May 2026
Dear Friends,
Dear Friends,
I hope all is well with you. I write to you in an air of Easter joy. I want to speak to you about the importance of family. Family is important to us and is a central theme of our life as Catholics.
Family is a theme one can see countless times throughout the history of salvation. In Genesis, God gave Eve to Adam. Moses and the Israelites gave real depth to relationships amid both jubilant times and the times of trial. We can also consider the brothers Esau and Jacob and the power struggle between them. Of course, we must make mention of the Apostles and their relationships as well.
Needless to say, all these relationships have some dysfunction, especially when they lose sight of what binds them together, namely, God. Pondering on these biblical examples of family makes me consider the family that I have chosen to be in, the Marianist Family.
The Marianist Family is large; it is bigger than Long Island. It spans the whole world. I have been blessed to meet many Marianists throughout the United States and even in Europe, which is just the tip of the iceberg. There are Marianists in Africa, Asia, and other places, too. I have become a member of a large family. In this large family, we are united to God through Mary. The Marianist hospitality that I experienced at Chaminade-Mineola and Kellenberg Memorial are the same hospitality I experienced across the world. Is the Marianist Family perfect? No, but it has lasted for over two centuries because of its love of God through Mary.
A recent blessing is how much my parents have become a part of the Marianist family. In the weeks prior to Easter, Kellenberg Memorial High School, where I am stationed, has hosted two Communion Breakfasts—one for the Fifth Sunday of Lent and the other for Palm Sunday. My parents were able to attend both events. A long-standing custom of the Marianist Community has been inviting the
Brothers’ families to school events, which is a very visible sign of them being welcomed into the Marianist Family. When you join the Marianist Family, your family grows exponentially!
I encourage you to consider whether a Marianist vocation may be for you. A Marianist vocation is one of prayer, work, and joy! I am happy to share my Easter joy with you, and I hope you do the same.
In J.M.J.,
Bro. Michael Patrick