Our Conversation Series - February 12, 2026

We had a reflective conversation on February 12, 2026, focusing on various themes. A synopsis of the Conversation is shared below. Further, we have shared this year’s  Prayer and Reflection Guide for the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, 2026, the Patronal Feast of the Marianist Family.

Our February 12, 2026, Conversation Series was attended by five Marianist Encounters Committee members: Sr. Leanne Jablonski, FMI, Bro. Steve O’Neil, SM, Tara Poling, Tony Garascia, and Hazel Franco. We also had Erin Maher, Ministry Lead, Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School, Cleveland, OH, and Bro. Jack Ventura, SM, Ministry Lead, Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory, Hollywood, FL. We are grateful to Erica Duarte, Office of Sponsorship, Tara Poling, MEEC, and Tony Garascia, Past President, MLC-NA, for facilitating these Conversations.  Special thanks to Tara for working on registrations.

On February 12, 2026, after welcome, prayer, and introductions, we discussed the following topics:

• Integrating MFEP goals with existing resources

The group discussed the Marianist Family Encounters Project (MFEP) and affirmed it as a mandate from sponsorship that requires engagement with the community. Both our Ministry Leads noted that the project was incorporated into their four-year plan and emphasized the importance of supporting the mandate while acknowledging different resources available to schools across the country. The group also emphasized that the Marianist Family Encounters Project should not be seen as extra work but as a framework to enhance communities' aspirations by building on what is already happening across all schools. It was also highlighted that faculty are using their ingenuity to repurpose existing school resources—such as recycling plastic bottles—or leveraging student-led clubs, thereby respecting the unique resources and constraints of each school.

• Commitment to women’s education and beyond

In alignment with the Global Compact on Education, the participants emphasized the intersection of environmental justice and women's concerns. At schools like VASJ, this is being realized through creative initiatives such as student-led donation drives for local women’s groups and curriculum projects that highlight women's empowerment. By linking the Marianist Encounters goals with sports initiatives and justice teams, schools ensure that the commitment to women's education extends beyond the classroom into practical, community-based advocacy that addresses systemic social issues.

• Student anxiety and Ecotherapy

The group identified a significant rise in anxiety among young people, particularly regarding environmental crises and challenging family situations. To combat this "climate anxiety," the discussion pivoted toward the potential of ecotherapy—using nature as a foundational tool in counseling and support services. By engaging students in environmental and social action projects, schools can help them transition from anxiety to action and work towards just causes. Integrating nature-based interventions not only addresses mental health but also aligns with the broader goal of fostering a restorative connection between students and their local environments.

• Enhancing Communications and Collaboration

Moving forward, proposed plans include quarterly email check-ins and meetings per semester to facilitate the sharing of best practices. This enhanced communication will allow schools to learn from one another's implementation challenges and ensure that the project remains a living, breathing part of every Marianist school's four-year strategic plan.

March 25, 2026, Feast of the Annunciation of our Lord, Patronal Feast of the Marianist Family

An excerpt from the Marianist Family’s Feast of the Annunciation Prayer and Reflection Guide.

Mary, Way of Hope

We have just lived a Jubilee Year marked by hope and joy. It was a time of grace, openness, and renewal for each and every one of us. This ordinary jubilee invited the faithful to a spiritual journey of conversion, to reconnect with their faith. "Pilgrims of Hope", the walk continues in order to be bearers of hope in a moving world in search of meaning. In this context, we marked the 25th anniversary of the beatification of our Founder: Blessed Father Chaminade, an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of this great Servant of God and to draw on his example to strengthen our hope.

"Pilgrims of hope," we are and remain so. We are called to bear witness to the hope that comes from the Risen Christ. The Jubilee is over, but hope does not deceive. The road travelled continues. Our Patronal Feast is an opportunity for us, the Marianist Family, to take Mary, so that she might help us to "gather the flowers of hope." The theme that will guide our day is the following: "Mary, Way of Hope."

As every year, the Marianist family commemorates its vocation to give thanks and celebrate the joy of giving. To keep in mind such generosity of the Lord, let us follow in the footsteps of Mary: in whom "hope finds its greatest witness" (Spes non confundit, N° 24). Let the Magnificat burst forth in our hearts. Let us express our joy and gratitude to God for the wonders He has done in each of our lives and in our families. Let us sing this canticle of Mary with her, so that she may imprint in us the mark of her own full and active hope.

Click to download the Prayer and Reflection Guide for the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, 2026, the Patronal Feast of the Marianist Family for your Marianist Community.