Welcome!

Welcome is something that people experience in a lot of different ways. Someone might invite you over for dinner. They might strike up a conversation on the first day back to work. Maybe a door was held for you. The simplest gestures can be welcoming.

To receive welcome is a gift. To be welcoming is even more important.

In the past year I have experienced both sides is this wonderful gift. Beginning with my entrance into the postulancy (period of discernment and formation living in a religious community) and continuing into my novitiate experience (further period of discernment and study of religious life and religious vowed commitment).

What kept coming up for me during the year was “Something more…”. That is what was being asked of me, and still is being asked of me. That something more wasn’t entering a religious institute. I think that is the vehicle God is using to lead me toward the “something more”!

The past year has helped me understand myself much more deeply, as well as what it means to be a disciple. I also enjoyed time to study prayer and practice it in different ways. To characterize the year I would call it a year of learning to welcome Christ into my life. Does that sound odd? Christ continually calls us through people, situations, and asks us to join him in his work. In relationship with him, don’t we need to be well disposed and welcome him too?

I write this very short post to introduce you to what this online space is for. Our hope is that this blog and website will be a way to share what our Marist community experiences in the coming years. To share what the “something more” might be, and continue to discover that. Welcome!

​-Luis

​

---