| In the Church
The Marists staff parishes throughout the United
States from West Virginia to California and across the Pacific
to Hawaii.
Brother Robert Sokolowski is Pastoral Assistant at the Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist in Savannah. |
We consider the care of parishes and the people
of God a sacred trust, and we have responded to calls from
Bishops throughout our history to meet the needs of the people.
For instance, befitting our French roots, we have been able
to staff two parishes – one in St. Paul, Minnesota and
the other in San Francisco –that offer Masses in French.
While pastoral ministry is an important aspect
of our contribution to the Church in the United States, the
Marists are also open to the call of the spirit and the needs
of the times. As times change, so do the Marists. So, we may
give up one parish where we have served long and lovingly in
order to provide staffing for another important service.
We are called, not to stability, but to change,
moving where the church needs to go.
Marists staff two French parishes, including
Notre Dame des Victoires in San Francisco. |
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Fr. Jim LaCrosse
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In the seminary, he became
known as “Marlon” (yes, after the actor Marlon
Brando) because of his toughness. He’s a skier, river-rafter,
horseback riding instructor, and former football player.
He’s also Pastor of St.
Vincent De Paul in Wheeling, West Virginia, a busy parish
serving 1,750 families in an area that stretches to the
Pennsylvania border. “It’s a cosmopolitan
parish,” says Fr. Jim LaCrosse, including the affluent
as well as those who are very poor.
Fr. Jim brings his passion for
athletics to his work in the parish, coaching a championship
football team and cheering on such parish ministries
as aiding the needy and elderly and a youth program,
which offers retreats, ski trips, and summer camp.
“Some of my best evangelistic
work is around campfires … where kids will ask
questions that lead to good discussions,” Fr. Jim
believes.
And he’ll do this work
in his signature rough-and-ready style. “We were
founded as a teaching, missionary order to extend the
envelope,” he says. “I am not afraid about
how I do that work."
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