EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – VICTORIA OLGUIN
Just last week, on Oct. 5, students, staff, and the Marianist community at St. Mary’s University gathered to celebrate the Marianist foundation and Our Lady of the Pillar. Located at Assumption Chapel, the chapel was filled with music, prayer, and a welcoming feeling that echoed throughout the high ceilings and colorful stained-glass windows. Though the celebration was in some way similar to a mass, it differed in that the event was a short one consisting of mostly music and singing, even on prayers such as the ‘Our Father.’ Evening prayer was followed by a reception dinner in the University Center. The dinner consisted of many delicious and different food items, such as coconut shrimp, taquitos, pita chips and hummus, chips and salsa, mini burgers, cheesecake, and chocolates. It was evident that the event was a success and was enjoyed by many. However, what is the purpose of this event and why is the event so special? Rev. Brandon Paluch, who helps facilitate the Praying with the Marianist events, has been able to provide answers to those questions.
“Praying with the Marianists is an initiative from the Office of Director, Father Bill Meyer. Especially as we find ourselves still recovering from the pandemic, it’s a way to gather people from all across our campus community, so students, faculty, staff, Marianist brothers, and priests, all together, just to take a moment to pray. We hope that by people coming together and
praying together with some beauty, there can be not only connection with each other and with God but also inspiration, and it can release fresh air of the spirit into our campus community,” Rev. Paluch said. Something that caught the attention of many was the music and singing at the event. Rev. Paluch explains how the music of the event came to be, and who is behind the art. “Maria Smith, who works here in the University Ministry, composed a lot of those pieces, like the opening hymn. She wrote ‘Maria venimos a tí,’ for the Lady of the Pillar. She wrote those antiphons. [Praying with the Marianists] is a way for different people with their various gifts to contribute as we give glory to God. There’s something about music that just touches the heart differently. The psalms in the Bible themselves were created to be sung. They were created as songs for God’s people to worship God,” Rev. Paluch continued.
For anyone who missed the event, there will be plenty more opportunities for the St. Mary’s community to attend. Rev. Paluch shares how many more Praying with the Marianist events will occur for the semester and the year. According to Rev. Paluch, Praying with the Marianists will occur “three times this semester, 6 times a year on special feast days. This semester, there was one for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, this one was for Nuestra Señora del Pilar or Our Lady of the Pillar, and November 2 is All Souls Day when we remember and pray for all of our beloved dead, Día de los Muertos.” All Souls Day will be a special event that students are welcomed to, in which many souls will be remembered, respectively. Rev. Paluch has shared the plans for the event, which embodies some Día de los Muertos traditions.
“We’re praying for our loved ones who’ve passed, and we hope afterward to walk from the Chapel over to the Marianist cemetery, with candles or flowers, and do something to honor our loved ones who are gone, including Marianist brothers for whom buildings are named. Charles Francis is buried there, Anthony Fredrick is buried there, so, we’re mindful of that,” Rev. Paluch shares.
The special events that occur at Praying with the Marianists are a rewarding experience that students should attend at least once in their time at St. Mary’s University. There are many opportunities to get involved, and Rev. Paluch names a few. One of the ways is through a new project called “Prayer Pals.” At each Praying with the Marianist event, Prayer Pals walk up to the front of the chapel with a collection of prayer requests. Two weeks before the event, Prayer Pals will walk around campus and accept prayer requests from the community for University Ministry and Marianist brothers to pray for. Rev Paluch explained how “people can receive a little prayer card and they can write down whatever it is they want to pray for and then the Prayer Pal doesn’t read it, just puts it into the little bag. After we receive those, we and the University ministry pray for them.” At the first Praying with the Marianist event of the semester, there were about 130 people who had been reached out to and prayed for.
It is comforting to know that the Marianist community is willing to take our prayer requests and pray for the community. There are a couple of centers to which these prayers are sent. According to Rev. Paluch, there are “three Marianist care centers with our retired or informed brothers… we have one here on campus…. We have one in Dayton, Ohio and we have one in Cupertino, California. The intentions of people here at St. Mary’s are being prayed for by Marianists around the country,” Rev. Paluch said. The new project is something that the Marianist community would love for more people to be involved with. Students have already shown
their appreciation for the new “Prayer Pal” project. “A lot of people have said ‘this is just what I needed. This is really comforting. This is great to know, thank you. You made my day.’ So, a lot of people have said that, and it’s so simple. We can help each other that way,” Rev. Paluch said.
If interested in becoming involved with Prayer Pals or finding other ways to help at Praying with the Marianist, reach out to Rev. Paluch, who shares many opportunities to get involved. “If people want to have a particular role, all they have to do is contact me. People can help with reading, they can help with singing, and they can help with carrying things in procession. There are various ways to help,” Rev. Paluch said. Rev. Brandon Paluch can be contacted through his email at bpaluch@stmarytx.edu
PRAYER FOR HALLOWEEN
Our God is a God of Love & Life! Let’s pray this prayer with our families & for all our families this Halloween. God of laughter and Joy, We turn to you in the way of our ancient ancestors, grateful for the abundance of food and festivity that surrounds us at this time of year. Keep all children safe as they embark on their Halloween revels. Light their way through the dark night and enfold them in your love. May the real threat in their lives by grace that multiplies in-depth snd breadth as they grow older. We pray with all the saints in heaven Amen. Source from Ann Derey, St. Isidore Church
ALL SOULS’ DAY PRAYERS
1) Father, we love our departed brothers and sisters, but now they are beyond the touch of our hands, the glance of our eyes, and the warmth of our flesh. We are grateful that you blessed us with their presence for a time, and pray that they may enjoy your loving presence for all time. AMEN
2) Father, we love our departed brothers and sisters, but now they are beyond the touch of our hands, the glance of our eyes, and the warmth of our flesh. We are grateful that you blessed us with their presence for a time, and pray that they may enjoy your loving presence for all time. AMEN
3) Merciful Father, On this day, we are called to remember those who have died, particularly those who have died in the past year, and pray for their joyful reunion with you, their loving creator. AMEN
4) Lord God, you are the glory of believers and the life of the just. Your son redeemed us by dying and rising to life again. Since our departed brothers and sisters believed in the mystery of our resurrection, let them share the joys and blessings of the life to come. AMEN
Source from Father Chaminade Source from Chaminade College Preparatory Source from St. Ambrose Catholic Church Source from Jael SC,