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HONOLULU—Feb. 27, 2007—Twenty-four men and women, many of whom are associated with Chaminade University of Honolulu, formally committed themselves to being a part of a small Marianist lay community on Feb. 4. As newly committed lay Marianists, they dedicated themselves to living out the Marianist Charism in a special Mass held on campus at the Mystical Rose Oratory and promised to share their faith throughout the coming year before an enthusiastic crowd of colleagues, family members and friends.
“Many of us have been lay Marianists for years and just never had the opportunity to make a formal commitment,” said Kay Stone, Chaminade University campus ministry director. “What made it even more special was the coming together of our four Honolulu Marianist communities.”
Marianist lay communities, formerly referred to as Marian Sodalities, were originally founded by the Blessed Father William Joseph Chaminade, Mother Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, and Sister Marie-Thérèse Charlotte de Lamourous in Bordeaux, France. As committed lay Marianists, members of these communities seek to live out their Christian values through faithful participation in their respective communities, sharing in Mary's mission to bring Jesus to the world.
Newly committed members from this year's Marianist lay community include: Tina Andrade, Barb Belle, Dave Coleman, Val Coleman, Rick Collins, Grissel Benitez-Hodge, Cynthia Estrella, Pi’ikea Hardy-Kahaleo’umi, Victor Hardy-Kahaleo’umi, Vince Hodge, Venus Ituralde, Jayne Mondoy, Julie Nagasako, Reynard Nivera, Yukio Ozaki, Jeannie Pinpin, Kristi Schulenberg, Nicole Stalter, Pete Steiger, Kay Stone, Uheina Tuihalafatai, Margaret Uiagalelei, Soane Uiagalelei and Lisa Vega.
Blessed Father William Joseph Chaminade was born in Périgueux, France, in 1761 and was ordained a priest in 1785. After the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, he moved to Bordeaux in 1790. Fr. Chaminade put his life in danger in 1791when he refused to take the oath of the so-called Civil Constitution of the Clergy and continued his priestly ministry. Around this time, he met the Venerable Marie-Thérèse Charlotte de Lamourous (1754-1836), who was one of his closest collaborators and whom he later helped to found the Miséricorde in Bordeaux to aid fallen women. Fr. Chaminade fled to Zaragoza, Spain, in 1797, where he spent many hours in prayer and meditation in front of a statue of Our Lady of the Pillar. There in exile he developed his Marian-apostolic convictions and was inspired to found a family of religious and laity dedicated to Mary. When he was able to return to Bordeaux in November 1800, he re-founded the old Marian Sodality but on a new basis. With the Venerable Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon (1789-1828), he founded at Agen the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate in 1816, and the following year, at Bordeaux, the Society of Mary. His first members, who would later be called Marianists, were members of the Marian Sodalities.
Photo by Cliff Bieberly
