitment and Sustainability • It has also been challenging at times to recruit and sustain adult moderators to facilitate the LIFE program at their respective high school or parish due to the time commitment. • Lack of Marianist parish involvement • Only two out of eleven Marianist parishes were involved in the 2005 summer program (note: only one Marianist parish was involved last year in 2004) • Decreasing number of Marianist Brothers and Sisters • Over the past few years we’ve seen a decrease of professed Marianist brothers and sisters involved with Marianist LIFE. We fear losing their presence since it is integral to the charism of the program. • Financial Concerns • We must constantly increase registration fees to meet increasing costs of transportation and retreat center facilities

9. Overview: Summer Programs 2005 221 students and 99 adults* from: 17 Marianist high schools 2 Marianist parishes 8 non-Marianist high schools 7 non-Marianist parishes * Adults consist of: moderators, Coordinating Team members, and support staffs

10. Marianist LIFE CentralSite: Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning – Dayton, OH • Archbishop Moeller HS Cincinnati, OH • Chaminade College Prep. HS St. Louis, MO • Chaminade-Julienne HS Dayton, OH • Christopher Columbus HS Miami, FL • Colegio San Jose HS San Juan, PR • Daniel J. Gross Catholic HS Bellevue, NE • Holy Angels Parish Dayton, OH • North Catholic HS Pittsburgh, PA • Our Lady of Good Counsel HS Silver Spring, MD • Purcell-Marian HS Cincinnati, OH • Queen of Apostles Parish Dayton, OH • St. Mary’s HS St. Louis, MO • St. Susanna Parish Mason, OH • Villa Angela/St. Joseph HS Cleveland, OH 72 students 27 moderators, team and staff 9 Marianist schools 1 Marianist parish 4 non-Marianist institutions

11. Marianist LIFE PacificSite: Mission Springs Retreat Center – Mission Springs, CA • Archbishop Riordan HS San Francisco, CA • Chaminade College Prep. St. Louis, MO • East Honolulu Vicariate Honolulu, HI • Juniperro Serra HS Gardena, CA • Sacred Hearts Academy Honolulu, HI • St. Anthony School Wailuku, HI • St. Joseph HS & Parish Hilo, HI • Saint Louis School Honolulu, HI 57 students 32 moderators, team, and staff 4 Marianist schools 4 non-Marianist institutions

12. Marianist LIFE SouthSite: TECABOCA – Ingram, TX • Archbishop McCarthy HS Miami, FL • Central Catholic HS San Antonio, TX • Chaminade College Prep. West Hills, CA • Chaminade-Madonna HS Hollywood, FL • Church of St. Luke Houston, TX • Church of St. Matthew San Antonio, TX • Church of the Holy Rosary San Antonio, TX • Msgr. Edward Pace HS Miami, FL • Nerinx Hall HS St. Louis, MO • Nolan Catholic HS Fort Worth, TX • St. John Vianney HS St. Louis, MO • St. Joseph HS Victoria, TX 92 students 40 moderators, team, and staff 5 Marianist schools 1 Marianist parish 7 non-Marianist institutions