A Saint’s Story Renewed—Thanks to Chaminade University Science
Students Emma Rosales and Samantha Casarrubias, Dr. Carlos Gutiérrez Ayala, and anthropologist Vincent Sava
At Chaminade University of Honolulu (CUH), the Marianist tradition of educating for service, justice, peace, and the integrity of creation is not just a motto—it is lived daily. That mission took on extraordinary significance as the Catholic Church entrusted the CUH Forensic Sciences Unit with a sacred task: helping recover and preserve the remains of Saint Marianne Cope, beloved caregiver of those with leprosy at Kalaupapa, HI.
Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences Unit—founded 30 years ago and recognized as one of the most innovative programs in the Pacific—was uniquely prepared for the challenge.
Under the guidance of forensic anthropologist Vincent Sava, the team is using professional-grade forensic techniques to sift soil, identify bone fragments, and honor the saint’s remains with the reverence they deserve. Students are working side-by-side with faculty, gaining a hands-on experience found at few universities.
This collaboration stands as a testament to Chaminade’s deep commitment to serving the Church and the people of Hawai‘i.
Bishop Silva, President Lynn Babington and Gutiérrez Ayala Carlos
During a recent visit, Bishop Larry Silva, along with Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington, witnessed firsthand the precision and care being brought to the project. Their visit highlighted the university’s unique role as a Marianist center of learning dedicated to forming both the mind and the heart.
Director of the Forensic Sciences Unit Dr. Carlos Gutiérrez Ayala described the work as “a profound educational moment,” giving students a chance to combine scientific training with a spiritual and historical responsibility. “This is the kind of experience,” he said, “that shapes not only careers, but character.”
With each soil sample examined and each fragment preserved, CUH demonstrates what it means to be a Marianist university in action: uniting intellect with compassion, and academic excellence with service to others.
A Legacy Continued Through Science and Faith
Saint Marianne—beatified in 2005 and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012—devoted her life to caring for those abandoned by society. She was a German-born American Franciscan nun who traveled from Syracuse, NY, to the Kingdom of Hawai’i in the late 1800s to help build the medical infrastructure. She’s most famous for her work tending to the spiritual and medical needs of leprosy patients at Kalaupapa, Moloka’i. Now, Chaminade students carry forward her legacy through their meticulous work. The bone fragments recovered will be shared with parishes across Hawai’i, allowing communities to honor the saint who once walked among them.
Click here for more information about the CUH Forensic Sciences program.
Additional photos linked here. Media coverage linked here.
In The News
From the Heart to the Future
University of Dayton (UD) President Eric F. Spina announced he will retire in June 2027, closing an 11-year chapter marked by steady leadership, student focus, and a renewed emphasis on the university’s Marianist mission. In a message on his From the Heart blog, Spina said the decision followed “months of reflection, prayer, and conversation,” calling it “without a doubt, the hardest thing I have ever done.”
“Dr. Spina’s successful decade-plus as president has brought transparent leadership, stability, and inspiration,” said Deb Tobias, chair of the board of trustees, noting his impact on philanthropy, community partnerships, and a welcoming, student-centered campus culture. Provost Darlene Weaver added that Spina helped redefine UD as a “university for the common good,” pairing vision with a human touch.
Since 2016, Spina has been a visible presence on campus—at move-in days, student town halls, and Flyer games—while advancing access and affordability and strengthening UD’s role as an anchor institution. Under his leadership, the university completed the We Soar fundraising campaign, expanded opportunities for lower-income and first-generation students, and earned national recognition from American Talent Initiative and Bloomberg Philanthropies for progress with lower-income students. The campus also saw major investments, including upgrades to UD Arena and the opening of the Roger Glass Center for the Arts, along with community partnerships such as onMain with Premier Health.
The board will engage a search firm to guide the process. For now, Spina’s message is simple: the work continues—rooted in Marianist values, and aimed squarely at the common good. Click here to read more.
Chaminade Julienne Names New President
Following a comprehensive national search, Dr. David Wright has been named as the next president of Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School (CJ) in Dayton, OH.
Wright, who currently serves as the headmaster of Subiaco Academy in Arkansas, was selected to replace outgoing president Dan Meixner ’84. Meixner announced in April 2025 that he would be stepping down at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 school year after 22 years in the role.
“David embodies the values of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Marianists. The feedback from interactions he had with our teachers, staff members, leadership team, parents, alumni, coaches, and our founders was absolutely off the charts. He truly resonates with and embraces the sense of the CJ family spirit,” stated Kevin Weckesser, ’93, chair of the Board of Trustees.
“I join our assistant for education, Bro. Jesse O’Neill, in gratitude for Dr. David Wright’s leadership to continue to nurture the faith, community, and inspiring service that are pillars of the Marianist Charism found at Chaminade Julienne,” said Provincial of the Marianist Province of the United States Fr. Oscar Vasquez. “Our prayers and congratulations to the CJ community as he prepares to lead the school into this hopeful new chapter.”
Mirror of Hope
The Three O’Clock Prayer is a Marianist tradition rooted in the act of coming together to pray as a community. It is especially meaningful during Lent as it recalls the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and the role of Mary in salvation.
With donor support to the Marian Library Fund, the Marian Library is offering a newly designed prayer card with the Three O’Clock Prayer printed on the reverse side.
The cards feature Jesus on the cross as depicted in the “Mirror of Hope,” an art installation in the Marian Library by artist Kevin Hanna. The 12-foot-wide, 5-foot-high sculpture was commissioned by the Marian Library in 2000 as a visual story of creation, Incarnation, Resurrection, and Redemption. As it was made just for the University of Dayton (UD), the piece includes a temple-like structure with a cupola and brick gateways reminiscent of those on the University’s iconic Immaculate Conception Chapel, making the entire art piece a favorite of UD visitors.
Two versions of the card have been printed, one in English and one in Spanish. Click here for English and Spanish versions that are available to download, print, and share.
Marianist Ministries in Action
Summer Camp Became a Calling
Leo Tierney
Archbishop Moeller High School senior Leo Tierney was first introduced to Agape Latte during a summer camp at Boston College. It is a popular, student-led coffeehouse-style speaker series that originated at Boston College in 2006 to explore faith, love, and life in an informal setting. It’s a program that fosters meaningful conversations around faith, vocation, and service. Inspired by that experience, Leo helped bring an Agape Latte chapter to Moeller so students could engage in similar dialogue.
Students recently gathered for an Agape Latte featuring Bro. Bob Donovan, who shared his journey from practicing medicine to becoming a Marianist Brother. He spoke about his work providing medical services to individuals experiencing homelessness in downtown Cincinnati and how that work has evolved throughout his career. Currently serving at the Respite Care Center, Bro. Bob also shared his excitement about moving into a new facility designed to better serve individuals with disabilities.
Students were deeply moved by Bro. Bob’s kindness, humility, and genuine dedication to serving others. His reflections encouraged many to think more intentionally about how they hope to live lives rooted in compassion and service.
Marianist Moments
A Small Yes — A Lasting Witness
L-R: Bro. Dan Klco, Stela Sifuentes, Molly Forestal, Emmanuel Varela, Andrew Martini, Stephen Garcia, Fr. John Tompson, Julianne Peña
On an unusually cold Sunday morning in San Antonio, TX, something beautifully hopeful took root. A group of St. Mary’s University students gathered not just to attend Mass, but to make a commitment—to one another, to Mary, and to a way of life shaped by faith in action. With that simple but profound step on January 25, 2026, they officially formed a new Marianist Lay Community: Parve Sodilitia Mariae.
The name, drawn from Latin, loosely means “Mary’s little group” or “Mary’s small fellowship.” It’s a humble title, but one rich with history and meaning. It reaches all the way back to the Bordeaux Sodality, the first Lay Marianist community founded in 1801 by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. In choosing this name, these students placed themselves squarely within that living tradition—one that believes small communities, rooted in prayer and mission, can help renew the Church and transform the world.
Their commitment marks a promise to walk together in faith, to support one another, and to live Marianist values through service, prayer, and community. Like the first sodalists more than two centuries ago, this “little group” begins with simple steps—and a big hope—that God will do something extraordinary through their shared “yes.”
Pray With Us
Please join us in prayer for these members of the Marianist Family.
◆ Recent deaths and those in need of prayers for healing in the Marianist Family
◆ Obituaries of U.S. Province Marianist brothers and priests since 2022
Good to Know
The Annunciation in Color, Symbol, and Faith
The Marian Library invites visitors into a rich and prayerful encounter with one of the most beloved moments in Christian art and devotion: the Annunciation. Two new exhibits—each distinct yet beautifully connected—will be on display through October 23, offering fresh ways to reflect on Mary’s courageous “yes” and the mystery it set into motion.
Blessed Among Women features a collection of modern Annunciation artwork recently gifted to the Marian Library by collector John A. Kohan of the Sacred Art Pilgrim Collection. These contemporary pieces explore the Annunciation through varied styles, colors, and perspectives, showing how artists across time continue to be inspired by Mary’s faith, humility, and trust in God’s plan.
Complementing this collection is Fiat and Faith, on view in the Marian Library Gallery. This exhibit invites viewers to look more closely at the rich symbolism traditionally found in Annunciation scenes—light, lilies, books, gestures, and setting—and to discover how these visual details tell a deeper story of obedience, grace, and divine invitation.
Together, these exhibits offer more than an art experience; they create a space for contemplation, wonder, and renewed appreciation for how faith is expressed through beauty. Visitors are encouraged to linger, reflect, and see the Annunciation not only as a moment in history, but as a living story that continues to speak through art today.
Click here for more information.
Marian Forum – All Invited
All are welcome to attend the 2026 Marian Forum on Wednesday, March 25, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of the University of Dayton (UD). The forum is an academically-minded gathering focused on the Blessed Virgin Mary, incorporating liturgy and creative campus participation.
Can’t make it in person? No problem! It will also be livestreamed so everyone can attend. Save the date! Activities begin at 10 am (EST) with the livestream available here at that time.
This symposium provides a yearly occasion to reflect more deeply about Mary and the wide range of topics related to Mariology. Events include a lecture from University of Dayton Marian certificate student Rev. Thomas-Mary, O.C.D., a Eucharistic liturgy, and a talk from artist Holly Schapker.
JOIN US!
Click here to discover job opportunities within our Marianist Ministries across the United States.
New listings include:
Purcell Marian High School (OH) – Principal
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