of the students see Chaminade as their spiritual home.”

The catalyst for many of the changes and programs undertaken by Campus Ministry was the COVID-19 pandemic. With COVID restrictions in place, Mr. Foley and his team were forced to think about ways to continue the mission. “It led us to really ask the question of intentionality – what are the most important events that we host? Why do we have those events?” From this introspection came an emphasis on smaller, more intimate gatherings. For example, students now attend day retreats with their religion teachers and classmates. In addition, monthly prayer nights are held to spiritually nourish the students who lead retreats. “We’ve begun to give them more opportunities to offer their own faith witness to their peers and would like to continue expanding that,” Mr. Foley explained.

In his Gospel, John states, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The fruits of spiritual growth and enlightenment of Chaminade are carefully tended to on the vine through the work of Campus Ministry.

Since its conception, Chaminade High School has always been more than an educational institution; it is a family. From its operation to its mission, the Chaminade Family looks to the Marianist Community of religious brothers and priests for support, leadership, and companionship in the education and formation of young men. Over the years, Chaminade has been witness to generations of young men who have committed themselves to the life of a professed Marianist brother. In keeping with their founder’s mission, the Marianists continue to promote and foster vocations to the order today. “A brother is someone who is a brother to all,” reflects Bro. Michael Duffy (KMHS ’16), a novice currently in formation with the Province of Meribah. “The means in which a Marianist lives this call is by teaching. It is important to note that teaching is not restricted to the classroom. Fr. Chaminade said a brother should teach by his every word, look, and gesture. Teaching occurs anywhere - in the classroom, in the hallway, on retreat, at a basketball game, in the grocery store, ANYWHERE!”

Teaching occurs with “every word, look, and gesture.” Bro. Patrick Sarsfield, S.M. ’86, the current director of the Marianist Community at Chaminade, reflects, “The vocation of a brother is really no different than the vocation that all Christians share. The consecrated religious is trying to live that vocation more intensely, maybe as a sign to the rest of the Church. The vows we take are meant to be reminders to us, and by extension to the rest of the Church, that we are all called to holiness.”

Fr. Peter Heiskell, S.M. ’86, adds that, “we hope that by living faithfully our vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in a visible way within the school community, we might witness to others what a life of Christian discipleship looks like.” Fr. Peter serves as school chaplain and current novice master, a role that directly oversees the development and formation of those men learning the life of a Marianist in preparation for temporary vows. “By its very nature, this role invites me to enter more deeply into our Marianist charism, so that I might most effectively pass it on to the next generation of Marianists. Accompanying Bro. Michael Duffy during the first year of his novitiate so far has given me great joy, as I watch his Marianist vocation grow, both in terms of his devotion to our charism, and in his assimilation into our shared common life.”

As a family grows, so also do the Marianists seek to form young men in a relationship with God. “Sometimes that relationship might lead to the possibility of a religious vocation,” says Bro. Stephen Balletta, S.M. ’74, who has served as the Marianists’ vocation director for over a decade. “It is an honor for me to listen to the young men I meet with. I have had the privilege to share in their joys and to accompany them in their sorrows, all the while enhancing and humbling my own prayer life.” Running seasonally vocation events such as "Operation FIAT" and actively collaborating with Chaminade’s campus ministry program, Bro. Stephen seeks a model of accompaniment for current students and graduates alike. “It comes down to community,” says Bro. Stephen, “Religious life has such a special place in the Church. We are not simply a provider of a workforce for an institution, but as a witness value for living the Gospel for real in our world today in community. Our task is to create a culture of vocations in our schools and our reach as witnesses of the Gospel. Our younger professed brothers are such role models for our students. Their witness, more so than mine, really captures what it means to be a disciple in today’s world, focused and attentive to the needs of our community.”

The Marianists have had the joy of welcoming many young men into their religious community in the last few years. Three brothers: Bro. Peter Sennert, S.M. ’11, Bro. Andrew Santoriello, S.M. ’07, and Bro. Patrick Cahill, S.M ’11, each have professed perpetual vows within the last few years and are actively serving in ministry at Kellenberg Memorial High School and St. Martin de Porres in Uniondale. Bro. Thomas Terrill, S.M. ’10, who serves as the director of student activities at Chaminade, is preparing to profess perpetual vows at the end of the summer. The Marianist Community is refreshed and renewed by each of their witnesses.

“When we say ‘community’ in this sense, we mean the brothers who live together at Chaminade…we are a family,” says Bro. Patrick Sarsfield. “Like in any family, there are good times and bad times, times when we laugh together and times when we get on each other's nerves. But, we are here for each other. The goal of any healthy religious community is for its members to help each other grow in their relationship with God, through a shared prayer life and through mutual support.” Bro. Patrick, as director, oversees the daily routines of the brothers at Chaminade. “We have prayers together and meals together. We celebrate the good times together and endure the hard times together. We do all of this while we are trying to remain faithful to Fr. Chaminade's vision of bringing people to Christ through Mary.” Bro. Michael Duffy considers his time prior to joining the Marianists, “Before I joined the Marianist Community and attended my childhood parish, I was often asked, ‘Why don't you become a priest?’ My response would always be ‘community.’ Community is what refreshes my soul daily. I am refreshed by our communal singing, communal meals, communal living. The key word is communal, being together.”

Inspired by their commitment to intentional “community,” the brothers have invited and embedded this communal spirit into everything they do at Chaminade. “We hope that our ministry of education and formation in the faith within the school creates a strong sense of community and family spirit,” Fr. Peter testifies, “In other words, we follow Mary’s call to us to help raise up new sons of Mary, who by their belonging to our Chaminade Marianist family will feel called in their own lives to draw closer to Christ through Mary.” “You know, it’s really a family business,” says Bro. Thomas Cleary, S.M. ’81. “It never gets old because my brothers and I have a passionate love for the mission of the school. We keep asking ourselves, ‘how can we make this better?’ because of our deep love for what we do and how we serve our students and extended family.”

“The path to religious life is not always a straight and easy one,” says Bro. Stephen, “it really gets at the heart of what it means to be human, learning, growing, and struggling, just like everyone does. Community brings us to a space where we can learn and grow together in the Gospel in our specific work of education.”

As leaders and witnesses of the life of the Gospel at work at Chaminade and beyond, the Marianists are more active than ever, strengthened by their commitment to a life guided under the protection of the Blessed Virgin. To Jesus, Through Mary.