With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, the start of Advent isn't too far away. As we speed into the holiday season, Advent can often be nudged to the periphery, despite the fact that Advent can have a profound effect on our attitude about Christmas. Advent is a time to concentrate on Mary, the mother of God. Sometimes we forget that Mary put her hopes, dreams, and aspirations on hold in order to answer God's call to be the mother of Jesus. Mary said "yes," and that changed her whole life. A question for us to ponder this Advent season: How many times have we put our plans aside and said "yes" to God's plan for us?
Labor Day can be more than a celebration of work—it can be a celebration of freedom, possibility, and the courage to pursue a dream. Father Gene reflects on work, community, and the freedom to create a life beyond what we imagined.
The Marianist Doxology is more than a prayer repeated from memory—it is a way of understanding how we are called to live. Father Gene reflects on its meaning, Mary’s courageous “yes,” and the Marianist mission to bring God’s presence into the world.