How did you get involved with Marist?
I attended Roselle Catholic High School and had the opportunity to discover what it means to be Marist through their excellent Campus Ministry program. I grew in the Marist Spirituality through the Marist Encounter Christ Retreat. That weekend in Esopus opened my eyes to see God in my life and enabled me to grow closer to God. After my Encounter I wanted to turn my experience into action and be part of helping others to encounter God in the same way. I took every chance I had to be on an Encounter team.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
After my first experience of being a team member for an Encounter, I found out that not only was being on the team an opportunity for me to help others to encounter God, but also for me to continue to develop my own relationship with God. In fact, the overall reason I am still involved is because at every “encounter” with Marist Brothers, Marist youth, Marist young adults and Marist lay people (faculty members of Marist schools and other adults), I grow both in my faith and as a young person. There is something about being Marist that constantly challenges me to learn and to grow into a better young adult.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I try to follow the example of quietly serving others with an extraordinary amount of love. I have been lucky to have many role models who have set that example.

How did you get involved with Marist?
I was chosen to go on Marist Youth and ever since then I have stayed involved.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
I stayed involved because of the great things I learned and felt while on Marist Youth. It was great to meet a lot of people from different areas who share the same ideas.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I am in the Marist Young Adult Program and I help plan days for faith sharing in Miami.

Do you have a Marist story to share?
Right before going on Marist Youth I was going through a rough time and almost about to lose my faith. Marist Youth helped me get back on track and find my faith again. One of the talks especially hit home for me. It was like exactly what I was going through. Since then I knew I was going to be involved with Marist.

How did you get involved with Marist?
Mid September of my freshman year at Marist I attended our Freshmen Retreat in Esopus. During the retreat something just clicked. To this day I can’t put that feeling into words or express it. I turned to Brother Bob Warren and asked him how I can further get involved because I knew this was something that I loved and wanted to be a part of. The rest is history..

Why are you still involved with Marist?
Marist is such a large part of me; it is who I am. Being Marist has been one of the biggest influences on my life. If it wasn't for Marist I would not be who I am today. After all of the amazing experiences that I have had through this community, it is my goal to give those experiences back to others.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
Once "Marist'", always "Marist". Being Marist has shaped my identity in a number of ways and it is something that just doesn’t simply go away. I continue to live out my Marist identity by being a servant leader to others.

How did you get involved with Marist?
I chose to go to Marist High School not only because my dad went to the school but because after I spent a day there as an 8th grader I knew it was the best fit for me. I immediately got involved with service at Marist by doing mission trips and helping to organize different retreats and service projects.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
At Marist High School we have a slogan, “Students four years, Brothers and Sisters for Life.” I am still involved with Marist because we are a family that can never be left behind. The Marist Family has helped me overcome so many obstacles in my life and as I stay involved I know that my family will help me in the future.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I was very active in Campus Ministry at my school and now I am an active member of the Marist Youth Young Adult Advisory Committee. I live out my Marist Identity on a daily basis by being a leader, helping others, organizing different events for Marist Young Adults, and more.

How did you get involved with Marist?
The first time I ever got involved with Marist was my sophomore year in 2005 when I attended the Marist Youth Conference at Marist College.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
I have been blessed with many extraordinary experiences with the brothers and the people I have met both on retreats and at other Marist events. These opportunities helped me to grow both spirituality and psychologically. I have come to find a deeper understanding of who I am and who I want to be. I have had such a great experience with the Marist community and it has definitely shaped me into who I am today.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I try to live out the Marist quality of "Doing good quietly." I try to have a positive outlook on life and see the best in people. One vital component I have learned is to always look deep inside myself and reflect upon my choices, relationships, faith, and friendships, in order to grow as a person..

How did you get involved with Marist?
I attended Saint Joseph Regional High School, in Montvale, New Jersey. Although the school was founded by the Xaverian Brothers there are no Xaverian Brothers remaining at the school. There is one Marist Brother there, though, Br. John Dunning, who really inspired me to get involved in community service. In high school, I was constantly invited to participate in retreats and other Marist activities that Br. John was running at the Marist Brothers Retreat House in Esopus, NY. During these many hours spent at Esopus, I knew that I wanted to make Marist a bigger part of my life.

When I started at Saint Joe’s the number of boys who knew about and participated in Marist activities was not very high; however, by my senior year the group had grown dramatically. I like to think that I helped the positive change by spreading the good news about the Marist family.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
The Marist family impacted my life during high school in many ways which I never expected, from leading retreats as an upper classman to volunteering at the Marist Brothers’ Mid-Hudson Valley Camp. Marist has shaped me into the young man I am today.

Over the countless days and nights spent at the Marist Brothers Retreat House in Esopus, NY, I became friends with a few of the Brothers who live and work there. This friendship has inspired me to stay involved even though I have now left high school. I also want to make sure that other members of the family can maintain their Marist identities.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I live my Marist identity when I get involved in my faith and serve others in my community. I was a Boy Scout growing up and during my Eagle Scout ceremony I professed that I would maintain a lifestyle that was one I had lived during my scouting years. One of the major pillars of scouting is community service. My Marist activities allow me to stay committed to the scouting values even though I am too old to be a Boy Scout.

Do you have a Marist story to share?
Before and during my early high school years I was involved at my church, volunteering as an altar server; however, I was not as involved in my faith as I could have been. During the Marist Encounter I listened to the stories and talks that were given, but they were secondary to the discussions I had with my small group. In my small group it seemed that the other members were coming from very different situations than my own and some of these situations were truly upsetting. I got to thinking that maybe I could do something about these terrible circumstances. There was not one defining moment that made me say, “I need to do something to make this world better,” it was the culmination of the entire weekend that made me feel that way. For me, being a Marist volunteer, a Boy Scout, and now the product of a Jesuit education at Fordham University; I know that it is my responsibility to have a positive impact on my surroundings and the people I encounter on a daily basis.

How did you get involved with Marist?
I was asked by our campus minister to become a Junior/Senior Encounter leader at Molloy. I had to attend a Marist Youth Encounter Weekend in order to become a leader, and had an amazing time. Later that year, I was also asked to attend the Marist Youth Conference at Marist College and fell in love with the people and the pride that everyone had in being Marist. During my senior year, I was asked to lead a Marist Youth Encounter Weekend and I have tried to come back and lead Encounters whenever I can.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
I stayed involved with Marist because it has helped shape the person that I am today. If I hadn’t attended a Marist school, or met the people that I have, I would not be as fortunate as I am. The opportunity to meet people from so many different places that have the values and Marist tradition is something that I will always cherish.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I am currently in the Marist Young Adult program and I still help lead Encounters.

Do you have a Marist story to share?
I never truly realized how much an Encounter talk could impact someone and I honestly never thought anyone was really listening during the talks. Recently, however, I met a young woman who was on an Encounter in which I had given a talk and she told me that I changed her life. She had written me a letter telling me how my strength through rough times inspired her to make some changes in her life. I still have that letter and it brings me to tears to read her words and realize that this is what it truly means to be Marist.

How did you get involved with Marist?
During my sophomore year of high school I was asked to attend the Marist Youth Leadership Conference in Esopus, NY. I had no idea what it was about, but I decided to give it a chance. I attended the conference and learned many things about the Marist tradition. I was immediately drawn to the Marist family and I was pleased to know that my school had a Marist foundation. It was then that I told myself that I wanted to help my school become more involved in Marist. I love the Marist Brothers because they make you feel like you are part of a family. I, like many others see the Marist property in Esopus as my second home. I like the fact that I am always welcome there.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
I am still involved with Marist because I see the good that it does. It helps people who have lost their faith find it again and I think it is a wonderful thing. To help someone see God is truly extraordinary. I have personally witnessed kids my own age discover who God really is simply by going on a weekend retreat. I have decided that I want to be a part of that. I want to help people find God in their lives and appreciate everything He has done for them.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I live out my identity by helping others. I serve others just as Jesus served us. He made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life up so that we may live ours. There is nothing I can do to even compare with Him. So I do what I can. I volunteer at my school, and in my community. I pray for all those who need prayers everyday whether they ask for them or not. It is the little things that matter and taking two minutes out of my day to pray for somebody is not hard for me to do. In the future I plan to use the education I have to become successful and use my talents for good. The Marist faith plays a vital role in my inspiration and I plan to do many great things.

Do you have a Marist story to share?
At the Marist Youth Leadership Conference I decided I wanted to be a part of this family. I went on a Marist Encounter and another leadership retreat where I was able to delve more into my faith. I made great friendships with those making the retreats. I learned what family is all about and I am thankful to God for letting me meet such wonderful people. My Marist story may not be all that amazing but it is the story of how I found the base of my faith.

How did you get involved with Marist?
Ever since I was younger, my parents have encouraged me to live a life of service. While I was a junior in high school I organized an event to raise funds for Haiti. As a result, I was asked to become a Marist Youth leader. I became very involved in everything Marist at my school, including campus ministry. I helped to organize events and lead retreats.

When I attended the Marist Youth conference in Poughkeepsie, it became clear to me what it means to be Marist. I was drawn to the Marist way of living - of helping those around me to know God. It became clear to me that I was meant to serve people around me.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
I am still involved with Marist because it has made a place in my heart. Coming from a Marist school and having had the opportunity to learn the Marist ways has made me a better person. Being Marist has become a part of who I am. I am constantly in search of ways to help. I hope that I can continue to be someone that can set an example for young people who need more faith.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I live out my Marist identity by being an active member of my community. Sometimes life gets a little tricky and it is hard to be one hundred percent Marist, but I strive to keep a positive mindset through prayer and community service.

Do you have a Marist story to share?
At the Marist Youth conference, I met a girl named Marcela, a Marist Youth leader from her high school in Los Mochis, Sinaloa in Mexico. We became close friends and I invited her to spend a year at my house in Brownsville, Texas so that she could improve her English and help out in Marist projects in my community. It was an amazing experience and, thanks to the Marist Youth Program, I gained an extraordinary friend and "sister".

How did you get involved with Marist?
In my sophomore year of high school, I was asked to attend the Marist Youth Leadership Conference at Marist College in Poughkeepsie. That weekend was one of the best weekends of my life, and from then on I became more active with Marist Youth.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
We all have potential to do great things that make a difference, and Marist Youth and now the Marist Young Adult Program give me a chance to actualize my potential. The best years of my life to date were experienced while at a Marist high school, and my experiences with the Marist Brothers and their mission have truly impacted my life. I am a better person because of Marist, and I never want to break that connection. I’m still involved because I want to give back; I want to help others experience Marist as well.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
Being Marist is an everyday effort. It’s about being true to yourself and your values, about staying positive and doing your best, and about loving God and all His people. No matter where I am, I try to live out the Marist principles and teachings because I’ve seen them work in action. I live Marist through joining this committee and staying involved in service activities at home and college.

Do you have a Marist story to share?
After coming back from the Marist Youth Leadership Conference in 2007, the other participants from my high school and I wanted to reach out and continue to practice what we learned at the conference. After some work and research, we created “Mission Aman” (Aman meaning “peace” in the native language of Pakistan). We partnered with Sargodha Catholic High School, a Marist school in Sargodha, Pakistan, to make the Marist mission real for all of the students in both schools. We exchanged emails, pictures, and letters. Our Marist Youth Core leadership team organized bake sales, mission collections, benefit concerts performed by faculty bands, and more to raise funds to support the school in Pakistan. It really was a true testament of how powerful Marist truly can be -small groups of people, separated by thousands of miles, resolved to connect and make a difference - and I was honored to be a part of it!

How did you get involved with Marist?
I got involved with Marist through the retreats at Roselle Catholic as well as through the Encounter Program. I made my Encounter in April 2005 and have been an Encounter leader ever since!

Why are you still involved with Marist?
Marist is a family to me. It is a part of who I am and because of that, I stay connected. I continue to work as a retreat leader because I want others to have the same experience of the Marist family.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I am an active member of the Marist Young Adult Program as well as a retreat leader. I am looking forward to helping other young adults learn more about the Marist message through my work on the Marist Young Adult Advisory Committee.

How did you get involved with Marist?
I was chosen to attend the Marist Youth Conference in 2007 at Marist College. While there, I saw what it was like to have a common bond with people from all over the country - different experiences and stories, having the same heart. That’s how one of my friends described it on our flight back from New York. That same year I attended the Marist Retreat in Miami with Columbus and Pace.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
After my return to Miami from NY, my family endured a really difficult time with the passing of a family member. I lost my faith, and soon enough a friend handed me my Marist folder with all the talks and notes; it was like a wake up call. Being Marist helps me remember who I am; it brings me back to the strength I had due to Christ.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
After my experience at Marist, I was very involved with Campus Ministry and Youth Group at school. I look forward to helping teens find out who they are, and to share with them the experiences I have had ever since the Marist family came into my life.

How did you get involved with Marist?
Attending Columbus, I was always involved in campus ministry. Matt Fallon, the Marist Young Adult Advisory Committee chair, introduced me to the Marist Young Adult Program. I thought the program would be the perfect way to continue being Marist.

Why are you still involved with Marist?
Being Marist has become such an important part of my life that I can’t just let it go. It has made a difference in my life and I hope to make a difference in the lives of others.

How do you live out your Marist identity now?
I try my best to stay involved in my high school and the Marist Young Adult program. I hope that once I get acclimated to my university, I will get involved in campus ministry there.

Do you have a Marist story to share?
I attended a poolside barbecue with seventeen other peer ministers at a Marist Brothers house in Miami. It was a lot of fun because I was with friends and we were just relaxing at a final get together for the year. Little did I know that I would stay at the Brothers’ house until about 11 at night just talking to someone I can probably call a best friend today, Br. Al Rivera.